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Looking for subject matter in Phnom Penh I've been reading bits and pieces on the Boeng Salang slum area and wondering how a westerner walking around it with a DSLR camera would be received. I imagine it wouldn't be that dissimilar to other slums I've walked in India and Kathmandu where unless you are paying particular interest in their morning ablutions or intruding into an individual's personal living space without permission, people aren't overly perturbed by your presence. Would I be right in that assumption?

Anyone happened through there?

You may be right; on the other hand you might lose an expensive camera.

taabarang wrote: ↑Mon Sep 09, 2019 8:09 am You may be right; on the other hand you might lose an expensive camera.

It would be preferable not to.

Along the dirty old river is a bit scruffy but otherwise it's not particularly different than any other area of the city. I've been through there countless times.

John Bingham wrote: ↑Mon Sep 09, 2019 8:19 am Along the dirty old river is a bit scruffy but otherwise it's not particularly different than any other area of the city. I've been through there countless times.

Did you have a camera or any other visible items of value with you?

John Bingham wrote: ↑Mon Sep 09, 2019 8:19 am Along the dirty old river is a bit scruffy but otherwise it's not particularly different than any other area of the city. I've been through there countless times.

The rail line is still there, I guess.

What's the interest in going there , is it just to capture people's poverty?

atst wrote: ↑Mon Sep 09, 2019 8:30 am What's the interest in going there , is it just to capture people's poverty?

I'm unsure at this time. As I mentioned in my post I'm looking for subject matter, which hopefully will result in the form of an essay. The motivation, story, reasons behind such a photographic essay would have to be considered before deciding to undertake it. Approaching it with the idea of "just to capture people's poverty" would be a photographically naive and simplistic approach, I think.

Kung-fu Hillbilly wrote: ↑Mon Sep 09, 2019 8:25 am The rail line is still there, I guess.

There's no rail line in Boueng Salang that I know of.

There's still a non-active line there. I think it just peters out now, but it might have originally gone to some of the factories by Russei Keo.