Nick David documents community life, celebration, and shared human connections within Cambodia’s Kampong Phluk village.

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Kampong Phluk is a stilted fishing community on the floodplain of Tonlé Sap Lake in Siem Reap Province. In northwestern Cambodia, the community's life revolves around seasonal water level fluctuations. For much of the year, floodwaters convert streets and paths into waterways, with homes, schools, and shops elevated on tall wooden stilts above the floodplain. The community mainly depends on fishing and small-scale farming, with daily activities closely connected to the lake's cycles. Although the environment might seem unfamiliar, daily life—comprising work, family, and celebrations—still feels familiar.

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I attended a local wedding celebration, and these photos were taken amidst the festivities. The event gathered people of all ages, providing a glimpse into everyday social connections expressed through ceremony, community, and shared spaces. What resonated most with me was the natural connection in these moments. Despite cultural and geographical differences, the interactions felt immediate and familiar.

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Despite cultural and geographical differences, the interactions felt immediate and familiar.

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Photographing here shifted from highlighting differences to emphasising shared human presence—how people come together, gather, and celebrate moments. This series reflects everyday human moments, observed within a specific community in Cambodia.

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About

Nick David is a London-based photographer working across commercial lifestyle, editorial, and advertising assignments for a range of clients. Alongside commissioned work, he develops personal documentary projects focused on people, places, and lived experience within different communities and environments. He is drawn to groups and communities and the dynamics within them, focusing on gaining access, building trust, and documenting people in their environments. Whether on assignment or working independently, he is interested in natural moments and real interactions, aiming to create honest, observational images rooted in engagement and understanding.

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www.nickdavid.co.uk