SIEM Reap’s new venture, The Angkor Photo Club,  has been founded by Dave Perkes, the owner of Peace of Angkor Tours and a keen photographer with over 30 years’ experience.

He says photography clubs are particularly popular in Britain and the United States, but such societies are few and far between in Southeast Asia.

The Angkor Photo Club website is an online organisation where people can join the forum for free. Joining the forum is the ticket to becoming a member, where participants can post their pictures, as well as contribute to discussions and give feedback on others’ work.

Perkes said a number of people had already registered on the site, but due to a technical problem with the forum, they were yet to be approved. But he hopes for a good turnout at the first meeting on Tuesday, January 18, and hopes that the meetings will become monthly events.

Perkes said: “The first meeting will be an introductory meeting where people can meet each other.

I will be showing a slideshow of images of what people can do with their pictures when they have finished.

“We will probably set a photo theme for each month to get people thinking about different ways to use their camera.”

Perkes said the club would like to give assistance to Khmer photographers in the region, as well as expats.

“It’s not intended to be an elitist group, but instead to include the everyday photographer and encourage experts to give advice.”

He said in future they were hoping to run photography workshops, Photoshop classes and invite guest speakers.

“There’s an incredible amount of photography opportunities in Siem Reap.

I feel confident that what we are doing will grow.”

He said he hopes the club can have some involvement with the Angkor Photo Festival in the future, but at the moment there is no connection between the two entities.

The Angkor Photo Club will hold its first meeting on January 18 at the Peace of Angkor Tours office; 0435 Street 20, Wat Bo Village, Siem Reap. More information can be found on the website at www.angkorphotoclub.com or by emailing [email protected]