Landmarks & Temples

Architecture, Temples & Historic Landmarks Across Asia and Europe

Temples, ancient ruins, historic monuments and modern architecture photographed across Asia, the Middle East and Europe — from Buddhist and Hindu complexes to mosques, city landmarks and monumental structures.

Low-angle portrait of the Phuket Big Buddha against a deep blue sky

Big Buddha above Phuket

White and red Buddhist temple hall at Wat Chalong in Phuket

White and red temple hall at Wat Chalong

Landscaped grounds of Wat Chalong temple from an elevated viewpoint in Phuket

Wat Chalong gardens from the upper terrace

Ornate Phra Mahathat Chedi at Wat Chalong beneath a streaked blue sky

Wat Chalong chedi beneath wispy clouds

White temple hall with a red roof at Wat Chalong

Low-angle view of the richly decorated chedi at Wat Chalong temple

Ornate Wat Chalong chedi against the blue sky

Elephant statues and bell tower in the garden of Wat Chalong in Phuket

Elephant family and bell tower at Wat Chalong

Lotus pond beside the ornate chedi at Wat Chalong temple

Lotus pond beside the Wat Chalong chedi

Decorated entrance of a Thai Buddhist temple hall at Wat Chalong

Ceremonial entrance to a Wat Chalong temple hall

Phra Mahathat Chedi surrounded by manicured gardens at Wat Chalong

Wat Chalong chedi among manicured gardens

Naga balustrade and marble terrace inside the Wat Chalong temple complex

Naga terrace inside the Wat Chalong complex

Tall ornate chedi at Wat Chalong framed by a palm tree and blue sky

Wat Chalong chedi framed by palm trees

Lotus pond with Naga balustrades beside the Wat Chalong chedi

Lotus pond at Wat Chalong temple

Traditional bell tower at Wat Chalong against a bright tropical sky

Wat Chalong bell tower beneath a tropical sky

Golden Rock replica overlooking Phuket from Wat Koh Sirey temple

Golden Rock above Phuket at Wat Koh Sirey

Rows of bell-shaped stone stupas on the upper terraces of Borobudur in Java

Stone stupas on the upper terrace of Borobudur

Seated Buddha among Borobudur stupas with Mount Merapi in the distance

Buddha and Mount Merapi among Borobudur stupas

Stepped stone terraces and carved walls of Borobudur temple in Indonesia

Ancient terraces of Borobudur temple

Borobudur stupas overlooking Mount Merapi

Stone Buddha statue surrounded by perforated stupas at Borobudur

Buddha among the perforated stupas of Borobudur

Bell-shaped stupas and central monument on the summit of Borobudur

Stone stupas on the summit of Borobudur

Ancient Kala face carving on a stone gateway at Borobudur temple

Kala mask on a stone gateway at Borobudur

Prambanan Hindu temple towers across a green lawn in Central Java

Prambanan towers beyond a green lawn

Vertical view of the carved stone spires at Prambanan temple

Carved spires of Prambanan Hindu temple

Twin carved towers and stone terraces of the Prambanan temple complex

Stone towers and terraces of Prambanan

Stone stairway and ornate towers at Prambanan temple in Indonesia

Stairway among the carved towers of Prambanan

Prambanan temple complex framed by tropical trees in Yogyakarta

Prambanan framed by tropical trees

Angkor Wat towers reflected in the lotus pond at sunrise in Siem Reap

Angkor Wat at sunrise reflected in the pond

Tanah Lot sea temple silhouetted against a warm sunset sky in Bali

Tanah Lot silhouetted in the sunset

Tanah Lot temple on its rocky islet with an ocean wave in Bali

Tanah Lot temple among Indian Ocean waves

Silver dragon sculpture beside Wat Rong Khun White Temple in Chiang Rai

Silver dragon beside the White Temple in Chiang Rai

Wat Rong Khun White Temple and its reflection

White Naga balustrade on the staircase of Wat Rong Khun in Chiang Rai

White Naga sculptures on the Wat Rong Khun stairs

Wat Rong Khun reflected symmetrically in the temple pond in Thailand

White Temple mirrored in a tranquil pond

Intricate white gable relief at Wat Rong Khun White Temple

Carved gable of the White Temple in Chiang Rai

Side view of Wat Rong Khun buildings and manicured lawn in Chiang Rai

White buildings and gardens of Wat Rong Khun

Dragon sculpture and canal leading toward Wat Rong Khun White Temple

Dragon and canal in front of the White Temple

Golden Naga staircase at Wat Phra That Doi Kham overlooking Chiang Mai

Golden Naga staircase above Chiang Mai

Panoramic landscaped gardens at Royal Park Rajapruek in Chiang Mai

Royal Park Rajapruek gardens from above

Curved path through flower beds at Royal Park Rajapruek in Chiang Mai

