A taste of Tahiti

My Photo scholarship 2011 entry

French Polynesia | Wednesday, October 12, 2011 | 5 photos

Funnily enough I grew up in South Africa and have recently moved to Australia to pursue my dreams.
These dreams include becoming a photographer which was unaffordable previously.
My passion has always been wildlife and conservation and now have the opportunity to document my home country the way I see it and show it to the world.
I've always been glued to the NatGeo channels where ever I've been and have always dreamt of being the photographer responsible for telling the story. Now is my chance.
Growing up in Africa provided me with knowledge and accessibility to wildlife. I just wish I bought a camera back then and captured those moments.
Since being in Australia travelling the world and taking photographs has been a dream come true. I'm constantly striving to get the perfect picture. I spend many hours and late nights to get my photos online for all to see.

The pictures and story I'm submitting for this competition come from my first ever trip to a tropical and isolated island in the South Pacific. French Polynesia and the islands of Tahiti and Moorea became my subject. These pictures show the people, places and way of life on this beautiful island. I remember having a chat with a local and him telling me that they have 11 policemen on the island and that it was "way too many". Their sense of humour was spot on and so unexpected. Kids ran freely on the beaches exploring their surroundings during the day and at night they proudly dressed up to dance their national dance to all.
The crystal clear waters and white sandy beaches are stereotypical of a tropical island but what I couldn't get enough of was the underwater wildlife. Being a diver I was amazed and fascinated with this and worked hard at getting some notable images. I hope these few photos can show the island the way I saw it.