Oscillations: Tonlé Sap, Cambodia

Tonlé Sap Lake, in the heart of Cambodia, is one of the world’s most dynamic ecosystems and a vital store of irrecoverable carbon — carbon locked in forests and wetlands that, if lost through deforestation, burning, or development, could not be recovered in time to prevent climate catastrophe. These flooded forests not only safeguard global carbon reserves but also provide food, fuel, and protection to the millions of people who live around the lake and its floating villages.

In Oscillations, I explore the profound relationship between nature’s cycles and human life on Tonlé Sap. Working alongside Conservation International, I set out to portray the drama of the flood pulse — the seasonal rise and fall of water levels that can vary by as much as ten metres — and the way these oscillations shape trees, wildlife, and entire communities.

My visual language combines long exposure, aerial lighting, and light painting — techniques that reveal what I call terrestrial chiaroscuro. Each image seeks to capture more than a single moment, instead expressing the resilience, fragility, and haunting beauty of a landscape in constant motion.

This work is part of Vital: Our Irreplaceable Earth, curated by Ami Vitale – Lui-Walton Innovators Fellow at Conservation International, in collaboration with scientist Allie Goldstein.

Behind the Scenes video by Zac Henderson

Gnarled tree at night surrounded by swirling drone light art trails and dense foliage, capturing the magic of nighttime landscape photography.
A glowing drone light trail leads to a treehouse at dusk, surrounded by trees under a colorful twilight sky, creating a touch of futuristic magic.
A tree glows under bright light at night, with cows grazing nearby and spider webs visible in the foreground, creating a scene reminiscent of drone light painting.
Night scene with trees in water, a red moon, and a glowing, swirling drone light art display illuminating the sky above the trees.
A large tree trunk in a forest at night with glowing white light swirling around it, capturing the magic of drone light art in this striking nighttime landscape photography.
A rustic riverside shack at night becomes a futuristic scene, as a bright light trail curves above and reflects on red water—perfect for nighttime landscape photography.
A glowing light shines through trees at dusk, with a large mesh net hanging among the branches—an ethereal scene reminiscent of a fine artist or photographer envisioning a futuristic forest installation.
A bright drone light painting shines through a twisting tree in a forest at dusk, with a pink sky in the background.
A glowing white orb lights up a dark forest path lined with green and orange-leaved trees at night, creating a captivating scene for nighttime landscape photography.
Boats docked by rustic riverside houses at dusk, with a bright moon lighting the evening sky—an inviting scene for nighttime landscape photography enthusiasts.
Gnarled tree at night surrounded by swirling drone light art trails and dense foliage, capturing the magic of nighttime landscape photography.
A glowing drone light trail leads to a treehouse at dusk, surrounded by trees under a colorful twilight sky, creating a touch of futuristic magic.
A tree glows under bright light at night, with cows grazing nearby and spider webs visible in the foreground, creating a scene reminiscent of drone light painting.
Night scene with trees in water, a red moon, and a glowing, swirling drone light art display illuminating the sky above the trees.
A large tree trunk in a forest at night with glowing white light swirling around it, capturing the magic of drone light art in this striking nighttime landscape photography.
A rustic riverside shack at night becomes a futuristic scene, as a bright light trail curves above and reflects on red water—perfect for nighttime landscape photography.
A glowing light shines through trees at dusk, with a large mesh net hanging among the branches—an ethereal scene reminiscent of a fine artist or photographer envisioning a futuristic forest installation.
A bright drone light painting shines through a twisting tree in a forest at dusk, with a pink sky in the background.
A glowing white orb lights up a dark forest path lined with green and orange-leaved trees at night, creating a captivating scene for nighttime landscape photography.
Boats docked by rustic riverside houses at dusk, with a bright moon lighting the evening sky—an inviting scene for nighttime landscape photography enthusiasts.