Young Monks Taking Selfies Angkor Wat, Cambodia

Camera: Sony DSC-HX90
I'd been dying to see Angkor Wat Temple Ruins for many, many years. I finally got to visit in Siem Reap, Cambodia, Jan. 2018....
Read more

Camera: Sony DSC-HX90
I'd been dying to see Angkor Wat Temple Ruins for many, many years. I finally got to visit in Siem Reap, Cambodia, Jan. 2018. While I enjoyed walking, climbing over 1300 steps.taking interesting shots of brown/red laterite sculptures and stunningly carved bas-reliefs, dusty fragments, amidst tourists, it was absolutely refreshing to spot the real live Orange/Yellow robed Cambodian monks as they took a break from their training...gracefully walking, giggling (snapping pictures of each other), colorful robes flapping in the breeze against green grass from across the lake.

Since I had to zoom in from way across other side of lake, I switched to VIDEO to get 4K resolution. I was hoping & praying that these young monks would get closer to the water so I could get a cool "reflection." Lo and behold, they did--thanks to the young monk on the far right. He spotted their reflections in the water and decided to stop...took out his iphone (much to my SURPRISE and DELIGHT)!!! As you can see, the other three young monks were just as surprised and curious. I can't believe I caught that moment.

EDITING: I obtained the frame my video--from Screenshot, then used "Markup Toolkit" to crop and enhance the shot. I included the Lotus blossoms (symbol of Buddhism, national flower of Cambodia)--used slightly more saturation and contrast, slightly decreased exposure, a little more sharpened.

I was surprised how "sharp" the picture came out but perhaps it was thanks to the 4K. I'd just bought the new camera end of Dec 2017, an upgrade from Sony DSC HX 90 (which also took great videos but not 4K). Above camera was the only one I took with me on the 17-day Journey to Vietnam & Cambodia (Angkor Wat, 8 Temples).

WHAT I LIKE ABOUT THE PHOTO: I loved the contrast between these teenage "Ancient" Buddhist traditional robed monks (amidst young Lotus flowers-the only ones in that lake) and their fascination with modern technology and unabashed breaking of tradition with their 21st century "Selfies." It was a "universal Kodak moment!”

Read less