Do you want to become more comfortable with the technical aspects of your camera while learning in an inspiring environment? Creative Escapes offers a four-day intensive course taught in Cambodia by two professional U.K.-based photographers: Jon Cunningham, a professional travel and lifestyle photographer with clients including Condé Nast, Vogue Travel and Small Luxury Hotels, and Mike Smith, an advertising photographer with clients ranging from Paul Smith to Diesel.

The workshop begins after arriving at the contemporary FCC Cambodia hotel in the heart of Siem Reap. The first day consists of lectures and hands-on exercises that cover the basics of camera control and exposure. You are taught basic and advanced camera operation, the concepts of exposure, aperture, shutter speed and ISO, as well as  light metering, highlights and shadows.

On day two, venture out for an in-the-field assignment to implement your newly acquired skills. Also learn advanced camera and image manipulation such as bracketing and white balance, lens selection and properties, and composition rules and examples. The day ends with a presentation on different genres of photography and its most famous artists, paying specific attention to what makes an image great.

Day three focuses on how to find and capture great images by getting students into the surrounding region. Different types of photography such as portraiture, still life and documentary will be explored by visiting the local markets, wineries or the countryside villages. Students will concentrate on how to translate creative ideas into shots; how to approach a subject and the use of natural, supplementary and fill lighting. Students are also divided into groups and asked to research and shoot a story from a photojournalist's  perspective.

The fourth day of the workshop is spent planning, preparing and shooting a major work, based upon students' specific interests and ability. Tutors will review the work and indicate each students' particular strengths as well as provide direction for future projects. At this point students will be able to present their final project to the group and receive feedback.

During this course students will have time to discover the classical Khmer-style Angkor Wat, a 12th-century temple surrounded by a moat 190 meters wide, Ta Prohm, a temple to the northeast, with silk cotton trees growing out of the ruins, surrounded by thick jungle, Kbal Spien, an intricate series of stone carvings on and around the Stung river, as well as exploring through the streets of Siem Reap—complete with colonial and Chinese-style architecture in the Old French Quarter.

The course fee is $1,295.00 which includes all tuition and course materials for four days, full board, including chef cooked meals and dining at local restaurants, accommodation in a design hotel, one-on-one clinics with instructors to review your progress and tailor teaching to specific interests and needs, and transfers to and from Siem Reap international airport, as well as all transport for field trips in the region. Visit www.creative-escapes.co.uk for more information.