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Free Bali Photo Map

Cultural Photography – BALI

Bali’s living culture is one of the most vibrant and colorful on Earth. Balinese people practice their culture and religion every day, from simple street offerings to elaborate temple ceremonies. What’s remarkable is their inclusivity and eagerness to share their culture with visitors, showing genuine humility when you take an interest.

 

For photography enthusiasts seeking to capture the essence of this ancient culture, temple ceremonies provide a captivating window into their world. Our team of professional photographers is ready to create an unforgettable experience for you. Temple birthday ceremonies, known as Odelan, occur every 210 days in the Balinese calendar and are stunningly ornate and colorful. Catching one in the Ubud area can be an art form, but we’ll guide you with our monthly calendar marking upcoming special ceremonies.

MAKE A BOOKING ENQUIRY

PRICING

US $210 / Person (Minimum 2 People)

Non-photographer partner can join (extra US $130 and private tours available on request.

book now

On these days, our professional photography instructors will help you capture beautiful images and teach you essential skills, including how to leverage lighting and portrait photography. We also emphasize the importance of respectful etiquette when photographing in temples, a practice we take seriously. Over time, we’ve cultivated strong relationships with Mangku priests and temple devotees.

Please note that temple ceremonies typically occur in the late afternoon and evening, and we adjust our schedules to align with temple activities, processions, special temple dance performances, and gamelan music performances. Photographers are warmly welcomed at these festivities.

We support a cultural dance and preservation programs in Bali and Borneo and donate 10% to Spirit of the Hornbill, Ransel Buku and The Pejeng Village Dance Fund.

David Metcalf Photography
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Customer Reviews

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

"3 wonderful days to discover the local culture during the festive period before the day of silence. David allows you to discover Balinese culture away from the tourist circuits thus offering unrivalled photographic opportunities. His great knowledge of Indonesian traditions and his expertise as a professional photographer made this stay a total success. Do not hesitate to ask."
Eric B.29 April 2026
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

"Dave Metcalf's photography tour of Bhutan, with Kolkata thrown in beforehand, in Feb-March 2026 was great. Good company, lots of variety of things to photograph and good hotels and food. I've been on quite a few workshops with Dave and they always are a success. If you need any technical assistance he is there to help you. This time we visited a Buddhist festival at Pukhara and got some great images. The local guide and driver were also very helpful. Thoroughly recommended."
Robert M.13 March 2026
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

"In Bali, David was our personal guide photographer and that is where we got to know him well. He is well organized, arrives on time and plans out the whole day. In fact I and my friend were very demanding and David would try to comply to our needs on a short notice. I highly recommend David as a fixer or a great photography teacher either way if you use his services, you will not be disappointed."
K. Hataw26 January 2026
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

"I have joined David Metcalf on 4 tours, to Borneo, Sulawesi, Sumatra and the Mentawai islands. I can honestly say that these trips are life-changing experiences, opening my mind and heart to the diversity and beauty of humanity and the natural world. David expertly curates dynamic and fascinating programmes, offering rare opportunities to immerse in unique cultures and witness incredible ceremonies and everyday life."
Melanie L.19 January 2026
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

"... I really recommand David Metcalf if you like to discover wonderful locations or discover the stunning Indonesian culture and its peoples. For sure I will come back in this incredible country and no matter how I will organize my next trip, I will definitely contact David."
Eric B.8 May 2025
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

"...He's a good guy and will tailor your day according to your skills. I am an avid amateur and experienced in landscape photography. I also love shooting people. We spent hours in a really cool market that no one but locals would know. What a day."
Sandi 16 September 2023
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"All I can say if you want to experience a beautiful sunrise over volcanoes, go to a very local market tourists rarely visit, have lunch in the home in a local village, and stop at many spots along the back roads, all the while taking incredible images, then this is the tour for you."
Ian C.28 July 2023
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

"For any other photographers on the fence about which photo guide to go with, please consider David and/or his team (Nyoman). I know there are other photo guides out there (that are quite famous on Instagram) but they do not provide you the ability to adjust and dictate the flow of your itinerary..."
Chi5 June 2023
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

"Outstanding day, we had challenging conditions with the weather but my guide Nyoman was excellent and adjusted the tour's itinerary to suit the weather conditions. While early rain impacted some of the sites, we had great light as the sun broke through the rain... "
David J.11 May 2023
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

"David is a very nice guy who is very knowledgeable about photography, local customers, and good photography spots. On my trip I got photograph and experience the way of life here in Bali. The driver Made was also wonderful and they both made me most welcome and I felt very safe as a solo woman traveler."
Clay5 February 2023
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"...Not only was David's itinerary a remarkable 10-day tour that kept us off the beaten path, but also it introduced us to exceptional people along the way. Thanks to David's particular relationships and philanthropic efforts in multiple Balinese communities, we were greeted with open arms -- and kitchens and homes!
Lisa A.15 November 2022
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"My wife and I partnered with David to bring a small group of photographers to Bali from the United States for a 9 day cultural photographic experience. This was our second trip to the beautiful Island of Bali and it far exceeded our expectations."
Jeff S.8 November 2022
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

"My wife and I were part of a custom photography & cultural tour led by David. Some of us were experienced photographers, others not. David's connections with the locals and his understanding of Indonesian & Balinese culture were more than we ever could have expected, and this cannot be understated."
Carlton S.17 October 2022
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