Penjor in Tanah Lot

Get bored of Tanah Lot in Bali? Never me. It always offers new pictures to be captured. It depends on how you see the whole landscape and then treasure new image.

This picture shows penjor, an erected post from bamboo which decorated with coconut leaves, in Tanah Lot. I wanted a picture which shows silhouette of the temple but still have the color range. Here is the result.

A Corner in the Rocks

Have a plan to travel to Sydney? Don't miss the Rock precinct. If you are a person like me who love old buildings, vintage stores and restaurants, or ancient way of life, this is the place. The Rocks is place where first settlements from England established the city.

I was taking a walk in a weekly old market in the area when I saw the building. The black and white film that I put in my camera was suited with the old building.

St Paul Cathedral

I was traveling to Melboune when suddenly the rain came. Yeah, you know Melbourne, you can't predict the weather of the town. So I entered this church as a temporary shelter. Wow, I found that the interior is great.

I took my tripod, put it on the floor and had my camera installed on it. Too dark, so I had to set in bulb speed to get a good picture. I used 30 seconds shutter speed to have a picture like this. Enjoy it, then.

Postcard from Bali

This view is so classic. So many postcards of Bali show Pura Danau Bratan from this spot. I was lucky that the day was so sunny.

Yes, it is so colorful, isn't it? Yes, Bimo taught me to once try to use high ISO as an experiment to get the colorful range of the picture. I followed what he said by using ISO 800. This is the result.

When the Sun Sets

Another picture from Tanah Lot. When the sun has the time to set, Tanah Lot would be silhouette. That is what I looked for. So I waited there until the time came.

I used the metering spot at the sun so I could get the silhouette. Unfortunately I didn't bring my tripod, then I used ISO 1600. So, would you forgive me for the noise around?

Blue Lake

Lake Batur in Kintamani, northern Bali, is well-known for its blue color. In a sunny day, especially in the morning, enjoy the scenery view from the above. But be careful with the people here. They are not as a friendly as most Balinese are.

Made Dirgantara once asked me and Japa to join his trip to Kintamani to enjoy this beautiful view. It was a cheerful trip as the boys are really joker. But like I said before, we had problems with the local people of the lake. So we just enjoyed the view from far above.

Masterpiece of Jorn Utzon

If you go to Sydney, the first place you must visit is Sydney Opera House. As a masterpiece of Danish architect, Jorn Utzon, actually the building has the painful and bloody process in its development. From the refusal of the city's citizen to the big fund the building had spent, Sydney Opera House had been through them, and now becomes the icon of the city.

I used my lovely old camera, Nikon FE, with Fuji Film Superia 100 to capture this picture. I think this picture is romantic because it shows the details of the building, and yes, not trying to be melancholic, because I used the old camera my father had presented when I was boy.

Balinese Black Duck

One of the most popular Balinese cuisine is smoked duck. But for the Balinese, the most expensive duck is black duck. I don't know why. Yeah, you get the clue here why smoked black duck is rare and expensive.

I had to use my long 75-300 mm lens to get this picture. You know ducks. They don't like us, people, who like to smoke and eat them.

Sanur in the Morning Light

The best way to enjoy Sanur Beach in Bali is to get there in the sunrise time. That's what I did to get the picture. The clear air, the smell of the sea, the fishermen's busy work with the fresh fishes from deep water, and for sure, beautiful landscape, are things you'll meet there in the morning.

I took some picture series there. I did the HDR way here so you would see all the color range. Do you notice the Mount Agung as background there?

Quiet Day

I, Ivant, and Rudi went to Tanah Lot on Kuningan Day, a week after most celebrated Balinese Hindu day, Galungan. It was a festival day like the other Balinese day.

It was so crowded, but I found a spot where there weren't any people there. I captured it with my 350D camera. Some people asked how I could capture a picture of Tanah Lot as quiet as this picture. Well, it is the answer. Find the right spot. You can get the picture like this!

Dreaming in Dreamland

Imagine this. White sand beach, sunset, and hot chicks. Well if you are a man just like me and love those kind of things, go to Dreamland Beach in southern of Bali. It is a small beach hidden behind rocky hill.

My mates in highschool, Bimo, Harja, and Seto once with me went there to have a photography hunting and to see beautiful girls. We took some landscape photos and do stalking to few great chicks. This is the picture I got there. Off course I keep the picture of the chicks in my harddisk.

Holy Mary, Bless Me

Sunday morning, and I was lonely in my apartment. Then I decided to go to Hyde Park in the heart of Sydney. Nothing was in the park, just some people were doing demo and asking to free West Papua from Indonesia government. Stepped out from them, I prefer to shoot my old camera at St. Mary Cathedral, the biggest Catholic church in Sydney.

In 1821 the foundation stone of the first St Mary's Chapel was laid by Governor Lachlan Macquarie. In 1865 St Mary's Cathedral was ruined by fire. Work was begun on a new cathedral in 1865 and was completed in three stage: the northern section in 1882, the central tower in 1900 and the Nave in 1928, a total of 60 years. Between 1998 and 2000 the Spires were added.

