DAYS of LIGHT reveals an aspect of Cambodia that many visitors may not even be aware of and which Cambodians have seldom seen depicted in photographs. By showing ordinary people, the images remind Cambodians of their own lives. “That’s me!” exclaimed a young Cambodian upon seeing a photograph of children playing at sunset. The feeling of being part of these ordinary lives is amplified by Peter’s distinctive eye. Rather than showing scenes or vignettes of village life through the lens of a detached observer, he focuses on the people and thus creates a sense of personal encounter. These photographs are both a homage to the Cambodian people and a record of how it used to be when the flow of life was governed by the coming and going of the seasons, by the natural cycle of light and darkness in each passing day, by people’s innate closeness to the earth, and by their thankful appreciation of the simple joys of life.

