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Why do some photographers get noticed and others don’t.

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Why do some photographers get noticed and others don’t. What is the trick?

This is a question that many aspiring photographers ask themselves, and there is no easy answer. Photography is a creative field, and different people have different tastes and preferences. What appeals to one person may not appeal to another. However, there are some general tips that can help you improve your chances of getting noticed as a photographer.

  • Find your niche. Don’t try to copy what others are doing, but instead focus on what makes you unique and passionate. What kind of photography do you enjoy the most? What kind of stories do you want to tell with your images? What kind of style and mood do you want to create? By finding your niche, you can develop your own voice and vision as a photographer, and attract people who share your interests and values.
  • Be consistent. Once you find your niche, stick to it and be consistent in your work. This doesn’t mean you can’t experiment or try new things, but it does mean you should have a clear direction and purpose for your photography. Consistency helps you build your brand and reputation and also helps you grow as a photographer. People will recognize your work and trust your quality.
  • Be visible. If you want to get noticed, you need to put yourself out there and show your work to the world. There are many platforms and channels where you can showcase your photography, such as social media, websites, blogs, magazines, galleries, contests, etc. Choose the ones that suit your goals and audience, and be active and engaging. Share your work regularly, but also interact with other photographers and potential clients. Give feedback, ask for feedback, join communities, network, collaborate, etc. The more visible you are, the more opportunities you will have.
  • Be persistent. Getting noticed as a photographer is not easy, and it takes time and effort. You will face challenges, rejections, criticisms, and competition along the way. Don’t let that discourage you or stop you from pursuing your passion. Keep learning, improving, creating, and sharing your work. Keep trying new things and reaching out to new people. Keep believing in yourself and your vision. Eventually, you will find your audience and your success.

Covering Local Political Events in Cambodia

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Covering local political events and taking pictures in Cambodia can be a risky activity for journalists and photographers. Cambodia has a history of political violence, repression and censorship. According to the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), Cambodia ranks 144th out of 180 countries in the 2020 World Press Freedom Index. The CPJ also reports that at least 13 journalists have been killed in Cambodia since 1994, most of them while covering political or environmental issues.

In addition, many journalists and media outlets have faced harassment, intimidation, lawsuits, arrests and closures for criticizing the government or exposing corruption.

Therefore, anyone who wants to cover local political events and take pictures in Cambodia should be aware of the potential dangers and take precautions to protect themselves and their sources. Some of the tips that CPJ recommends are:

– Research the political and security situation in the areas you plan to visit and avoid areas with active conflicts or protests.

– Carry a press card or accreditation from a reputable media organization and show it only when necessary.

– Use encrypted communication tools and secure storage devices to protect your data and contacts.

– Be discreet and respectful when taking pictures and avoid drawing attention to yourself or your equipment.

– Seek permission from local authorities or community leaders before entering sensitive areas or interviewing people.

– Be prepared to delete or hide your pictures if you are stopped or searched by security forces or hostile groups.

– Have an emergency plan and contact person in case you are detained, injured or threatened.

Covering local political events and taking pictures in Cambodia can be a rewarding and challenging experience for journalists and photographers who want to document the realities and stories of this Southeast Asian country. However, it can also be a dangerous activity that requires caution, preparation and professionalism.

I have always been passionate about covering local political events and taking pictures in Cambodia. I believe that journalism is a powerful tool to inform the public and hold the authorities accountable. That is why I decided to pursue this career despite the risks and challenges involved.

Cambodia is a country that has been struggling with political repression, human rights violations, and social unrest for decades. The ruling party, the Cambodian People’s Party (CPP), has been in power since 1985 and has eliminated any meaningful opposition or dissent. The 2018 elections were widely criticized as a sham, as the main opposition party, the Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP), was banned by the Supreme Court in 2017. The CPP won all 125 seats in the National Assembly, effectively turning Cambodia into a one-party state.

As a journalist, I face many dangers and difficulties in reporting on the political situation in Cambodia. The government has enacted draconian laws that restrict freedom of expression, assembly, and association. The media is tightly controlled by the state or by CPP-aligned tycoons. Independent journalists and activists are often harassed, intimidated, arrested, or even killed for exposing corruption, human rights abuses, or environmental issues. The Covid-19 pandemic has been used as a pretext to further crackdown on dissent and criticism.

Despite these challenges, I am determined to continue my work and document the realities of Cambodia. I use my camera as a means to capture the stories of ordinary people who suffer from poverty, injustice, and oppression. I also use my pen as a voice to advocate for democracy, human rights, and social change. I hope that my work can inspire others to join me in a better future for Cambodia.

