Istan(t)bul

My Photo scholarship 2010 entry

Turkey | Saturday, October 16, 2010 | 5 photos

My name is Chloé Ercoli Bannister. The 5 photos of my choice depict Istanbul. I was happily amazed to see things such as fishing in the centre of the city or typing a letter on commission in the park. Istanbul is a cosmopolitan city, full of history and magnificence, yet so simple. Everyone was busy doing what they could, very relaxed and easy going, not like most “European capitals” (if one can already consider Istanbul as a European capital) where life is hectic and chaotic and where rarely apart from the monuments, one can feel the religious impact on the people, while here it is tangible.
Winning this scholarship would be a dream come true, an opportunity to work with the best in the field and gain further knowledge, experience and learn new skills. I have been to various countries in Asia, including Thailand and Cambodia. I find their culture and spirituality incredibly interesting and I think it would be an extraordinary experience to travel to Bhutan and see first hand how the local people have based their ancient Buddhist symbology on the flora and fauna of their small magical kingdom.
I have seen pictures of Bhutan and would be thrilled to be able to photograph the wildlife in such a magnificent country. I am a nature photography lover and every time I have spare money, I spend it to go travelling. I have always kept travel journals even before learning photography. I am used to walking for miles with my equipment in my backpack and I feel I have all the required skills and enthusiasm that would be expected of me. It is my deepest desire to be chosen for this position, since I am sure that this experience will open the doors to professional photography, my dream job.