John Ortner, Preah Vihear

Well whaddya know; no sooner do I post an interview with Jon Ortner than do I hear he’s being feted over at the National Geographic blog. Specifically, they discuss his work at the sanctuary Preah Vihear, which is on the border between Thailand and Cambodia.

It’s really a fascinating read, take a look.

Here’s a sneak peek…

“Guarded by giant seven-headed serpent gods high on a mountain, on the border between Thailand and Cambodia, is an ancient sacred site that’s often been at the center of conflict.

Jon Ortner, photographer and author of the book ‘Angkor, Celestial Temples of the Khmer Empire,’ shares his first encounters and impressions of the thousand-year-old sanctuary Preah Vihear in this essay of words and photos composed especially for NatGeo News Watch.”

More from Jon:

My wife Martha and I were traveling along the rugged Dangrek Mountains where Thailand and Cambodia share a much-disputed border–and which is also home to some of the most magnificent temples in Asia. It was March 1997, and we were approaching our objective, the reason we had traveled so far.

Our driver had stopped the car and motioned for us to start walking. Strangely alone, we walked down the empty road for 20 minutes. But as I took a last glance at Preah Vihear in the distance, the Thai officer reminded me that visiting this unique and beautiful place was forbidden, and that no attempt should be made to cross the border a few hundred yards away.

Jon Ortner, A monk stands beside the collapsed tower (prang) of the innermost sanctuary. The courtyard is enclosed by galleries.

You can read the rest at Nat Geo. Hint: He got the shot. And made a book!

We have Ortner fever.