Inspirations >> Photos & People

Island Life Photography in Bali Part 3: Ubud

By Rafael Moura

2018-03-21

Ubud is in many ways the heart of Bali. It's also home to good restaurants, cafes and streets of shops - selling goods from the region's artisans. It is the place I like to go when I am looking for peace and quiet, and to escape from the heat of Bali and enjoy the breeze of the forest and mountains. It is one of those places where days can become weeks and weeks become months.

ubud bali canon eos 5d mark IV

EOS 6D; EF70-200mm f/4L IS USM ; f/4; 70mm; 1/250 sec; ISO-800

Ubud is surrounded by rainforest and terraced rice paddies, Hindu temples, waterfalls and some of the most famous landscapes.

EOS 6D; EF70-200mm f/4L IS USM; f/4; 200mm; 1/320 sec; ISO-200

goa gajah temple ubud with canon eos 5d mark IV

EOS 7D: EF35mm f/2 IS USM; f/4.5; 35mm; 1/125 sec; ISO-160 (Goa Gajah)

Smiling Faces at Every Corner

I like to go there to shoot with nothing planned in mind and just enjoy the moment. Talk to the locals, make them comfortable with my presence, and take some portrait shots. Balinese people are the ones who make this place so special. Always with a smile on their faces, it’s not hard to interact with them. Sometimes I feel like they enjoy being photographed.

ubud portrait photography canon eos 5d mark IV

EOS 6D; EF50mm f/1.4 USM; f/6.3; 50mm; 1/200 sec; ISO-200

eos 5d mark IV bali street photography

EOS 6D; EF50mm f/1.4 USM; f/3.5; 50mm; 1/800 sec; ISO-500

EOS 7D; EF70-200mm f/4L IS USM; f/4.5; 81mm; 1/100 sec; ISO-2500

The Perfect Lenses

I love using the Canon EF50mm f/1.4 USM or EF70-200mm f/4L IS USM to shoot portraits. They are both super sharp and their big aperture range allow me to have a blurred background, which really makes the subject stand out. The EOS 5D Mark IV offers amazing refinements in image quality, performance and versatility. It also performs really well in most focusing situations.

Ubud with Canon EOS 5D Mark IV

EOS 5D Mark IV; EF11-24mm f/4L USM; f/5; 11mm; 30 sec ;ISO-400

EOS 5D Mark IV; EF50mm f/1.4 USM; f/1.6; 50mm; 1/5 sec ;ISO-800

bali ubud with canon eos 5d Mark IV

EOS 6D; EF50mm f/1.4 USM; f/5.6; 50mm; 1/160 sec ;ISO-600

Don’t miss out Rafael’s adventure in Bukit Peninsula and Mount Batur. His next adventure in Bali will take him to Nusa Penida!

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About the Author

Rafael Moura

A photographer and surfer from Rio De Janeiro, Brazil. His motto is: I live the life I love. He is currently based in California, USA.

www.instagram.com/rmbagus