FACETES OF UBUD.
Ubud, you are amazing. You were one of the first spots i could live out the full potential of the Leica and my setup. It feels so rewarding. Something I really told myself for this trip:
Photograph people, or even better, photograph souls.
And my number one priority - empathy - not photography. Get a connection - even if its just with eye contact, a smile, a tap on my camera, a nod. Respect the people, but try to capture the moment, without ruining the moment. So far, just smiles, laughter, happiness, positive feedback.
I get closer and closer to my style of photography - even if I have no idea yet and still stand at the very beginning. Every photograph I take, every connection I make, is one step closer to becoming not a photographer, but a visual storyteller, an artist, a creative mind, a whoever. I don’t care to be honest. I just don’t stop documenting life through my lens. Make people see. Make them feel, even if they are not there with me.
I feel one with my camera. The Leica in my right hand, the flash in the left. I finally know exactly how to hold the flash in different situations. Portraits, dramatic scenes, doesn’t matter.
First I was not sure if I need a Leica. But just having that 28mm Summilux an nothing else on you makes you rethink your photography. My editing got to a whole new level. Color-Theory, white balance, contrast, all that stuff I thought was so hard to get right, I believe I finally got it. And half of that was my endless view time on youtube tutorials and the other half is because of the Leica.
I’m serious, I read so much online on how “gear doesn’t matter” as they say it in the photography scene. But who ever says that just wants to feed their ego (that they are what matters). I get it, you need to see the shot before you take it, you need to expose right, it has to be in focus and so on. All true. But i take the same photo with my Sony and spend afterwards 5 hours editing it or my Leica and just post the picture straight out of camera. 10/10 times everyone that has the slightest of taste chooses the Leica photograph. For me, Leica all day - worth every single penny.
Thanks to all the beautiful souls in this shot, I feel really connected with Bali and especially the people. Just real, happy, and the biggest sense of community.
After all it’s still just a facet, I know. Like with everything it has its flip side. As a tourist or traveller you hardly ever see the full picture. But even if there is struggle, capitalism, etc. I talk about the core values of the people. They just have their hearts at the right place and express their gratitude and happiness for the little things in everyday life.
