The Way

My Photo scholarship 2011 entry

Spain | Monday, November 7, 2011 | 5 photos

Every year, thousands of people from all over the world are united with a common desire, to walk the Camino de Santiago in Northern Spain. The Camino becomes not only a journey, but a way of life. For 890 kilometres, your fellow pilgrims become your family; you share their joy, feel their pain and support them through their growth. You lose yourself in the vast and varied landscapes; through the mountainous terrain of the Pyrenees', descending into dense luscious forest, across the endless Meseta and into the rainy province of Galicia. Nature provides the perfect setting to communicate with yourself and with others.

The collection of photos I have submitted reflect the vast magnitude of nature. As pilgrims, we begin to realise humans are but a small speck of dust in the universe. We may control and exploit nature for our own benefit, but we will always be vulnerable to the unknown.

I was very fortunate to have had the opportunity to walk the Camino de Santiago in August/September 2011. It is an experience that will always remain in my heart. Walking across an entire country opened my eyes and ignited a fire in myself for exploration. It is a wide world out there, and photography provides an excellent base for exploration. Through a lens, you begin to really notice the true beauty of what is right in front of you.

I am currently in my fourth year of a combined Bachelor of Laws/Bachelor of Arts (Geography major) degree. I have no clue where my career might lead, but I know one thing for sure, I want to explore as much of our world as possible. I am passionate about the environment and through photography I am able to view nature with an entirely different perspective.