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