Defining your photographic comfort zone

cambodia, cameras, conflict, homelessness, Lenses, opinons, thoughts, photography, street, Travel, voluntary, war

One of the most important aspects of photography is finding your own style and voice. But how do you do that? How do you know what kind of photos you like to take and what kind of photos you are good at taking? One way to approach this question is by defining your photographic comfort zone.

Your photographic comfort zone is the range of subjects, situations, and techniques that you feel comfortable and confident with. It’s where you can express yourself freely and creatively, without feeling anxious or frustrated. It’s where you can enjoy the process of making images and have fun with your camera.

But how do you find your photographic comfort zone? Well, there is no definitive answer to that, as everyone’s comfort zone is different and personal. However, here are some possible steps that might help you:

  • Experiment with different genres and styles of photography. Try shooting landscapes, portraits, street, macro, wildlife, abstract, etc. See what appeals to you and what doesn’t. See what challenges you and what bores you. See what makes you happy and what makes you stressed.
  • Analyze your existing photos. Look at your portfolio and see if there are any patterns or themes that emerge. What kind of subjects do you tend to photograph the most? What kind of lighting do you prefer? What kind of colors do you use? What kind of mood or emotion do you convey? What kind of composition or perspective do you favor?
  • Ask for feedback. Show your photos to other people and see what they think. Ask them what they like and dislike about your photos. Ask them what they think your strengths and weaknesses are. Ask them what they think your style or voice is. Be open to constructive criticism and learn from it.
  • Challenge yourself. Once you have a sense of your photographic comfort zone, don’t be afraid to step out of it from time to time. Try something new or different that pushes you beyond your limits. Try a new technique or a new genre that you are not familiar with. Try a new location or a new subject that you are not comfortable with. Try to overcome your fears or insecurities and grow as a photographer.

Defining your photographic comfort zone can help you discover your own style and voice as a photographer. It can also help you improve your skills and expand your horizons. However, remember that your comfort zone is not fixed or static. It can change over time as you evolve as a photographer and as a person. So keep exploring, keep learning, and keep enjoying photography!

Choosing what images to make. How to find inspiration for my photography.

cambodia, cameras, opinons, thoughts, photography, pictures, street, Travel, voluntary, war

One of the most common challenges that photographers face is deciding what to photograph. Sometimes, you may have a clear idea of what you want to capture, but other times, you may feel stuck or uninspired. How can you overcome this creative block and find new sources of inspiration for your photography?

There are many ways to spark your imagination and get motivated to take photos. Here are some tips that may help you choose what images to make and how to find inspiration for your photography.

  • Explore different genres and styles. Photography is a diverse and versatile art form that can express many different moods, emotions, and messages. You can experiment with different genres and styles of photography, such as portrait, landscape, street, abstract, macro, wildlife, documentary, and more. Each genre has its own challenges and opportunities for creativity. You can also try different techniques and effects, such as long exposure, HDR, black and white, bokeh, and more. By exploring different genres and styles, you can discover new perspectives and possibilities for your photography.
  • Follow other photographers. One of the best ways to learn and improve your photography is to follow other photographers who inspire you. You can find many talented and creative photographers online, on platforms such as Instagram, Flickr, 500px, Behance, and more. You can also look for photography blogs, magazines, books, podcasts, and videos that showcase the work and insights of other photographers. By following other photographers, you can learn from their skills, techniques, tips, and stories. You can also get inspired by their vision, style, and themes.
  • Join a photography community. Another way to find inspiration for your photography is to join a photography community where you can interact with other photographers who share your passion and interest. You can find many photography communities online or offline, such as forums, groups, clubs, workshops, contests, and more. By joining a photography community, you can get feedback, advice, support, and encouragement from other photographers. You can also participate in challenges, projects, collaborations, and events that can stimulate your creativity and challenge your skills.
  • Go outside your comfort zone. Sometimes, the best way to find inspiration for your photography is to go outside your comfort zone and try something new or different. You can challenge yourself to photograph something that you normally wouldn’t or that scares you. You can also travel to a new place or revisit an old one with a fresh eye. You can also experiment with new equipment or settings that you are not familiar with. By going outside your comfort zone, you can push your boundaries and discover new aspects of yourself and your photography.
  • Have fun and enjoy the process. Finally, the most important tip to find inspiration for your photography is to have fun and enjoy the process. Photography is not only a skill or a profession but also a hobby and a passion. You should not take it too seriously or put too much pressure on yourself to create perfect images. Instead, you should focus on the joy and satisfaction that photography brings you. You should also appreciate the beauty and wonder of the world around you and capture it with your camera. By having fun and enjoying the process, you can find inspiration for your photography in every moment.

