Floating village on Tonle Sap Photo

Photographer’s Note

Choc Kneas floating village is what most tourists see when they visit the Tonle Sap lake. The villagers are actually Vietnamese, that's why you can see so many conical hats. They have came here in around 1980 after Vietnam invaded Cambodia in 1978.

The reason of the invasion was simple, Pol Pot was under the control of China who was not happy about the way Vietnam was siding with Russia, particularly after the Chinese has sent tons of weapons to help out in the war. Determined that having two enemies, one in the North (China) one in the South (Cambodia) is strategically suicidal, Vietnam invaded Cambodia under the banner of "liberate the people" from the Pol Pot regime. It then triggered a Chinese invasion of the northern border regions where Lao Cai (where Sapa is) was raised to the ground. It is also the reason why my family put me on a boat and sent me away. At least that's what they've told me. I think I must have been very naughty to be kick out of the family like that.

I took this picture while having another T.E. picture in my mind. A Minolta Dual Scan II film scanner for the person who can find the original inspirational picture. Hint: he's in my favorite list.

Aegean, RGatward, carmem_busko, Luko, sohrab, ngythanh has marked this note useful

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RGatward (19751) 2004-09-04 2:25

How about this one http://www.trekearth.com/gallery/Asia/Cambodia/photo58916.htm? But I already have a Dual Scan (excellent value) so don't worry about the prize. Anyway, nice shot you have, and interesting to see a black white treatment for this, which is a colourful place. But this gives it the timeless feel that the place has. Interesting note.

Aegean (2567) 2004-09-04 3:52

Great B&W shot Thien...Shades and tones of grey reminds more a film capture than a digital...The composition is very pleasant. Very well done!

mikoyen (1178) 2004-09-04 13:28

Very nice picture in b&w, very well done, Thien. Nice reflection of the water, I like the person with the boat and his hat, typic to that place.

carmem_busko (3639) 2004-09-05 20:42

Very nice journalism composition. The reflections on water surface are stunning. Thank your for sharing it!
Carmem

greg (2835) 2004-09-06 5:19

I like the detail in this image, and the rippled reflections, but not so much the flat grey sky. What if you were to take it up to white? Here's a try...

[workshop] [compare]

Luko (13902) 2004-09-10 18:01

Funny, Thien i was thinking to myself that the place looked more like sengkang (indonesia, where I originally took the photo that "inspired" yours), but reading your challenge I was miles away from thinking this specific picture actually helped you model it. I always associate Sengkang with my friend falling through a platform : may I remind you this move is absolutely mandatory when mimicking my image.

Is there a consolation prize other than the Dual scan for the almost but not quite efforts? A Google account invitation maybe?

As for this documentary shot, the horizon might be a bit centered but that's minor, I put it on the fact nobody was feeling like going through a platform this time.

I don't want to go back in history, but I think the vietnamese invasion of cambodia was one of the most welcomed and justified invasion ever. Who knows what was next to the khmer rouge craziness?

ngythanh (8496) 2004-10-31 22:44

Kg Anh Trần Thiện:
Nếu không phiền, xin anh hướng dẫn cho chúng tôi, làm thế nào để có thể từ Angkor Wat tới thăm làng chài VN trên hồ Tonle Sap. Xin cảm ơn anh nhiều.

ngythanh@gmail.com