Global Snapshots Recipient of the inaugural World Nomads Travel Photography Scholarship is let loose in Australia's top end...

After an exhausting day travelling from Melbourne to Adelaide, to Darwin and finally Darwin to Gove, I finally reached my destination. With three hours delay in total from the flights and such a long day travelling and sitting in airports it was definitely taking it’s toll, but I was still eager for the exciting new experience ahead.

Arriving in Gove at about 9:30pm, a bus drove up to Gulkula, the camping site for the festival, which would be my home for the next five days.

We arrived to a pretty chaotic situation with 2000 people needing to be assigned to tents all at once. I felt so sorry for the volunteers struggling to control the masses. I had no idea what I was doing. I stood in one line for ages and once I got to the front they said “and who are you,” I mumbled a bit about being a photographer and was pointed in the direction of the media room, which is a building site box where all the media people hang out. They have the internet via satellite, air-conditioning and electricity, a sanctuary from the elements outside.

Once I realised all the media people were standing around waiting there, I relaxed a bit because I was finally where I needed to be. And no longer had to aimlessly drag my bag through the thick red dust, or stand in lines that weren’t for me. On top of all that it was scorching hot! It had just rained and the humidity was through the roof. I was dripping with sweat like I’d been dragged into the sea by a crocodile and survived, which only made the waiting more unbearable.

Then the most exciting thing happened! I made human contact. I met a lovely team from San Francisco making a documentary film on sacred sites. I hung out with them for a bit, waiting in the dark. Their leader asked me why I was there and I explained I had won a Scholarship through World Nomads, it was open to student photographers around the world and somehow I managed to win. He was so excited he told his team all about it. “That’s amazing,” he said, “I look forward to seeing your shots.” He also said “Garma must be a pretty serious deal if they’re giving a scholarship to go to it.” They were very easy to get along with right from the start, and would become my friendship support for my stay at Garma.

I was given a ‘media pack’ with my name on it with info about Garma and a rough program, which helped sink in the amazing reality that I was one of them… an official photographer. I had never worked with or near media people, so I definitely felt I had been thrown in the deep end without my floaties, but felt honoured to be part of their exclusive club, now was the test to see if I would sink or swim.

Then at about 12midnight the American team and I had our bags thrown onto the tray of a ute and we drove down a dirt track to our camping ground. I was given a three-man tent to inhabit and boy can I tell you it was such a relief to finally get a tent, I was so exhausted it was beyond a joke, but I wasn’t complaining because I was ahead of many others who had to wait longer.

Then the worst thing happened… my torch was in my bag. My bag was locked, with a combination lock and wire… and there was no light!!!!! I fumbled around in the dark outside my tent for ages, trying to see the numbers from the light of the moon. It was very frustrating. After about 10 minutes of that, I finally saw someone walking by and I desperately ran towards them trying not to panic too much, otherwise they’ll think I’m a madman about to attack. I kindly asked if I could borrow her torch, she thought about it for a bit and then I was handed her torch in an emotional but quick ceremony and was was freed! What a relief that was! Next time I go to Garma I will remember to have my torch in my hand and not locked up in my bag.

In my tent was an airbed, and sleeping bag. I organised my things and browsed through the program for the next few days. I laid on my bed thinking about how strange and exciting it was that I was in Arnhemland. It was still very humid and I was still dripping with sweat trying to relax so I could fall asleep. I got about 5 hours sleep. I didn’t get a very good sleep. I kept waking up in shock, totally disorientated, not knowing where I was or what time it was. It was a vicious cycle that I couldn’t snap out of. Night-time ended, daylight began.