Steve Schwarz Photography | Angkor - One of the Architectural Wonders of the World

Angkor – One of the Architectural Wonders of the World

Angkor is a region of Cambodia that served as the seat of the Khmer Empire, which flourished from approximately the 9th to 15th centuries. During this time, a series of state capitals and temples were built by successive Kings, abandoning the previous capital in favour of a new location with its state temple.  Each new state temple was larger and more grandiose that its predecessor. Some Kings also built large irrigation systems and water reservoirs, which provided the economic infrastructure for the successive Khmer capitals and their rulers.

The history of city of Angor can be traced back to the rein of the Khmer Hindu monarch King Jayavarman II, who chose the location for the royal court. Half a century later his son, Yashovarman, established Yashodapura (later called Angkor), the permanent capital of the Khmer Empire until the 15th century. A Khmer rebellion resulted in the 1431 sacking of Angkor by Ayutthaya, causing its population to migrate south to Longvek.

The ruins of ancient Angkor are near modern-day Siem Reap city, in Siem Reap Province, and the area is protected as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

 

Angkor Wat is the largest religious monument in the world and is one of the most important archaeological sites in Angkor.

 

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Angkor Thom  is a 3km2 walled and moated royal city and was the last and most enduring capital city of the Khmer empire. It was built in the late twelfth century by King Jayavarman VII.

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Bayon Temple is a well-known and richly decorated Khmer temple, and was the last state temple to be built at Angkor. Built in the late 12th century or early 13th century as the official state temple of the Mahayana Buddhist King Jayavarman VII, the Bayon shrine is dedicated to the Buddha. Following Jayavarman’s death, it was modified by later Hindu and Buddhist kings in accordance with their own religious preferences.

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Architecturally, Ta Prohm Temple is similar to other Jayavarman VII temples. It was built about mid-12th century to early 13th century (1186) and is dedicated to his mother.

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East Mebon and Pre Rup are often referred to as the Twin Temples. Similar in style, they were built by King Rajendravarman, but have some interesting contrasts. They are earlier Angkor temples, or rather temple mountains, and Hindu in style (dedicated to Shiva) with a crowning quincunx of towers (similar to the pattern of dots on a number 5 dice).
Of all the temples in Angkor, Pre Rup and East Mebon are among the most architecturally and appealing temples. Both temples are constructed with brick, laterite and sandstone – reflect warm red hues in the early morning or from late afternoon to sunset.

 

East Mebon

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Pre Rup

 

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Final – I hope you like the photos. Given more time, I would have gone to some of the more remote and less main-stream temples. With a family and being a teacher for the kids for the next 7 months – there is not enough time to visit all the temples, or enough time to dedicate to photography. That said, traveling with the family for 10 months is a pretty awesome experience.

Steve Schwarz Photography | Sunset in Dinosaur Provincial Park

Sunset in Dinosaur Provincial Park

These photos were all taken in Dinosaur Provincial Park, Alberta between September 6 – 12, 2014. Hard to believe that dinosaurs once roamed this area 65 million years ago.

All photos taken with a Nikon D700, Nikon 17-35mm lens with LEE 0.9 hard graduated neutral density filter and/or LEE 0.6 soft graduated neutral density filter.

** Click on the photos to view them larger **

 

Steve Schwarz Photography | Drumheller, Alberta

Drumheller, Alberta

Sunset at the Royal Tyrrell Museum of Palaeontology in Drumheller, Alberta on September 5th, 2014.

Nikon D700 with Nikon 17-35mm and Tiffen Cir-Pol Polarizer. Exposure 1/15 to 1/25 sec, f/22, ISO 200.

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Steve Schwarz Photography | Alaska Highway - Teslin, Yukon

Alaska Highway – Teslin, Yukon

Teslin is a small village located in the Yukon Territory at historical Mile 804 (Km. 1244) on the Alaska Highway, approximately halfway between Watson Lake and Whitehorse. During the Gold Rush of 1898 Teslin was a busy place as a stopover on the Canadian route to the Klondike, and the Hudson Bay Co. established a trading post for the villagers and those traveling the Klondike trail. In 2013, Teslin had a population of approximately 450 people, and facilities include an airport, museum, RCMP Detachment, school, community centre, health unit, post office, motels, restaurants, and a general store.

We passed through on August 5th, 2013.

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Scenic viewpoint on a hill overlooking the Teslin and the Nisutlin Bay Bridge

 

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Cartoon signs emphasizing the importance of Salmon to the region and its people

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The Nisutlin Bay Bridge in Teslin, an impressive seven-arch metal span, is the longest bridge on the Alaska Highway.

 

 

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A netted bird, soon to be banded as part of a Canadian Wildlife Service bird banding project

 

 

Sunset on Teslin Lake. Yes – it was buggy that night, and they were all over my camera lens too. Nikon D700, Nikon 14-24mm lens, 1/25th sec f/16, ISO 400. Click image to view it larger.

Sunset on Teslin Lake. A relatively bug-free photo, by blowing on the camera lens during the exposure. Nikon D700, Nikon 14-24mm lens, 1/25th sec f/16, ISO 400. Click image to view it larger.

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Sunset on Teslin Lake. A relatively bug-free photo, by blowing on the camera lens during the exposure. Nikon D700, Nikon 14-24mm lens, 1/100th sec f/16, ISO 400. Click the image to view it larger.

 

Sunset on Teslin Lake. A relatively bug-free photo, by blowing on the camera lens during the exposure. Nikon D700, Nikon 14-24mm lens, 1/100th sec f/16, ISO 400. Click the image to view it larger.