the great affair. "i travel not to go anywhere, but to go. the great affair is to move." --r.l. stevenson

My Photo Scholarship 2011 entry

India | Monday, November 7, 2011 | 5 photos

“Appa and the Pomeranians”

Appa didn't talk much at first.

He and his wife, Amma, live in Chengalpattu, a suburb of Chennai in southern India. They are my friend Nambi's parents—Appa and Amma meaning 'father' and 'mother' in Tamil—and when they heard I was passing by during my four months in India, they invited me to spend the weekend with them. Both successful doctors, they live next to the hospital they founded with their five perky Pomeranians—Sony, Queen, Princess, Beauty and Rover.

My second afternoon, I piled into the car with Appa and the dogs on their daily trip to a nearby farm. With gumboots on and walking stick in hand, Appa came alive. He talked non-stop as we rambled through the jungled land, pointing out a hummingbird's nest, bulbous wild mushrooms, and the curry leaves Amma uses in her cooking, even tearing off a few for me to smell.

As a 25-year old aspiring travel journalist from Virginia, I have a passionate curiosity about the world—and an equal desire to document it, using both words and pictures to tell stories. Meeting people like Appa is what I live for; such experiences constantly spur me on to new journeys.

While I have just completed an MA in Travel Writing from London’s Kingston University, I am eager to grow my travel photography abilities as well, so that I can capture vibrant images that will inspire others to explore the world. I believe the opportunity to work with Jason Edwards at this early stage in my career would be invaluable. Forever a student at heart, I delight in learning and would be thrilled at the opportunity to travel to South Africa with him.

Thank you for considering me for the 2011 Travel Photography scholarship…See you in Africa!