[Massachusetts'] Westborough photographer captures images of Cambodia

Retired photographer Karl Dunajski. (Photo courtesy/Karl Dunajski)

Thursday, April 12th, 2012
Posted by Community Advocate Staff
By Sue Wambolt,
Contributing Writer

Westborough – Karl Dunajski’s love for photography began when he received his first camera, a Kodak Brownie Hawkeye, as a child. His photography career began in 1960 when he graduated from Braintree High School. He began as a portrait wedding photographer, then later became a member of the Mass. National Guard as a public relations photographer and eventually did forensic photography. Dunajski was a member of the Southeastern Massachusetts Professional Photographers Guild (SEMPPG) from 1960 to 1980. After a successful career as a photographer, Dunajski retired to Westborough five years ago. Retirement, though, did not mean the end of picture-taking for Dunajski.

In 2001, an Indonesian friend of Dunajski’s suggested that he go to Cambodia to take photographs. He took his friend’s advice and flew to Cambodia, camera in hand, to capture the culture in pictures. The first trip was scheduled to last a week, but Dunajski extended the trip nine days. From the first time he stepped foot in Cambodia, Dunajski fell in love with the friendliness of the people and the interesting culture. He has returned every year since 2001, staying for up to nine months at a time. He calls Kandal Province, just a short distance from the killing fields Phnom Penh, his home in Cambodia.

Dunajski published a book of his pictures titled “Cambodia (Kingdom of Wonder),” which is a compilation of photographs and a description of their locations. The books were given as gifts to family, friends and various acquaintances. Dunajski is currently working on a second book titled simply “Cambodia,” which is another collection of photographs, but includes the history surrounding the people and places in the photographs. He plans to sell that one in Cambodia and on the Internet as well.

“I visited over 1,000 temples and pagodas, many off the beaten path. Sometimes they required walking hours up mountains, but it was worth it in the end,” Dunajski said.

Having traveled all over Cambodia, Dunjaski recommended that visitors to the area visit Angkor Wat, which was built by King Suryavarman II in the early 12th century as his state temple and capital city.

“I have been to almost all the provinces in Cambodia,” he said. “One of my favorites is the Angkor Wat Temple, which was built in the early 12th century. I have visited the temple more than 30 times and have seen something different in it every time.”

Another place worth visiting, he said, is Siem Reap, the capital city of Siem Reap Province in northwestern Cambodia. There, visitors can enjoy traditional Apsara dance performances, craft shops, silk farms, rice-paddy countryside, fishing villages and a bird sanctuary.

Dunjaski will be returning to Westborough Friday, April 27, after nine months in Cambodia.

“Cambodia has been an awesome place to take great photos, but I find beautiful photos in my back yard here, too,” he said. “One thing I want to do is get in my car drive throughout the United States on a photo tour, particularly through the Midwest. I understand that the largest stupa [Buddhist shrine] in the United States, The Great Stupa of Dharmakaya, can be found in Colorado. This I want to see.”