Meet Dave Metcalf. The adventurous Kiwi who left behind the corporate world to pursue his passion for photography and travel.
I'm from New Zealand, although I have spent a number of years in Australia and lived in a few different countries. There are thirty-three, I took my first trip abroad and I have never stopped traveling since. Wanderlust took me over 28 countries and I had incredible experiences.
When did you first trip to Indonesia and what brought you here?
I arrived in Indonesia in 2000 and moved here with my family in 2001.
At that time, I was the Country Manager for United Parcel Service (UPS). I came on a mission expat.
What made you decide to leave the corporate world and start a tour photography service?
I became fed up with the corporate world it some time ago and had a plan to return to Indonesia one day and take full-time photography. My travel experiences while living here has given me an appreciation for Indonesia and its people, and the belief that this is one of the most photogenic countries in the world. It has so much diversity of people, cultures, architecture, unusual landscapes and people, who like to have their pictures taken.
are you self-taught or did you study photography?
I'm mostly self-taught, however, I had formal training in Australia and gained much value from participation in workshops of local and foreign picture.
are open to all visits, or are there minimum requirements in terms of photographic knowledge level?
The tours are open to all, from beginner to expert. We cover a wide variety of photographic situations, so it's a great opportunity for people to learn, the groups are small and the training and the content is very personalized.
Where do your customers come primarily from? Do you have a mix of expatriates and locals?
Currently, most customers come from Australia and New Zealand and I not getting a lot of US requests However, I think in the future many participants come from Jakarta and be a mix of expatriates and locals.
What areas of Indonesia do you offer tours, and how do you select the areas?
I 4 visits planned this year all Bali and Kalimantan. However, next year I plan Flores, Central Java, Kalimantan, Sulawesi and probably one or two others in Bali. The areas are selected based on the diversity of landscapes, interests and cultural activities (I try and plan around special events or festivals) and especially the places where tourists usually do not risk, because it ' is where the real magic lies. I have traveled everywhere in Indonesia and I know places to take people. In addition, the best time of the year weather wise is vital. As well as visits photography, I also launches cultural adventure tours with a focus on Kalimantan and the Dayak people.
When you visit the most remote villages, you find that the locals are very happy to have their picture taken?
Wherever I traveled to Indonesia I experienced the wonderful hospitality and respect, and yes, people generally love to have their picture taken, although older people can sometimes be a little shy. I stress to my participants turned to try to connect as much as possible about them before lifting the camera, as a mark of respect and that creates a better situation less awkward.
Enjoy excursions outside of Indonesia?
Not at this time, but next year I plan to make trips to New Zealand and the United States. As more people become aware of my visits, I think it will be somewhat dictated by the places they want to go. However, the main objective will be Indonesia because there are so many fascinating places to visit here. I encourage those who are interested to subscribe to my email newsletter on my website, as this is the best way to be informed of upcoming tours.
Regarding Indonesia, Kalimantan is probably my favorite because of its natural beauty and the feeling that it is mostly intact and discover, and of course the people Dayak which are very special. Bali continues to surprise me and because I know so well, it's a place close to my heart. Toraja is very beautiful and a paradise of sorts, and many places in Sulawesi, I traveled a lot, from Manado to Selayar.
Offshore, New Zealand is a favorite for its beauty and unspoiled landscapes. America and Canada for the same reasons and shooting in these places is one bonus - it is very easy to move. Australia has a very special light and India and Sri Lanka offers little else in terms of color and variety. China is very interesting too.
But for me, nothing compares with Indonesia. It is a paradise for photographers to discover, so please join us!
If you want to get in touch with Dave send an email to or visit davidmetcalf3@mac.com www.davidmetcalfphotography. com for more information on tours coming