WELCOME
Welcome to my web site and the photography work I do in Cambodia. In 2006 I made an impulsive move to Cambodia to run guided photography tours in a country that has become known as 'The Kingdom of Wonder'. 4 years later I am not disappointed; on the contrary I am exhilarated - as I am rewarded in many more ways than I ever imagined.
My photography tours now include other parts of S.E Asia including Vietnam, Laos and Thailand that keep me busy, but it is here in Cambodia I am truly engaged in practicing photography with more compulsion than I have ever had in my life. In Cambodia I have found myself running weekend photography day trips, private photography classes and private photography tours but I have also found time to work for most of the best magazines, many of the bigger advertising agents and several other organizations making Cambodia a better place to live for Cambodian people. Because of this constant engagement I have been privileged to get to know Cambodia on many different levels and because of that I feel I have an increasing advantage in running photography tours in Cambodia from an insiders point of view.
It’s hard to know where to start the story of how a young man, who grew up vaguely aware that Cambodia was probably the last place on earth anybody would want to go on holiday, ended up running photography tours with a holiday slant in that very country. Letting you know I have been a keen professional photographer and seasoned traveler for over 20 years helps but my Cambodia story started with a commission by Food & Travel Magazine 5 years ago to photograph a section called ‘ The Gourmet Traveler'. I thought I had come just to photograph the food but no matter how surprisingly wonderful the food was I also almost instantly found myself being charmed by the people. People, who for all I knew had been dragged to hell and back (in my life time), by a guy called Pol Pot. Pol Pot apparently invented his name to stand for Political Potential but the world had learned too late that his notion of potential had systematically tortured, slaughtered or starved a fifth of the population. By all rights many of the survivors deserved to be bitter and twisted and I half expected to be caught up in a whirl-wind of misery, but on the contrary the people I met seemed to be wonderfully at ease with themselves. Not only at ease with themselves but yielding a refreshingly generous smile for all around them, in a way even the most privileged people in the world had forgotten about.
I had only been given 5 days to finish my story but Cambodia had already cast its spell on me, I had fallen in love; not with a person but with a people. It's not true to say I never went back home (I did physically to deliver many great pictures to the magazine office), but I am not sure I did spiritually. I was only in London for a couple of weeks before I was making plans to go back to Phnom Penh. Within a year I had moved here lock, stock and barrel.
It's not difficult to take good pictures in Cambodia and the iconic status of Angkor Wat and it's surrounding temples is the obvious place to start, but it also seems to me that every corner I turn I am presented me with something equally beautiful and curious to photograph. Cambodia has been stuck in it's difficult past for too long and is now reaching out for a brighter future at break neck speed. Photographically it is often finding that juxtaposition of the new and the old in the same frame that makes so many scenes intriguing. However, no matter how many great scenes I come across it is always the people themselves that keep charming me and luckily most are not camera shy. Against a back drop of magnificent temples or the clutter of an urban environment trying to find it's feet again it is the people of Cambodia I hope to show to my visitors on my photography tours, but it is also the reason I feel confident to teach my true passion here 'Engaging portraits of people in a travel environment'.
So please, come and enjoy and go home with great photographs; be it great temples or beautiful people - you wont be disappointed.
PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHER
Nathan is a professional photographer and works from his life style / still life studio he calls 'So Shoot Me Studio'. Recognized both for his passion and reliability he works for many of the best advertising agencies and magazines in Cambodia. He is a highly respected all round photographer and especially enjoys working in the provinces for local NGOs and aid agencies trying to improve the quality of live in rural Cambodia.
GROUP TOURS
Nathan Horton often works in association with adventure holiday specialists 'All Points East' in order to offer very exciting group photography holidays of Cambodia (Images Of Cambodia) and group photography tours of Laos (Images Of Laos). These 10 to 12 day guided photography tours are holidays aimed at keen amateurs and aspiring professional photographers alike, The itinerary's are designed to give an in depth view of the country but the emphasis is to offer a stimulating environment in which to take photos. The tours always include some classroom time when Nathan teaches how to use a digital SLR camera to it's full creative potential and how to get the most out of S.E Asia's many photographic opportunities by taking an in-depth look at what makes good travel photography. He also sets various photographic tasks, insures people are in the right place at the right time and oversees relaxed photography tutorials when participants are encouraged to show their photos and discus their work. Beyond all of that, Nathan uniquely explores the ethical issues of travel photography with special consideration to photographing people in a foreign country without upsetting them.
PRIVATE TOURS
When not working for All Points East Nathan runs private photographic tours of Angkor Temples, Phnom Penh and more remote areas of Cambodia. His extensive knowledge of Angkor will insure the best temples are visited at the best times of day and hidden gems don't go missed. His extensive knowledge of rural Cambodia (as well as speaking a little of the language) puts him in a unique position to reveal the other side of Cambodia (Beyond Angkor) that many other tourists miss from a photographic perspective.
DAY TRIPS
From Phnom Penh, Nathan also offers photographic day trips to Silk Island Koh Dach ) Kompong Chhnang and Udong.
STOCK
This website offers an extensive photographic stock library of Cambodia and Laos images for sale. View under 'My Portfolios'.