Rainy Season Blues

“Don’t go in the rainy season.” That’s what the guidebooks say, but for photography, rain is not always a bad thing. If you only have a few weeks, you probably don’t want to go in the rainy season. (Especially if you’re headed to tropical Southeast Asia.) Understood.

I’ve traveled to Angkor Wat in Cambodia two dozen times. Sometimes shooting for assignments and other times on personal projects. It’s one of my favorite places to visit and photograph. I also prefer the rainy season in Angkor because the daily showers keep the jungle green and the moats full.

More shots below.
Lush green jungles always look nicer than spartan brown ones and pools of water mean reflections. (and malarial mosquitoes.) Also, the stormy clouds keep the skies varied and interesting too. During this time of year, sunrises and sunsets can either be time wasted waiting for nothing or the most beautiful thing you’ve ever seen. I didn’t say it was easy. Risk/Reward

“The rainy season,” in most places typically means that it rains briefly once or twice everyday. It usually is sudden and torrential but it doesn’t last all day. Not ideal for camera gear but I learned to manage. The above shot is of the main Angkor Temple during one such outburst. It’s one of my favorite shots of Angkor Wat because it’s a bit more dramatic than your standard sunny postcard. Another sunset foiled by rain, I'll take it!

Gear: Nikon N90s / Nikon 80-200mm F2.8 lens / E100VS slide film. Handheld.

Exposure: I’m guessing here. F4 1/60th

No mosquitoes in this one, just an cold,edgy reflection of Angkor's towers in a rainy season puddle.
As always, click any image for the large version TR