Diamond Beach

Diamond Beach is one of Bali's most dramatic coastal scenes, where a crescent of white sand sits beneath towering limestone cliffs draped in tropical vegetation, with turquoise water filling the frame below. The main shot everyone comes for is the view from the clifftop lookout, where you can position yourself at the edge to capture the full sweep of the beach, the cliffs, and the ocean together. A wide angle lens works well here to take in the scale, though a short telephoto lets you compress the layers of cliff, sand, and sea. The stone stairway carved into the cliff face also makes a strong compositional element leading the eye down toward the water. Morning light is best, hitting the cliffs and beach before the sun gets too harsh and before crowds build up. Access requires a short walk from the parking area, and the clifftop path can be uneven, so wear solid footwear. (Nusa Penida, Bali, Indonesia)