Curved path through Rajapruek flower gardens

Thai wooden pavilion reflected in a quiet pond at Royal Park Rajapruek

Thai pavilion reflected in a quiet pond

Landscaped walkway and garden architecture at Royal Park Rajapruek

Garden walkway at Royal Park Rajapruek

Entrance pavilion and fountain at Royal Park Rajapruek

Colorful flower beds beside a Thai pavilion at Royal Park Rajapruek

Flower beds beside a Thai pavilion in Chiang Mai

Traditional pavilion surrounded by formal gardens at Royal Park Rajapruek

Pavilion among the formal gardens of Rajapruek

Broad landscaped avenue through Royal Park Rajapruek toward the mountains

Broad park avenue with mountains beyond

Main entrance plaza with Lanna-style gates at Royal Park Rajapruek

Ceremonial plaza at the gates of Royal Park Rajapruek

Side facade of Ho Kham Luang Royal Pavilion under a vivid blue sky

Ho Kham Luang beneath the bright Chiang Mai sky

Wide ceremonial plaza and entrance gates at Royal Park Rajapruek

Gates and ceremonial plaza at Royal Park Rajapruek

Elevated view across the formal gardens of Royal Park Rajapruek

Formal Rajapruek gardens from the upper terrace

Front facade and staircase of Ho Kham Luang Royal Pavilion in Chiang Mai

Grand facade of Ho Kham Luang Royal Pavilion

Formal gardens viewed from the steps of Ho Kham Luang Royal Pavilion

Rajapruek gardens viewed from the pavilion steps

Symmetrical front view of Ho Kham Luang Royal Pavilion under blue sky

Ho Kham Luang in perfect symmetry

Long terracotta promenade from Ho Kham Luang Pavilion through the gardens

Terracotta promenade from the royal pavilion

Wide frontal view of Ho Kham Luang Royal Pavilion and ceremonial plaza

Ho Kham Luang and its spacious ceremonial plaza

Central garden promenade at Royal Park Rajapruek in Chiang Mai

Central promenade through the Rajapruek gardens

Red-carpeted interior with gilded columns inside Ho Kham Luang Pavilion

Gilded columns and red carpet inside Ho Kham Luang

Landscaped park avenue and mountain view at Royal Park Rajapruek

Park avenue against the Chiang Mai mountains

Giant white and gold seated Buddha at Wat Phra That Doi Kham in Chiang Mai

White and gold Buddha at Wat Phra That Doi Kham

Gilded Buddha altar and red ceiling inside Wat Klang Wiang in Chiang Rai

Golden altar inside Wat Klang Wiang

Three-story Thai temple building framed by trees at Wat Mai Khao in Phuket

Three-story Wat Mai Khao temple among the trees

Giant golden seated Buddha at Wat Khao Rang temple in Phuket

Giant golden Buddha at Wat Khao Rang

Temple stairway beside golden Buddha statues at Wat Khao Rang in Phuket

Stairway beside the golden Buddhas of Wat Khao Rang

White and gold ordination hall at Wat Khao Rang beneath a deep blue sky

White and gold temple hall at Wat Khao Rang

Side facade of an ornate Buddhist temple hall at Wat Khao Rang in Phuket

Side facade of Wat Khao Rang temple

Colorful Naga staircase leading to Wat Khao Rang temple in Phuket

Colorful Naga stairs leading to Wat Khao Rang

Ornate open pavilion in the landscaped grounds of Wat Mai Khao

Ornate pavilion in the Wat Mai Khao gardens

Thai garden pavilion beside a curved staircase at Wat Mai Khao in Phuket

Thai pavilion beside a curved staircase

Temple pavilion reflected in a tranquil pond at Wat Mai Khao

Temple pavilion reflected in a quiet pond

Decorative Thai pavilion framed by trees at Wat Mai Khao temple

Wat Mai Khao pavilion framed by trees

Colorful Yaksha guardians supporting a golden chedi at Bangkok Grand Palace

Yaksha guardians beside a golden Grand Palace chedi

Golden reclining Buddha and worshippers inside Wat Pho in Bangkok

Golden Reclining Buddha inside Wat Pho

Nha Trang 2/4 Square on the seafront with a flock of pigeons

Pigeons over Nha Trang 2/4 Square

Ornate facade of Wat Khrua Khrae beneath dramatic clouds in Chiang Rai

Carved facade of Wat Khrua Khrae in Chiang Rai

Steep Naga staircase leading to the Golden Rock replica at Wat Koh Sirey

Naga stairway to Phuket's Golden Rock

Temple of Hatshepsut built beneath the desert cliffs of Luxor, Egypt

Temple of Hatshepsut beneath the Luxor cliffs

Central approach to the Temple of Hatshepsut

Ancient Egyptian obelisk rising above the Karnak temple complex in Luxor

Obelisk above the Karnak temple complex

Standing pharaoh statue beside a monumental pylon at Karnak temple

Pharaoh statue beside a monumental Karnak pylon

Colossi of Memnon standing in the desert landscape near Luxor

Colossi of Memnon in the desert near Luxor

