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.
