Pantai Mengening

Pantai Mengening is a quiet, relatively undiscovered stretch of Bali's southwest coast where a traditional Hindu temple sits right at the water's edge, giving you a rare combination of sacred architecture and raw ocean scenery in a single frame. The temple's tiered shrines work beautifully as foreground elements against the crashing surf, especially when waves push white water around the base of the structure. Shoot from low on the rocks to emphasize the drama of the water, or step back to include the full coastline with the temple anchored in the composition. Sunset is the prime time here, with warm golden light hitting the temple directly from the west and the ocean reflecting color behind it. A wide angle lens handles both the architecture and the seascape well. The beach is accessible by a short walk from the parking area and sees far fewer crowds than nearby Tanah Lot. (Cemagi, Bali, Indonesia)