Let the world see through your LENS

Photo by: Chea Phan

Photo by: Borei Sylvann

via CAAI News Media

Wednesday, 03 March 2010 15:02 Post Staff

Many Cambodians in the blogosphere use their writing skills to shed light on the social and political issues in Cambodia, but there are also a growing number of cloggers (Cambodian bloggers) who are using their cameras to share their daily experiences with the world over the Internet.

These young Cambodians living in the country and abroad can be trusted to post new photos nearly every day, sometimes capturing important events and other times capturing the details of their life that would otherwise go unnoticed.

According to Borei Sylvann, a 25-year-old freelance producer who started a photo blog in January, it is not difficult to begin a blog, and once it is started it can provide daily encouragement to take photos. “First I talked with my friend about starting a photography Web site that we could use to show our photos and share our ideas with the world, but time went on and it never happened,” explained Borei Sylvann. “But then I started looking at other blogs and realised that it is a simple way to have a place to put my photos and write about them.”

Now Borei Sylvann uses his free time to shoot photographs, some planned and others taken spontaneously, that he is able to show off to his followers online. “Before the photos were just sitting in my computer and no one could see them,” he said, adding that he hopes his blog will become popular among people besides his friends and family.

While Borei Sylvann has just begun his blog, there are many other young Cambodians who have been at it for years. Chea Phal has been blogging since 2006, and you can see the progression of his photos over time by viewing the archives on his Web site. Chea Phal is not a professional photographer. He works with a Japanese NGO focusing on educational and cultural rehabilitation, but he is very passionate about his photography, and it shows in his work.

Chea Phal says that photography has become a central part of his life. “Photography made my life more meaningful and delightful. To me, having a hobby or passion for something is an ingredient to live a good and happy life.” He explained. “Robert Adams says ‘no place is boring, if you've had a good night's sleep and have a pocket full of unexposed film’.”

Starting your own photo blog will undoubtedly make it easier for your friends and fans to understand what is going on in your life, but according to Chea Phal, it might change the way that you see things as well. “Through the lens, I can have better eyes to admire our world’s magnificence.”

Check out these photoblogs!

Borei Sylvann:
http://spikroom.blogspot.com

Chea Phal:
http://tumnei.wordpress.com

Borin
http://www.borin.ws

Eng Sothy
http://sothy-eng-pictures.blogspot.com

Spk Plus Co.
http://spkplus.com/blog/

http://limbiz.blogspot.com/

And visit flickr.com and trekearth.com to see what the growing community of Cambodian photographers are sharing with the world.