Rodney Campbell's Blog

I went to the lobby of Maya Ubud Resort at twilight on our last evening there to take some images of the impressive (circular) lobby area.

Note: These photographs (especially the wider shots) look much better when larger – so click any of the images below to see larger versions in an inline overlay slideshow gallery viewer.

I actually took shots (on a tripod) for an HDR Panorama which I havn’t managed to successfully stitch well yet – this is the best attempt I could get working so far (with lots of stitching errors but still covers a full 360 degree rotation view). In this flattened view it looks like a selection of doorways…

The Many Doorways of Maya

NIKON D600 + 15.0 mm f/2.8 @ 15 mm, 2.5 sec at f/8, ISO 100 x 27 frames

I also took this single long exposure with the Sigma 15mm fisheye lens. I just put the camera down on it’s back facing straight up on the ground right in the middle of the lobby area with the timer delay on and stepped away whilst it was taking the shot.

Things are Looking Up

NIKON D600 + 15.0 mm f/2.8 @ 15 mm, 10.00 sec at f/8, ISO 100

Right next to the Maya Ubud Resort which we stayed in for the first part of our stay in Bali we had a small area of terraced rice fields. I took the 70-300mm out for a walk one overcast late afternoon for some more intimate detailed landscaping with the lovely interesting shapes and waves in the fields.

Note: These images (especially the wider shots) look much better when larger – so click any of the images below to see larger versions in an inline overlay slideshow gallery viewer.

The Rice Hut

NIKON D600 + 70.0-300.0 mm f/4.5-5.6 @ 240 mm, 1/250 sec at f/5.6, ISO 1000

Lines and Waves II

NIKON D600 + 70.0-300.0 mm f/4.5-5.6 @ 180 mm, 1/125 sec at f/11, ISO 1400

Lines and Waves I

NIKON D600 + 70.0-300.0 mm f/4.5-5.6 @ 260 mm, 1/125 sec at f/11, ISO 1100

Tending the Harvest

NIKON D600 + 70.0-300.0 mm f/4.5-5.6 @ 300 mm, 1/250 sec at f/5.6, ISO 640

Whilst all my girls were all having their manicures and pedicures done 🙂 – I wandered the laneways and alleyways of Ubud exploring…

Note: These images (especially the wider shots) look much better when larger – so click any of the images below to see larger versions in an inline overlay slideshow gallery viewer.

The Man of Many Hats

NIKON D600 + 24.0-120.0 mm f/4.0 @ 120 mm, 1/250 sec at f/5, ISO 280

Ubud Laneway

NIKON D600 + 24.0-120.0 mm f/4.0 @ 24 mm, 1/50 sec at f/5.6, ISO 220

Market

NIKON D600 + 24.0-120.0 mm f/4.0 @ 105 mm, 1/250 sec at f/8, ISO 560

Whilst riding down a country lane on our bike tour through the heart of Bali I saw this man out in his rice field tending his crop and had to stop and see if I could make some images. I stopped and smiled and motioned with my camera and he smiled in acceptance and gave me this pose so I moved in as close and as high as I could at the edge of the paddy with the longest end of the lens I had on at the time – I’m sure he’s seen thousands of tourists ride by his fields 🙂 but I was thankful he allowed this image…

Note: These photographs (especially the wider shots) look much better when larger – so click any of the images below to see larger versions in an inline overlay slideshow gallery viewer.

The Rice Harvester

NIKON D600 + 24.0-120.0 mm f/4.0 @ 120 mm, 1/500 sec at f/4, ISO 100

Soon afterwards the whole group stopped at some rice fields to walk and explore. In reality vast areas of Bali are covered in terraced rice fields – even in the densely populated areas of Kuta and Seminyak there are still rice fields in the heart of town.

My girls had some fun exploring and I took pictures 🙂

Three

NIKON D600 + 24.0-120.0 mm f/4.0 @ 120 mm, 1/400 sec at f/4, ISO 100

NIKON D600 + 24.0-120.0 mm f/4.0 @ 120 mm, 1/400 sec at f/4, ISO 100

Bali Fields

NIKON D600 + 24.0-120.0 mm f/4.0 @ 120 mm, 1/320 sec at f/4, ISO 100

A good friend suggested we try a day outing riding mountain bikes down from the mountains through the back roads of Bali towards Ubud. We booked with one of the tours specialising in this (Bali Eco Cycling).

Note: These photographs (especially the wider shots) look much better when larger – so click any of the images below to see larger versions in an inline overlay slideshow gallery viewer.

All the companies follow the same basic formula – an early morning drive up to Kintamani to view the volcano (Mt Batur) and the lake with a basic breakfast there; then head down to the coffee plantation (where they make the Cat poo (Luwak) coffee :)); and from there we head off on mountain bikes for about a 25km ride which is mostly flat or downhill on country roads towards Ubud with stops on the way (e.g. a traditional Balinese house, Banyan tree, etc); and ends in a buffet style balinese lunch.

My thoughts
– the breakfast is forgettable (we anticipated this from the various reviews so had our usual breakfast at the resort before being picked up) but the view is spectacular
– the ride is very easy (my 7yr old daughter had no problems) and you do get to see a more intimate side of Bali life and a number of small villages and places on the way
– whilst we skipped the breakfast the lunch was actually very good
– the guides were great and considerate of people wishing to move at different paces (including people like me who wanted to stop often to take photographs 🙂
– in truth I could have spent days stopping and photographing!
– my whole family really enjoyed the day and the experience – highly recommended

Preparing for Baskets

NIKON D600 + 24.0-120.0 mm f/4.0 @ 55 mm, 1/60 sec at f/4, ISO 125

Harvest

NIKON D600 + 24.0-120.0 mm f/4.0 @ 120 mm, 1/320 sec at f/4, ISO 100

Mother

NIKON D600 + 24.0-120.0 mm f/4.0 @ 120 mm, 1/125 sec at f/4, ISO 220

The Great Banyan

NIKON D600 + 24.0-120.0 mm f/4.0 @ 24 mm, 1/50 sec at f/4, ISO 400

What Did the Chicken Say…

NIKON D600 + 24.0-120.0 mm f/4.0 @ 120 mm, 1/250 sec at f/8, ISO 560