One-hour tours are offered any day of the week at 7:00 am, 8:30am, and 10:00 am. A custom time can be arranged. 7 am is the best time to see the true spirit of the market. 8:30 is transition time where the market transforms from a traditional pasar to souvenir shops. 10 am is perfect to capture the colourful tourist scene in full swing.
All tours take place at the Ubud traditional market (Pasar Ubud) in the heart of Ubud, Bali. Your guide will send you the meeting location when your booking is confirmed.
Group size will be from one to four people (4 is the max). Tours are open to photographers of all experience levels who have a passion for street photography.
Price: donation-based. Yes, you read that correctly. How much you donate and to who is up to you :-). Jump to our Donation Partners.
Making art out of the Every Day Occurrence When you go to the pasar, baskets balancing on people’s heads is a common sight. Syahravi, a young photographer from Jakarta, masterfully transformed this seemingly mundane occurrence into poetry in motion. All photos above are by Syahravi from the Pasar Ubud Tour with Bali Street Photographer. Thank …
While on assignment on Nusa Lembongan, a small island off the coast of South Bali, we spotted this beautiful Bali dog foragging for food in the ocean. We’ve rescued and adopted many dogs over the years. Yet, I’ve never seen a dog actually “fishing” before. And, the traditional jukung (outrigger boat) presented a picturesque backdrop …
The traditional shops and markets (pasars) are the veins of the community. Food, tonics, hardware, and spices are not the only “goods”. In the pasars, the latest news and life updates are done face-to-face in real-time.
I thoroughly enjoy being in the pasar. Almost every village will have one. Even in the most touristy of markets, you will see Bali as if time stood still. But, you must get there early in the morning.
Experience Bali by being a part of it, even if it’s just for a little while.
Explore, learn, and interact
I like to call it ‘pasar-karma‘. Pasar-karma is when you sit down at a food stall (warung) for a kopi Bali and the person behind the counter offers you some fresh bananas, or when you ask one of the vendors what kind of canang (offerings) they are making and you get the biggest toothy grin along with your answer.
My approach is spontaneous. I go with the flow. I say hi, chat, try some kue Bali (Balinese cake), and take photos along the way. I always give options, hints, and help. But, I don’t prescribe how or what. No prior experience or fancy camera is needed. Learn the rules, then have fun creatively breaking them all.
Share and tell your story
Whether you take random snap shots or are on a photo essay mission you will end up with a priceless story to tell. I can help you with artist statements & pitches, photo selections & sequencing, and the next steps to get your work out there.
Donation-based
There is no fee for these tours. Any donation you wish to give is purely voluntary & deeply appreciated. See our Donation Partners page.
Mission statement for Bali Street Photographer
To see rather than look. To create rather than take. To explore rather than visit. To connect rather than separate.
About your guide
Hailing from NE Ohio in the US, Mark is a
mark l chaves
freelance photographer and writer based in Bali, Indonesia. He contributes to news, wellness, travel, and photography agencies. Mark’s photography has been exhibited in Bali, Europe, and the US. Before morphing into a freelancer, Mark slung code and managed web teams for Fortune 500 companies.
Mark’s favourite meditations are a good book with a cappuccino, feeding stray cats and dogs, and wishing to be a rock star in his next life. He would be very disappointed if you were in Bali and didn’t meet him for a coffee.
Not all travelers are explorers. It takes a deeper sense of adventure and openness to experience what Bali has to offer beyond the beach and club scene. There is definitely more to Bali than meets the eye.
What people are saying about Bali Street Photographer
Mark has great ethics and is a wonderful host, smoothly manoeuvring people through the busy pathways of the Pasar market. Mark spent over 3 1/2 hours from 5am to 8.30 am and he does this to raise awareness and valuable donations for the wellbeing of Ubud’s less fortunate cats and dogs. It’s a great experience …
What a great addition to our trip to have the guidance of a considerate local with us on our first day! We’re grateful for the good fortune of starting our Ubud experience with you. Thanks for your insights and photographs. It’s a big part of our memory.
Ogoh-ogoh are statues up to five metres high, which represent the negative aspects or all living things. They generally take the form of a local demon (some look downright obscene). The Balinese Hindu authorities try their best to ensure the statues are representative of the true spirit of the event, though an occasional Sponge Bob …
These wonderful images were made during Bali Street Photographer’s Pasar Ubud Tour in June 2018. Les’ photography is the embodiment of Henri Cartier-Bresson’s decisive moment. Thanks so much for sharing, Les! All photographs and captions are by Les Telford. Follow Les on Flickr.
I’m pleased to share Pasar Ubud Tour photos by Adrian of Artisanal Photo. Adrian is relatively new to Bali and street photography. Please enjoy Adrian’s fresh and new perspective of Bali and Pasar Ubud. All photos by Artisanal Photo. See the full high resolution series published on Artisanal Photo. Thanks so much for joing me …
The Pasar Ubud Photography Tour was delighted to host Brian. Brian is a talented street photographer originally from South Africa. He’s a true traveler/explorer as demonstrated in the way he naturally blended into unfamiliar surroundings. It was a pleasure to observe Brian’s keen ability to see a photograph before it materialised (with remarkable patience) in …
We create real change for animals in need through rescue, rehabilitation, re-homing, education, activation, medical and financial support of solo rescuers.
The Villa Kitty team works hard to save the lives of Bali’s abandoned cats and kittens. In addition to offering them safe and comfortable shelter we provide quality veterinary care and advice, sterilisation programs, responsible cat adoption services, education programs to promote responsible cat ownership, love and rehabilitation.
