Pura Gunung Kawi

Pura Gunung Kawi is an 11th-century temple complex where enormous rock-cut shrines are carved directly into a towering cliff face, creating one of Bali's most dramatic and otherworldly compositions. The roughly 7-metre-high candi are arranged in rows along the sheer rock, framed by lush jungle and a rushing river below, giving you strong vertical lines to work with. Shooting from across the river puts the full scale of the shrines in context, while moving closer lets you fill the frame with the intricate carved stone and moss-covered textures. A wide to mid-range zoom works well for capturing the full row of monuments, while a longer focal length lets you isolate individual niches. Morning light is best here, reaching into the valley before the scene falls into deep shade; arrive early to avoid tour groups. Wear clothes you can walk in, as the descent involves many stone steps. (Tampaksiring, Bali, Indonesia)