Christopher Wise

Location: Bangkok, Thailand

Christopher Wise grew up skiing and wandering the woods of Vermont. He has worked as a photographer based in Bangkok since 2001. Assignments range from whole hearted indulgence in the 5-star resorts of the Maldives to hard scrabble trips up the Andaman Islands looking for the elusive Jawara people. Before pursuing photography he was a graphic designer in New York with his own design agency. His work has been published in Travel+Leisure, Frommer’s Budget Travel, Conde Nast Traveler US & UK, Gourmet, Departures, Men’s Vogue & Men’s Journal. His photographs have been recognized by the American Photography (AP) competition — images were chosen for AP 17, AP 21 and AP 23. His personal photo essay, Pattayaland, was shown at the Angkor Photography Festival 2007. In addition to his assignments he has been pursing personal stories on the effects of tourism and documenting locations where tourists and locals coexist on an ongoing basis.

website: http://www.lifecw.com/
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Christopher Wise: Slideshow | Grid View
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  • Vann Nath at his studio surrounded by his paintings showing his experiences of arrest and incarceration at S-21.
  • Signs in Khmer at S-21 for visitors to behave with solemnity at Tuol Sleng Geocide Museum. Under the Khmer Rouge it was S-21 torture center formerly Tuol Svay Prey High School.
  • Files at the Documentations Center of Cambodia. The center has gathered most of the documentary evidence to prosecute the 5 Khmer Rouge leaders on trial.
  • A villager from Takeo Province at outside the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia. Her husband and niece were taken away and executed by the Khmer Rouge.
  • Skulls piled at the memorial stupa at Choeung Ek killing field.
  • A Cambodian media technician listens to testimony during the bail hearing for the head of S-21 torture center at the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia.
  • White go-go boots worn by young women trying to attract customers to a beer bar.
  • Anh, a moto-taxi driver, works in Siem Reap while his wife and daughter stay in Phnom Penh. He shares a small wooden house with other tourist industry workers.
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  • The public gallery at the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia where the five former Khmer Rouge leaders are being held for trial.
  • A ladyboy in red sequined outfit grabs a Japanese tourist.
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  • A Thai woman gives a foreign tourist a massage during the mid-day heat.
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  • A tour guide in Siem Reap sits in the single room he shares with his friend who works at a hotel.
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  • A ladyboy (transsexual) poses with cudly toys.
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  • Tour guide and caretaker of at the tomb of General Tuan Shi-wen head of KMT Fifth Army