Over the last several years, as globalization has continued to spread to the far reaches of the world, we've received some truly scary, fascinating, and beautiful international entries documenting these changes. Thailand-based contender Miti Ruangkritya has turned his lens on Siem Reap, one of Cambodia's fastest growing cities, to share views of impending homogeneity and commodification. Instead of documenting the rapid change at the center of the city, his series On the Edge looks at the outskirts of Siem Reap, revealing a place caught between two worlds.

Untitled, from On the Edge, 2009 by Miti Ruangkritya

Miti's work is quiet, focusing on the relation of individuals to the landscape. In the places he photographs, there is something surreal in the air. Though the scenes aren't necessarily happy, there is a kind of rundown magic on the edge of extinction. These moments between inhabitants and landscape are a last hurrah.

Untitled, from On the Edge, 2009 by Miti Ruangkritya

Miti's other work also deals with this kind of globalizing change in Thailand. Amulet World is a sweeping forty-two photography survey of the amulet industry—a fad at the intersection of Buddhism and consumerism. Much like the crucifixes that adorn necklaces and walls in the Western world, amulets have integrated themselves as essential aspects of piousness. The amulet trade is growing so fast that, at the time of Miti's writing, it was a $500 million business—just within Thailand. The images trace amulets from production to retail to usage both as spiritual tokens and manufactured commodities.

Spread from Amulet World by Miti Ruangkritya

Currently, Miti is working out of Thailand as a freelance photographer to support his personal projects. You can view more of his work at his website and his flickr.