Tonle Sap 1 Ed. 2 of 10

Finalist in the 2016 Bowness Photography Prize, this image is part of a series of aerial images of the Tonle Sap in Cambodia, the largest freshwater lake in SE Asia. It was taken from a helicopter at sunset, looking from the mouth of the Siem Reap river towards the floating village of Chong Kneas. The arrow shapes in the water are fish traps. The image was published in German GEO magazine in 2017.
Third prize in the Independent Photographers open competition with judges' comment:
"3rd Prize: Stuart Chape

“When it comes to documenting the impact of human life on our planet, photography is one of the most powerful and vivid instrument available to man. It is a tool that allows us to understand, discover and marvel at the beauty residing in our habitat. This magnificent aerial view point of the Cambodian floodplain not only presents the grandeur of our ecosystem, but also the beauty residing in the possible balance between man and his environment. With arrows shaped fishing net seemingly connecting the natural world and provide food to man’s floating village. A stunning reminder of interconnectedness” – The Independent Photographer Editors

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Stuart Chape is an award-winning photographer with stand-alone and contributory exhibitions in New York, Florida, Sydney, Brisbane, Fremantle, Mexico City, Paris, Kuala Lumpur, Marrakech, Glasgow and Kew Gardens, London. While he specialises in aerial landscapes photographed from helicopters and light aircraft, portraits and photography of documentary and social issues form an important part of his portfolio. His awards include: 2025 Australian Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year People’s Choice Award; 2025 Umencia Portrait Awards - Gold Award; 1839 Color Photography Gold Award Landscapes in 2025; World Top 10 Landscape Photographers Gold Award 2021; winner International Garden Photographer of the Year Plants and Planet Category 2021; first prize winner in the Australian Geographic ANZANG Nature Photographer of the Year Impact Category (and Runner Up - Wilderness Category); winner of the Zoological Society of London Photography Prize; winner Proify Photography Award; winner Silver Camera International Award in the Federation of European Professional Photographers Photographer of the Year Awards. He is a two-times exhibited finalist in the Bowness Photography Prize, Monash Gallery of Art; exhibited finalist in the Clifton Art Award and the Brisbane Art Prize, shortlisted and exhibited in the Fremantle Portrait Prize, highly commended in the Kuala Lumpur Portrait Prize, semi-finalist in the Moran Photographic Award and Head-On Photo Festival and shortlisted in Sony World Photography Awards Landscape Category 2022.