Peoples of Sapa

My Photo scholarship 2010 entry

Worldwide | Thursday, October 14, 2010 | 5 photos

These photos are from a series taken in the mountains of Northern Vietnam near the village of Sapa. The pictures show a bit of what village life is like in Northern Vietnam. They are an observation of the people in their daily routines in and around their homes and farms. The pictures capture not only the people themselves, but also the world that they have built and live in. As the pictures show, it is a very pastoral lifestyle without many of the amenities of Western society. They show a people neither enthralled nor agitated by western visitors, merely interested. The locals worked diligently even while we passed, but would steal quick glances. Because of their curiosity, I was able to capture some of the people at work in the fields. The land they work in has the beauty of both nature, and the mark of man. The rice patties have been carved into the natural mountains, to sustain a people used to hardship. The land is what allows the Vietnamese to live, yet it has cost them in hard work that has shaped the natural landscape.
I feel that I am qualified for this scholarship for multiple reasons: I have more than an amateur's grasp on photography, yet I want to learn from those with more knowledge and expertise. The experience would benefit me greatly since I am in the Reserve's Officer Training Corps and will more than likely interact with people from various cultures. I am avid outdoorsmen who appreciates conservation efforts and would relish an opportunity to capture images of the Bhutanese culture, architecture and the native wildlife.