Love is ALL

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Love is all you need or so the song says. But is it really true? Can love solve all our problems and make us happy? In this blog post, I will explore the meaning and power of love, and share some tips on how to cultivate more love in your life.

Love is a complex and multifaceted emotion that can be experienced in different ways. There is romantic love, which is the attraction and affection we feel for a partner. There is familial love, which is the bond and loyalty we have with our relatives. There is platonic love, which is the friendship and camaraderie we share with our peers. There is self-love, which is the respect and acceptance we have for ourselves. And there is universal love, which is the compassion and kindness we have for all living beings.

All these forms of love are important and valuable, and they can enrich our lives in different ways. However, they are not always easy to achieve or maintain. Sometimes we face challenges or conflicts that test our love. Sometimes we feel lonely or unloved. Sometimes we struggle to love ourselves or others. Sometimes we lose sight of what love really means.

So how can we overcome these difficulties and cultivate more love in our lives? Here are some suggestions:

  • Be grateful for the love you have. Appreciate the people who love you and show them your gratitude. Express your feelings and emotions honestly and openly. Don’t take love for granted or expect it to be perfect. Celebrate the small moments of joy and connection that love brings.
  • Be open to new love. Don’t close your heart or mind to the possibility of finding or giving love. Be curious and adventurous in your relationships. Explore new interests and hobbies that can bring you closer to others. Don’t be afraid to take risks or make mistakes in love. Learn from your experiences and grow as a person.
  • Be compassionate with yourself and others. Don’t judge yourself or others harshly for being imperfect or flawed. Accept yourself and others as you are, with your strengths and weaknesses. Forgive yourself and others for hurting or disappointing you. Support yourself and others in times of need. Treat yourself and others with kindness and respect.
  • Be mindful of your thoughts and actions. Don’t let negative thoughts or emotions cloud your vision of love. Recognize when you are feeling angry, sad, jealous, insecure, or fearful, and try to understand why. Don’t act on impulse or react in ways that can harm yourself or others. Choose to act with love instead of hate, with generosity instead of greed, with honesty instead of deceit.
  • Be inspired by love. Don’t limit your definition of love to a single person or thing. Find inspiration in the many expressions of love that exist in the world. Listen to music, read books, watch movies, or visit places that celebrate love. Learn from the stories and examples of people who have loved deeply and passionately. Discover your own way of expressing and sharing your love.

Love is all you need or so the song says. And I agree with that statement. Love is not only a feeling but also a choice, a practice, and a way of life. Love can make us happier, healthier, and more fulfilled. Love can make us better people and make the world a better place.

So let’s choose to love more every day, in every way possible.

How to Document the Plight of Homeless or Street People

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Homelessness is a complex and urgent social issue that affects millions of people around the world. Many factors can contribute to homelessness, such as poverty, mental illness, substance abuse, domestic violence, unemployment, discrimination, and lack of affordable housing. Homeless or street people face many challenges and risks, such as hunger, exposure, illness, violence, stigma, and isolation.

Documenting the plight of homeless or street people can be a powerful way to raise awareness, empathy, and action among the public and policymakers. However, it also involves ethical and practical challenges that require careful consideration and respect. Here are some tips on how to document the plight of homeless or street people in a responsible and respectful way:

  • Do your research. Before you start documenting, learn about the causes and consequences of homelessness, the policies and programs that address it, and the organizations and activists that work on it. This will help you understand the context and complexity of the issue and avoid stereotypes and misinformation.
  • Ask for consent. Always ask for permission before you take photos, videos, or interviews of homeless or street people. Explain who you are, why you are documenting, how you will use the material, and what are the potential risks and benefits for them. Respect their decision and privacy. Do not coerce or pressure them to participate or share information they are not comfortable with.
  • Be sensitive and respectful. Treat homeless or street people with dignity and compassion. Do not judge, blame, or pity them. Do not exploit their vulnerability or sensationalize their suffering. Do not impose your views or expectations on them. Listen to their stories and perspectives with an open mind and heart.
  • Be honest and accurate. Do not manipulate or misrepresent the material you collect. Do not edit or alter the images or words of homeless or street people without their consent. Do not omit or distort important facts or context. Do not make false or exaggerated claims or promises. Acknowledge your sources and limitations.
  • Be responsible and accountable. Consider the impact and implications of your documentation on homeless or street people and their communities. Protect their identity and safety if needed. Follow up with them if possible and share the results of your documentation. Respect their rights and wishes regarding the use and distribution of the material. Seek feedback and criticism from them and others who are knowledgeable about the issue. Learn from your mistakes and improve your practice.