Massive lotus columns inside the Great Hypostyle Hall at Karnak

Lotus columns of the Great Hypostyle Hall

Low-angle view through the towering stone columns of Karnak temple

Forest of stone columns at Karnak temple

Carved hieroglyphs covering monumental columns at Karnak in Luxor

Hieroglyphs on the monumental columns of Karnak

Ancient hieroglyphic reliefs on a sandstone wall at Karnak temple

Stone reliefs on a wall at Karnak temple

Luxor Temple pylon, obelisk and seated statues in warm backlight

Luxor Temple pylon and obelisk in backlight

Columns and stone lintels inside Luxor Temple

Obelisk and colossal statue of Ramses II at the entrance to Luxor Temple

Obelisk and colossus of Ramses II at Luxor Temple

Sigiriya Lion Rock rising beyond the ancient water gardens in Sri Lanka

Sigiriya Rock above the ancient water gardens

Sigiriya Rock Fortress and stairway at the base of the massive cliff

Sigiriya Lion Rock and stairway to the fortress

Metal stairway climbing the sheer rock face of Sigiriya in Sri Lanka

Stairway clinging to the sheer face of Sigiriya

Ancient Sigiriya frescoes painted on the sheltered rock wall

Ancient frescoes on the rock wall of Sigiriya

Brick stairway through the ruins of the royal palace at Sigiriya

Brick stairway among the ruins of Sigiriya

Cobra Hood Cave rock formation in the gardens of Sigiriya

Cobra Hood Cave in the gardens of Sigiriya

View from Sigiriya summit over the foundations of the ancient royal palace

Royal palace ruins viewed from Sigiriya summit

Stone ceremonial gong in the courtyard of Wat Klang Wiang in Chiang Rai

Stone ceremonial gong at Wat Klang Wiang

Ornate Lanna-style facade of Wat Klang Wiang beneath a blue sky

Wat Klang Wiang facade beneath a blue sky

Shaded avenue leading to Wat Phra Singh

Wat Phra Singh temple hall beside a large turquoise ceremonial urn

Wat Phra Singh temple and a turquoise ceremonial urn

White Naga balustrades beside a temple hall at Wat Phra Singh

White Naga sculptures beside Wat Phra Singh

Golden seated Buddha and decorated altar inside Wat Klang Wiang

Golden Buddha at the Wat Klang Wiang altar

Golden Buddha statues inside Wat Chet Yot

Emerald Buddha shrine with floral offerings at Wat Koh Sirey in Phuket

Emerald Buddha shrine at Wat Koh Sirey

Golden reclining Buddha inside Wat Koh Sirey temple in Phuket

Golden Reclining Buddha at Wat Koh Sirey

Marina Bay Sands and ArtScience Museum illuminated at night in Singapore

Marina Bay Sands glowing over Marina Bay

Kanavinsky Bridge lights reflected in the river at night in Nizhny Novgorod

Kanavinsky Bridge and colorful river reflections

Singapore skyline and illuminated skyscrapers reflected in Marina Bay

Singapore skyline reflected in Marina Bay

Alexander Nevsky Cathedral silhouetted at sunset

Kanavinsky Bridge and Alexander Nevsky Cathedral illuminated at night

Kanavinsky Bridge leading to Alexander Nevsky Cathedral

Fireworks reflected in the Volga River during a celebration in Nizhny Novgorod

Fireworks and festive reflections over the Volga

Kanavinsky Bridge crossing the Oka River at sunset in Nizhny Novgorod

Kanavinsky Bridge across the Oka at sunset

Visitors in the Kazan Kremlin courtyard beside Kul Sharif Mosque

Visitors beside Kul Sharif Mosque in Kazan

Kul Sharif Mosque with blue domes and minarets inside the Kazan Kremlin

Blue domes and minarets of Kul Sharif Mosque

Alexander Nevsky Cathedral and the Strelka across the river at sunset

Alexander Nevsky Cathedral and the Strelka at sunset

Temples, Ruins & Architecture: Scale, Geometry and Detail

This portfolio brings together architecture, temples and historic landmarks photographed during travels across Asia, the Middle East and Europe. The collection includes Buddhist and Hindu temples, mosques, ancient ruins, religious architecture, city landmarks and contemporary structures.

I am interested not only in documenting a building, but also in its scale, geometry, details and relationship with the surrounding space. Wide views establish the place, while closer compositions reveal ornament, materials, light and the character of different architectural traditions.

I particularly enjoy photographing temples and old ruins, where architecture, history, texture and the traces of time all come together. These photographs were created in different countries over many years. I am currently based in Nha Trang, Vietnam, and continue to photograph architecture, temples and cultural heritage while traveling.