Amid Cost of Living Pressures, Street Photographers at the National Monument Struggle in the Digital Era

JAKARTA – On that afternoon, the sky around the National Monument (Monas) area appeared clear with scattered clouds. In the vast courtyard surrounding the 132-metre-tall obelisk, numerous visitors strolled leisurely, enjoying the atmosphere.

Families with children walked together, whilst young couples paused briefly to take photographs against a backdrop of lush trees. Amid the crowds, several men with cameras hanging from their necks appeared alert, observing visitors’ movements.

Not far away, another photographer was positioning a small family for a photograph to ensure Monas appeared prominently in the background. Kompas.com observed that these photographers carried DSLR cameras and crossbody bags containing portable printers. After pressing the shutter button, they quickly transferred files, printed the photograph on site, and handed it to customers within minutes.

However, beneath this convenience, the shadow of smartphone technology continues to haunt the sustainability of their profession. Budi (55), not his real name, has been a street photographer at Monas for approximately 39 years. He acknowledged that the number of visitors using his services has recently declined, particularly as Ramadan approaches.

“Nowadays, people use mobile phones. So it’s become quiet,” Budi said when met by Kompas.com at the Monas area on Friday, 27 February 2026.

According to him, almost all visitors now carry smartphones with increasingly high-quality cameras. He charges Rp20,000 per print and Rp10,000 if only a digital file is required.

“Print directly, ready in a minute. If just a file, Rp10,000, then it can be sent later,” he said.

All the equipment he uses is his own property, from a Canon DSLR camera to a portable printer. He is self-taught in photography, having learned on the job since beginning this profession.

“As for photography, I taught myself. Self-taught,” he said briefly.

Budi started this work when the Monas area was not yet as well-organised as it is now. He has witnessed changes in site management, renovations, and shifts in tourist visitation patterns over nearly four decades.

According to him, the number of photographers at Monas currently exceeds 30 people.

“There have always been dozens of people. Now there are more than 20, possibly 30,” he said.

“Tour groups still come, and ladies as well. But, well, times have changed,” Budi remarked.