The Spaza Life

My Scholarship entry - A 'place' I have visited

South Africa | Friday, January 11, 2013 | 5 photos

For most of my life, I had never thought much about photography. Then, three years ago, my parents gave me a camera before I spent a semester in Africa—and I fell in love. While traveling through Tanzania, I saw great beauty alongside great poverty. After being overwhelmed with sadness for this poverty all around me and guilt for my own good fortune, I started to turn my lens on what I saw. Since then, nothing has changed my life more than travel and photography.

Through the viewfinder, I discovered how to leverage my privilege to help others. While finishing school, I’ve spent the past few years living and working in Fiji and South Africa, attempting to embed myself within cultures very different from my own. Each time, I’ve tried to learn and share what life is like for these communities.

Photography has revealed itself to me as a way to share stories few would’ve noticed otherwise. Still, I’ve had no formal training, and this is where this scholarship comes in. Jason’s expertise and mentoring will really help me reach the next skill level, while the exposure afforded by this opportunity could help me turn my dream of being a professional photojournalist into a reality.