John McDermott to be 'Master in Residence' at Shinta Mani in Siem Reap

Shinta Mani, Sanctuary Resorts' newly opened resort in Siem Reap, Cambodia is to host renowned infra-red photographer John McDermott as its latest Master in Residence.

John McDermott has been photographing Southeast Asia since the early 1990s. From 1993 to 1997, McDermott was the Chief Photographer for Manager, a Bangkok-based English-language monthly magazine that covered business, culture and lifestyle throughout the region. During his travels, McDermott developed a strong personal interest in the many cultural heritage sites and ancient historical ruins spread across the continent.

Thus began his long-term fine art photography project documenting UNESCO World Heritage Sites and other historical places in various parts of the world, beginning with the countries of Southeast Asia. He has since photographed the ancient capitals of Ayutthaya and Sukhothai in Thailand, Luang Prabang in Laos,  the temple-strewn plains of Bagan in Myanmar; the monuments of Hue and the historical colonial fishing port of Hoi An in Vietnam, the Great Wall of China; and the stone temple ruins of Angkor, Cambodia.

Most recently McDermott has focused on Angkor to create an in-depth study of the complex in its period of rapid transition. His work has been exhibited internationally, and he is currently represented by Flatfile Photography Gallery in Chicago.

McDermott's work has been published in magazines and newspapers internationally, including The New York Times, The International Herald Tribune, Time, Newsweek, Stern, and the South China Morning Post.

McDermott has contributed images to several photographic books including Southeast Asia-Passage Through Time, published by Ringier in 2001, and A Day In The Life of Thailand, published by Collins in 1995. In the spring of 2000, McDermott spent four months photographing museums across mainland Southeast Asia to illustrate the book The Extraordinary Museums of Southeast Asia, published in 2001 by Harry N. Abrams, Inc. For this project he photographed 28 museums in five countries, and over 200 of his photographs appear in this book.

Before going to Asia, McDermott worked as a photographer and in related fields in the US, including four years in the feature film industry in Hollywood as a camera and lighting technician on more than fifteen feature films. He now divides his time between Asia and the US.

From 13 November to 17 November 2004, John will be Shinta Mani's "Master in Residence" for a three night/four day hands-on workshops for advanced amateur photographers and photo-sessions of Siem Reap's rural and folk life, such as Apsara dancers, as well as the temples of Angkor Wat including Ta Prom, location of some of John's most well-known pictures. Nearly swallowed by jungle undergrowth, the monuments look much like they did when European explorers first stumbled upon them.

Shinta Mani, whose name is derived from the Sanskrit, meaning, "the gem that provides everything one can imagine," is an 18-room luxury boutique property that provides vocational hotel education to underprivileged young Cambodians free of charge. Their tuition is funded by the hotel's revenues.

Shinta Mani is located in the French Quarter in the center of Siem Reap, within sight of the river. Shinta Mani offers guests a Sanctuary Spa (a signature facility at all Sanctuary Resorts); tours and activities; and an art gallery. For dining and drinking, visitors may choose from a restaurant, terrace bar, outdoor salas and drawing room/library. 

Sanctuary Resorts' signature Masters in Residence programs bring together specialists of various fields and interested guests and past events have included health and life-style author Daniel Reid, Shiatsu Master Terrie Liew, energetic healing with Michael Hallock and Qi Gong with Rich Brown.