A Foggy Day in Bedugul

A month ago my friend, Steve, asked me to accompany him to go to Danau Bratan in Bedugul, Northern Bali. I had been there before, but the beautiful shrine in the middle of the lake was keeping attracting me, so I said "why not?".

It was a day as usual, even tough rain kept falling all the way. I could see the beautiful view of the Pura and the lake as before when suddenly in 3 pm fog came down over the lake. It was hard to see beyond 5 m. All the fishermen went to the edge because they were hard to sail their boat as well. I took some picture in a hurry because I worried the fog would break my lens. This is what I got.

From Mrs. Macquairie's Chair

People said that the best place to take Sydney Opera House and Sydney Bridge as a single picture is from Mrs. Macquarie's Chair in Royal Botanical Garden. So I walked there and snapped some pictures. It is one of them.

Mrs. Macquarie is wife of of Major-General Lachlan Macquarie, Governor of New South Wales from 1810 to 1821. His wife used to sit on the rock and watch for ships coming from England sailing into Sydney Harbour. That's the place got its name, I guess.

Abandoned Heritage

If you go to Jogjakarta, make sure you visit Tamansari. This is the park where Sultan entertained his guests and wives. But after disaster after disaster, the latest one is earthquake last year, it is abandoned now.

I took this picture when I took a walk on Pasar Ngasem. This is the most abandoned part of the park.

A Day in South Nias

If you're interested in vernacular architecture, this settlement in Southern Nias is something you can't miss out. Located in Bawomataluo village, all the heritages are still there. Big old wood house, megaliths, traditions, and off course, the way of life will make you imagine living in stone age. The people of Nias refer to their island as 'tano niha' or 'land of mankind'.

Nias is well-known for its beach as well. If you are surfer freak, go to Teluk Dalam Beach. You will discover a paradise (you may read this as great wave and other surfer freaks like you). If you like to travel as backpacker, you can reach the island by ship. There is regular -once a week- ship from Jakarta to Nias, which will take you 2 days 2 nights to reach the island.

Padang-padang Beach

My friends, the couple Atika and Priyatna asked me to join their photography hunting in Padang-padang Beach in Southern Bali. It was a cheerful trip. I found then that it was a remote beach. Not so many people know about this short but beautiful beach.

From the bridge above the beach, I changed my 18-55 mm lens with 70-300 mm so I could capture the moment closer.

Fight for Food

Indonesia has a serious problem in providing jobs for its citizen. So many people here has to work in informal sectors.

Here in Sibolga, North Sumatara province, people fight with others just to be the first man who reach the boat to get the passenger use their service as "kuli panggul". Kuli panggul means a person who offer service to bring a big and heavy stuff.

Lotus in Black and White

Beautiful colorful flower doesn't have to be in color. This is a sample. You can still imagine the beautiful lotus even tough it is in black and white.

A lotus I found when I was in Garuda Wisnu Kencana.

Evil vs Evil

Another Balinese Hindu people's festival. Ogoh-ogoh is a kind of festival which held a day before Nyepi, a day when all the people in the island is not allowed to light the fire or electricity, to have entertainment, to travel, and so on. They hope, after the Nyepi day, the would be a new born person.

The Ogoh-ogoh represents the evil. After Nyepi all evil must get out from this beautiful island. The evils only had a day chance to go out and celebrate their existings.

Here is the picture of the evils fight for their kingdom.

Don't Shoot Me!

I was confused what object I had to take when I was in Ubud in the middle of Ogoh-ogoh festival. Then I realized that a boy continuously starring at me. But when I pointed my 18-55 mm lens to him, he tried to hide behind the Ogoh-ogoh.

I got you anyway, boy!

I Bless You, Child

Balinese Hindu people have so many rituals in their life. From birth until they die, life is from one ritual to another. You may say it is useless, but if you ask where the Balinese get their peaceful life from, after you see a moment like this, you'll know the answer.

I was going to Tanah Lot in Bali when I noticed that the priest was blessing a child. Wishing this baby get the wiseful life in his precious future life.

What is in a Name?

I don't know the name of the flower. But I was interested with the simple color and the background as well.

I was travelling in Bogor on my motorbike. Suddenly I saw the flowers. Getting off of my bike and then captured some photos.

Typical of Australian Landscape

Gold and Green, that's how the Australian call their landscape. Yes, if you fly across the continent, you will find easily these two colors will reflect it. Bushes and desert are the main landscape of the country.

The picture was taken when I was alone crossing the Blue Mountain in New South Wales. Breathtaking view.

Boat from Cronulla to Royal National Park

I took this picture when I went to Royal National Park in New South Wales. The most exciting way to reach the park is by catching the ferry from Cronulla. I was interested of the composure between the blue sky, the yellow paint, and the orange life jacket.

I used my old 80's Nikon FE. Pretty romantic time when I released the button of this old camera.