Shwedagon Pagoda

Southeast Asia extends from the volcanic craters of Sumatra to the limestone formations of northern Vietnam, combining geological features with centuries-old cultural sites. The region includes Lake Toba, one of the world's deepest crater lakes, the Banaue rice terraces that have been cultivated for over 2,000 years, and Komodo National Park, home to the world's largest living lizards. In Thailand, Wat Rong Khun draws visitors with its unconventional white architecture, while Luang Prabang in Laos blends French colonial buildings with Buddhist monasteries. The underwater world ranges from the biodiverse reefs surrounding Raja Ampat in West Papua to Sipadan Island off the coast of Sabah, where sea turtles and barracuda schools are common. The Gili Islands off Lombok provide access to coral reefs with no motorized vehicles on land. The Phong Nha-Ke Bang caves in Vietnam contain some of the world's largest cave systems, while the Chocolate Hills in Bohol form over 1,200 conical mounds. Less visited sites include the Plain of Jars in Laos with its stone vessels of unknown origin, the red lotus fields of Udon Thani in Thailand that bloom between December and February, and the abandoned Bokor Hill Station in Cambodia from the French colonial era. Mount Kinabalu rises to 13,435 feet (4,095 meters), making it the highest peak between the Himalayas and New Guinea. The region connects active volcanoes, tropical rainforests and temple complexes from different periods.

Circular architecture has fascinated builders since ancient times. This collection brings together Roman amphitheatres like the Colosseum, medieval towers such as the Round Tower in Copenhagen, baroque domed structures and modern constructions. The circular form offers practical advantages for acoustic properties, structural stability and optimal space usage. The selected buildings serve various functions: religious temples, fortifications, observatories, museums and event venues. Each example demonstrates how architects have adapted the circular form to local conditions and cultural requirements. From ancient stone structures to contemporary skyscrapers, this selection documents technical evolution across centuries.

Major temples worldwide display architectural and cultural achievements of ancient civilizations. From temples in Cambodia to pyramids in Mexico, these structures document religious practices, construction methods and social structures of their time. The complexes in Asia, Europe and America present different building styles, ornaments and ceremonial spaces.

Myanmar offers photographers an exceptional range of subjects, from ancient temple complexes to natural landscapes. The archaeological zone of Bagan, with more than 2,000 pagodas and temples spread across 40 square miles (104 square kilometers), ranks among Southeast Asia's most significant historical sites. The golden Shwedagon Pagoda in Yangon, its central stupa rising 325 feet (99 meters), dominates the skyline of the former capital. At Inle Lake, photographers document the daily life of locals who propel their boats with a distinctive leg-rowing technique, along with floating gardens and villages built on stilts. The country's temple architecture appears in various forms: the white Ananda Temple in Bagan from the 11th century, the Kuthodaw Pagoda in Mandalay with its 729 marble slabs inscribed with Buddhist texts, or the 2,478 stupas at Kakku in Shan State. U Bein Bridge near Amarapura, a 0.75-mile (1.2-kilometer) teak bridge built in 1850, draws photographers especially at sunrise and sunset. Natural formations such as the limestone caves at Pindaya containing thousands of Buddha statues, or the Golden Rock at Kyaiktiyo appearing to balance on a cliff edge, expand the photographic possibilities. Beyond the well-known sites, other compelling subjects emerge: the colonial character of Mawlamyaing, the limestone mountains around Hpa-an, the 2,417-foot (737-meter) Mount Popa with its monastery atop a volcanic plug, or Gokteik Viaduct, a 2,260-foot (689-meter) railway bridge from the British colonial period. The 590-foot (180-meter) reclining Buddha statue Win Sein Taw Ya near Mawlamyaing and the monumental Buddha statues at Monywa demonstrate the scale of religious art in the country. The beaches at Ngapali on the west coast provide contrast to the cultural and historical sites in the interior.