Bali News

A photography competition is not only expressing creativity but is also expected to motivate attention towards the cultural asset of the nation. Titled “Tourism Alertness 2009″, the Minister for Culture and Tourism held a photography competition. Participated by photographers from 24 provinces, 1,120 were submitted.

Director of People Empowerment at the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Bakri, said that the ultimate objective of the competition is to increase people alertness in implementing the national principle of tourism development, known as Sapta Pesona, through photography. “Good photos bring significant role in spreading information about people involvement in tourism development”, he told a local online media. 100 best photos exhibited at a shopping mall in Jakarta invited significant appreciation of how beautiful Indonesia is, and how rich the national cultural treasure is.

Frames taken by a number of Bali photographer were exhibited, two of which received the minister’s prize.  I.B. Putra Adnyana (Gustra) won the runner up position with his photo titled “Edelweis”, taken at Mount Merapi, Yogyakarta. I.B. Andi Sucirta won the extended prize with his photo titled “With Love Keep Bali Clean”, taken at Sanur Beach, Bali.

Winner of the competition was Hadi Setia Dharma with his photo titled “Lilin Kehidupan”, taken at Borobudur temple.

Chairman of the board of jury said that submitted photos are at good quality and therefore nominating winners was full of debates. Other members of board were Hilda Sabri, Oscar Matuloh, Sigit Pramono, and Bakri.

In tourism photography competition, Bali dominated the submitted photos. However to get photos of Bali into the top board seemed to be difficult. A survey conducted by an Indonesian photography site which was considered as the largest photography site in Asia chose Bromo and Belitung as the sought after photography hunting object. Has Bali lost its charm? Was it because Bali has been full of concrete constructions?

Gustra still consider Bali as the most beautiful place for photography. He thought that it is very easy to find a point of interest in Bali such as colorful ceremony, human interest scenes which are easily found in the countryside, and beautiful beaches. However he also admitted that in some areas, especially in the rice field areas, concrete buildings have started to decrease their beauty.

Therefore authority is expected to be able to communicate and elaborate solution to ensure harmonious relation between tourism industry and environmental protection. Without common commitment everybody will suffer their regret sometime in the future where all natural beauties has been damaged for short term benefit.

Whilst he has a lot of photography assignment in other areas such as Sumatra, Yohyakarta, Makassar, Jakarta, even abroad, he always made his time to take frames around Bali. More than a hobby, he realized the importance to document Bali as he feels changes run very quickly. “Photos are the best way to tell how a development took place”, he said.