Khmer Sight Foundation 01/04/23 trip to Kampot

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The Khmer Sight Foundation’s Saturday pre-assessment trip to Kampot was a huge success. Travelling early in the morning to a location 175 kilometres from Phnom Penh and setting up, assisted by local health personnel, to see over 100 people with suspected eye issues.
Each client had a basic eye exam before being evaluated by the attending doctor to discover any underlying eye disorders.
Any patient who has a detected eye condition will be invited to the clinic in Phnom Penh to have the necessary surgery at no cost in the near future.

http://khmersight.com/

The Khmer Sight Foundation is a non-profit organization that aims to eliminate avoidable blindness in Cambodia by training local eye care professionals and providing free eye surgeries to the poor. Founded in 2015 by His Excellency Sean Ngu and the late Dr Kim Frumar, the foundation works with international partners and volunteers to improve the quality and accessibility of eye care services in Cambodia.

According to the foundation’s website, over 180,000 Cambodians are blind, and 90% of blindness is avoidable. The main causes of blindness are cataracts, uncorrected vision, glaucoma, corneal scarring and pterygium. Cambodia has one of the lowest numbers of eye specialist doctors per capita in the world, and most of the poor live in rural areas where there is little or no eye care available.

The Khmer Sight Foundation’s mission is to train the next generation of eye care health professionals in Cambodia so that the country can become self-reliant in the provision of high-quality, safe and effective eye care. The foundation selects local graduates to study internationally on scholarships to further their education in ophthalmology and pass on their training. It also develops surgical and diagnostic skills and provides scholarships abroad to train in sub-specialities that are lacking in Cambodia, such as corneal and retinal issues and paediatric conditions.

The foundation also runs a charitable mission offering free cataract surgery based at multiple charitable hospitals in Phnom Penh. The foundation’s volunteer health workers visit remote rural communities to conduct eye screenings and provide basic instructions on eye hygiene. International specialists help by not only providing training but also conducting free surgery for the poorest people in Cambodia. These surgeries are life-changing and make a tangible difference to local communities.

The Khmer Sight Foundation is a remarkable example of how local and international collaboration can help address a major health issue in a developing country. By empowering local eye care professionals and providing free eye care services to the needy, the foundation is helping to restore the gift of sight to many thousands of Cambodians.

Volunteers – Khmer Sight Foundation.

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What a challenging but excellent week helping the volunteers with Khmer Sight Foundation complete 116 surgeries over 4 days. Hard work and very busy but still managed to make a few pictures for the team.

The first day was pretty hectic, with new people getting to know each other, learning where everything was and who was doing what. Dr Gupta, the team leader with the help of the permanent staff at the clinic got things running like a well-oiled machine, the staff helping each other and getting do something in the most efficient way possible to enable as many patients to be seen.

The patience and gratitude shown by the Cambodian people waiting to be seen was heartwarming and enabled the doctors to see and treat many more people.

People working together to help others who cannot help themselves are always great to witness, and the potential change in the lives of those treated cannot be measured in money. Imagine being almost blind and then, because of the hard work of KSF, being able to see again, like a miracle.

Overcoming fear and apprehension, the staff showed understanding and kindness. People fear the unknown and things they don’t understand and need support throughout the process and the Khmer volunteers achieved this admirable. Seeing the happiness and relief on people’s faces when this ordeal was done made all the hard work worthwhile.

Personally, I did very little in comparison to the work the team achieved, I helped where I could and just hope that my pictures will add something to the team’s trip. Memories are made in pictures.

A celebratory dinner, after a long day, when people could let their hair down a little, and many friends made.

What to know more about KSF

http://khmersight.com/

Khmer Sight Foundation. Assessment trip to Kampot Area 2023

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What a busy two days spent working hard, by the team, to identify the people with the greatest need for further treament. The team assessed over 350 people over the 2 days with over 100 people needing further treatment.

The team was supported by the local administration which provided support staff from various clinics in the area.

10,000 Cambodians suffer avoidable blindness each year. 90% of blindness is avoidable with the right care and skilled doctors to provide it. Sadly Cambodia has one of the lowest numbers of eye specialist doctors per capita in the world. Many people living in rural areas have no access to eye care, meaning their Cataracts, uncorrected vision, glaucoma, corneal scarring and pterygium go untreated.

All the people from KSF are volunteers and provide their skills and expertise without charge. They work hard and long in difficult conditions without complaint to try and provide this much-needed service to the Cambodian people.

Want to know more : http://khmersight.com/