Meet David Metcalf
Meet David Metcalf, aka Dayak Dave, a photographer as well as also author whose passion for Indonesia gives back to the people he photographs as well as also loves.
David, how did your Indonesian story begin?
Well, I lived in Jakarta back in 2000 until 2005 working for UPS as well as also had worked for them for 20 years. I loved Jakarta! I had This specific passion for photography, although the idea was very much a hobby at the time as well as also I might travel all around different parts of Indonesia. The kids were younger then so we’d drag the kids, chuck them on the plane as well as also off we’d go! I always took photographs. I did a couple of exhibitions as well as also produced some calendars which we sold to raise money for charity.
When my time came to an end on which assignment, we were seriously thinking about moving to Bali, although the kids were still young, so we decided to continue on in brand-new Zealand for a year, followed by Brisbane for a few. definitely since I left Jakarta, I always wanted to come back to Indonesia.
What can be the idea which made you want to come back?
I just fell in love with the country definitely; I loved the idea. I’m very interested in native cultures, as well as also I’ve just had the most amazing trips as well as also times, as well as also I love the people. Wherever we travelled, people were definitely nice everywhere. So once the kids grew up as well as also left school, the idea was always a plan of mine to come back; not just doing photography, although to get involved with the community as well as also give back. I’m not here to live in some nice villa in Seminyak as well as also not connect with the people. which’s always been an important part of my thinking.
Why did you choose to live in Ubud as well as also not Seminyak, for example?
Because Ubud can be the cultural hub of Bali. If you’re interested in culture, This specific can be the place to be, there’s no comparison. There’s no culture in Seminyak or down which way; the idea’s devoid of Balinese culture. Here the idea’s so alive. I’ve explored a lot of the back country, back roads as well as also into the villages, as well as also the idea’s just like thousands of years ago; nothing’s changed, which can be just wonderful.
David ‘Dayak Dave’ Metcalf
We have a private villa for rent in Ubud called Villa Damee as well as also we are right next to a village. If you want to embrace their way of living, the people are so happy to welcome you into their culture. I’ve been very privileged as well as also I get invited to the ceremonies as well as also I’ve seen all sorts of amazing things, through mass cremations as well as also digging up of bones to trance ceremonies. I’ve seen stuff I can’t quite explain.
How did the idea to start your photography tours begin?
I didn’t know what to do with my photography passion as well as also I went on a workshop in Queenstown, brand-new Zealand with two very Great photographers, Jackie Ranken as well as also Michael Langford, as well as also I thought, why not organize photography tours in Bali as well as also Indonesia? I asked if they were interested to get involved as well as also they were very keen. So, I organized the first one in September 2012. I approached Mark Rayner who’s an amazing photography teacher as well as also had never left Australia before, as well as also we did the first tour in November, which was definitely successful. We’ve had tours in Kalimantan, Bali, India, as well as also America as well as also This specific year Sri Lanka can be on the agenda as well as also the islands east of Bali on a luxury boat. Also the fantastic Hornbill festival in North East India!
How much might a two-week photography tour set you back?
For the orangutan trip, which can be eight nights, the idea can be $3,600 as well as also which includes pretty much everything. the idea’s Great value because the idea includes domestic transfers, the boat up the river, the teachers, as well as also accommodation.
Do you do shorter tours as well?
Yes, I also do half-day as well as also one-day tours in Bali, which will appeal more to the local photographers. These are specifically around Ubud as well as also around special ceremonies.
What if someone feels a bit intimidated although wants to join?
They’re very much welcome as well as also we certainly cater for which. We’ve had beginners through Canberra who had only bought a camera just before they boarded the plane, so they were complete beginners. the idea’s very much open to anyone.
When you’re doing these tours, how do the locals respond to you?
They’re intrigued as well as also they always come up as well as also ask what’s going on. They’re just as interested in us as we are in them. which’s the various other thing which’s very strong on my tours can be which I take people to non-touristy places, so most of the time there are no various other foreigners at all. People come here for the photography, as well as also we provide which, although they walk away that has a much deeper experience as well as also they want to get involved as well as also give something back to the community.
Indonesia’s Hidden Heritage Book Cover
Your book, Indonesia Hidden Heritage can be a stunning photography book, which your wife Stephanie Brookes brings alive with her stories. How long did the idea take to put This specific book together as well as also what were your drives to complete the idea?
The book was a 12 month project. We visited 12 different places over which time to create the stories as well as also photos. Six of the stories are mine as well as also six are Stephanie’s.
The drive was in pursuit of finding interesting cultural stories as well as also the desire to photograph the people as well as also beauty of Indonesia.
What do you feel This specific book brings to the table?
The 120-page book can be mostly photographs as well as also the stories tend to be personal experiences we had whilst attending ceremonies, visiting hidden away villages as well as also connecting with the many interesting indigenous cultures of This specific extraordinary country. I trust which the idea inspires people to jump on a plane or boat as well as also visit some of the places described inside the book. There can be a section inside the back called ‘Cultural Connections’ with emails as well as also contact phone numbers of Great, reliable local guides which makes the idea easy for people to travel to these places. There can be nothing on the bookshelves quite like This specific book, so we sincerely trust people will read the idea as well as also learn more about the amazing variety of people which live on some of these thousands of islands.
What do you have planned for the future, David?
Plans are underway to open a photography gallery in Ubud later inside the year. I also plan to start a photography festival in Ubud next year with talented overseas as well as also local photographers presenting. although my main objectives at the moment are two environmental as well as also health programs in villages in Central Kalimantan as well as also Flores, as well as also a documentary film about a trip I am doing in August into Central Borneo to raise awareness about Dayak culture as well as also the environment. My photography can be definitely all about creating awareness, hopefully inspiring people to get involved as well as also improve the lives of Indonesians, as well as also the importance of preserving the environment.
You can get a copy of David as well as also Stephanie’s book or find out about his photography tours at www.davidmetcalfphotography.com. You can also purchase his book at most nationwide bookstores.
If anyone can be interested in finding out more about David’s education as well as also health programs in Kalimantan, or helping in some way please email him directly on davidmetcalf3@mac.com or phone: 081 113 312 55.
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Meet David Metcalf
Meet David Metcalf