Photographer Robert Bolton is the Edge of Humanity Magazine contributor of this photo essay. From the project ‘Dance: Indonesia’’. To see Robert ’s body of work, click on any photograph.

Sumba Dancing Trees

These photographs were all taken in April 2025 on a trip by Robert Bolton to Indonesia. Specifically, to the island of Sumba to photograph the “dancing trees” and to Bali to photograph many things including the beautiful Balinese dancers. The idea behind the gallery was simply to celebrate the dance of nature and the dance of humanity. The trees are few in number, less than 20 of them and they are just offshore from a mangrove forest on the coast. The trees are fine living in the sea water, but recent research suggests that they are struggling to thrive owing to the rate at which sea levels are rising. The trees cannot easily cope with the rate at which levels are increasing.

As for this group of Balinese dancers I was allowed to photograph both their preparations and a dance. Balinese dance is celebrated on the island and there are many dance groups. This one was based near the town of Ubud and they would often perform in the hotels for tourists. They were generous with their time, and I felt that they complemented the trees that I photographed the previous day.

Balinese Dancers

Robert lives in the UK with his beloved Schnoodle Princess Molly, and is passionate about photographing the minimal, abstract and otherworldly. Robert is fortunate to be able to travel to beautiful parts of the world. Last year he was awarded Fine Art Photographer of the Year by the Minimalist Photography Awards based on a portfolio of images from Lencois Maranhenses in Brazil.

All images and text © Robert Bolton