Every year on 19 August, the world celebrates World Photography Day—a moment to honour the craft of freezing time, capturing feeling, and telling stories without saying a word. And while Bali is no stranger to the camera, there’s more to shoot than swinging over rice fields or posing by infinity pools.
This year, we skip the viral and turn to the visceral. We asked a few Bali-based photographers where they go to capture real emotion, honest light, and Bali’s quieter beauty.
Here are their favourite photo spots—some tucked behind temples, others perched on silent cliffs—where the soul of the island still lingers, frame by frame.
1. Sidemen Valley at Sunrise
Forget the crowd at Tegallalang. Sidemen is where Bali wakes up in whispers. Terraced rice fields catch the morning light like glass. Mist hovers low. Farmers walk the narrow paths with quiet rhythm. It’s not just a photo—it’s a feeling.
“Every time I shoot here, I feel like I’ve gone back 30 years. There’s a timelessness that’s rare.”
— Made Darma, documentary photographer
Best time to shoot: 5.30–6.30 AM
Lens tip: Long shots for the layers; wide for the majesty.
2. Tenganan Pegringsingan Village
An ancient Bali Aga village near Candidasa, where traditions still thrive. The woven geringsing textiles. The natural light bouncing off stone walls. The elders sitting at doorways with stories etched into their expressions.
This isn’t about the perfect shot—it’s about quiet observation.
“This is where I learned to slow down. You don’t take photos here—you earn them.”
— Rini Nadi, lifestyle and culture photographer
Best time to shoot: Golden hour (4–5 PM)
Lens tip: Prime 35mm for intimacy and portraiture.
3. Seseh Beach After the Rains
It’s not about sunset. It’s about after. When the clouds clear. When the sand is dark and glossy. When local kids play barefoot football. The temple silhouettes and stormlight make every photo look cinematic, even when you’re just standing still.
Best time to shoot: Post-rain, before dusk
Lens tip: Mid-zoom or phone cam—natural contrast does the work.
4. The Abandoned Airplane in South Bali
No, not the one you’ve seen all over reels. We mean the other one—near Pandawa cliffs, half-buried, half-forgotten. Surreal. Moody. Strange. Perfect for editorial-style shoots or atmospheric framing.
Best time to shoot: Morning fog or overcast days
Lens tip: 50mm for that dreamy depth; film for extra grit.
5. Lontar Library at Gedong Kirtya, Singaraja
Photographers who love texture and storytelling fall in love with this place. It’s where ancient manuscripts—lontar—are kept, written on palm leaves. The old Dutch-Balinese architecture, the slow pace, the aged colours. It’s a photographer’s quiet goldmine.
“This place reminds me why I started shooting. Light, silence, stories.”
— Alex Suryana, visual storyteller
Best time to shoot: Midday (light through slats is magical)
Lens tip: Macro or detail-focused lens to honour the age.
In the End, It’s Not About the Location
World Photography Day isn’t about the perfect backdrop. It’s about the moment. The gesture. The emotion. Bali has a thousand frames waiting to be noticed—not shouted, not viral, just felt.
So this year, skip the cliché. Ditch the tripod. Bring a notebook. Take fewer shots, but better ones. Let the island speak to you, not the algorithm.
