[Kombisaurus]

In the two weeks Tina and I were in Bali, we were based in Legian for a week and Ubud for our second week. We tried to get out and visit numerous other places for day trips such as Ulu Watu, Denpasar, numerous villages throughout eastern and central Bali, and up into the mountains a bit. We also balanced those trips with plenty of walking around Legian and Ubud and our fair share of relaxing by the pool and reading.

There seems to be a very different, refreshing, and relaxed attitude towards people photography in Bali compared to Australia. The people I met were not only always happy to have their photo taken by a total stranger, but they often felt quite honored that I wanted to take it. Some people even asked me to take it! Of course I was always polite and respectful and there were times I put the camera away because I felt taking a photo of certain people and scenes might have been disrespectful.

Anyway, here are some of the characters that got my attention during that time:


1. This elderly lady was collecting food to sell to tourists to feed the monkeys at the spectacular temple at Ulu Watu.


2. Buskers practicing at Jimbaran Beach.


3. One of the friendly guides based near our hotel in Legian.


4. Hippies!! If only I had my kombi there to impress them.


5. This lovely couple were having wedding photos taken at the Bali museum in Denpasar while we were visiting it. They looked gorgeous in their traditional clothing and were quite happy for me to grab a quick photo.


6. A shopkeeper sitting on the step of her shop in Ubud (chatting to other shopkeepers who all sit on the front step of their shop when they have no customers) proudly shows off her young daughter to me, while the daughter is wondering who the strange man with the big black box is.


7. A good example of how shopkeepers spend their time when there are no customers in their shop in Ubud. The street is a very social place, and as the shops all seem to remain open for very long hours, I guess this is one way of balancing social and work life.


8. I walked past a group of men and boys as they were leaving a temple one evening, and one boy saw I had a camera in my hand and spontaneously posed for me to take this photo.


9. This young girl (the daughter of one of the ladies chatting in the background) was playing with her kitten like a doll on the step of a shop in Ubud one evening. She appeared to be trying to teach the kitten to "dance". As I turned to take a photo of her, she saw me and scooped up the poor kitten to give it a big hug for the camera.


10. Tina and I were eating in a restaurant in Ubud. Two men pulled up in a scooter to chat with the two waitresses (obviously friends) who were standing at the front of the restaurant. Given the body language and way the two couples mirrored each other, I had to grab this shot. It's one of my favourites of the trip.


11. Here was a shopkeeper who spent her time hidden away in the back of her store instead of socialising out the front. Tina and I were eating in a restaurant across the street and she never ventured out once. I couldn't see her face, but her body language made me think she was unhappy.


12. A mother and her children walking along the road outside a village somewhere in the mountains to meet the father (in background) who was working in the rice fields.


13. This elderly lady was sitting on her balcony overlooking the street, carefully examining every car that drove past her.


14. One of the friendly workers in the rice fields in Ubud that our hotel was part of. She was also one of only two people I met while I was there who couldn't speak any English at all. It's kind of sad that I could just take for granted that everyone in another country could speak my language when it wasn't their own.


15. Tina and I went to an Elephant Safari Park that looks after rescued Sumatran Elephants. We went on an elephant ride through the jungle, and this photo was taken at the end of the tour when the elephants could cool off in a large pool.

[guerito]

These are wonderful shots, Adrian. What I really like is, these people (and the pictures, of course) show dignity. Can't pick a favorite, they are all great.

[Banded Drake]

Amazing photos as always . Very inspiring ...... Thanks for sharring them . I also loved the others !!

...... Shawn

[matthew]

Great series. Number 10 is excellent, but I'm also a big fan of #12.

[adam]

great shots!
Very beautiful!

I love the range of candid street-shots and portraits nice nice

[Wedding Shooter]

I really love these type of photos. 8, 9 and 10 all stand out to me. Great to see you using the ISO 6400 on the 1D3.

I am also glad to see you got in some time to practice your wedding work

The last one of you and Tina is also a nice moment.

[Kombisaurus]

Thanks. I really loved taking these shots.

This kind of photography really encourages me to get out there and interact with strangers and try to engage with my subjects. Apart from the obvious benefits of meeting new people in general, it can make the photos that much more rewarding when you feel a part of what was happening rather than just a detatched vouyer on the outside looking in. I still have a long way to go in this regard, but trips like this really help a lot.

[Toad]

Wow!! Wonderful shots, all - the portraits really stand out for me. My favorites would be the 3 people around the motorcycle (#4), the woman and children on the road (#12) and especially the one of the 2 young men on the scooter chatting up the 2 young women. Super work.

[billking]

love all the shots they are a lovely people make great subjects

[wulinka]

wonderful series!
the ones of children (6, 8, 9...) stand out for me, partially I guess because children are just such grateful subjects.

13 of the old lady is a keeper, too.

Great!! Uli