Happy Holi!

My Photo scholarship 2010 entry

India | Monday, October 4, 2010 | 5 photos

The Hindu festival known as Holi is not to be taken lightly. This is the festival of colour and water and one must prepare themselves. Brightly coloured torpedoes and murky buckets of water fly from the rooftops of cheeky faced locals, hitting you full force in the face, and making you a cornucopia of colour and muck. The whole experience of Holi can be overwhelmingly exhausting, however an experience that you’ll never forget, and memories that will always make you smile.

Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal was where I was to experience the full fury of Holi. I was one of the rare people out with my camera, and I wasn’t going to let the obvious dangers to my equipment stop me from getting the ultimate series of images. These five images that I selected, truly captures the excitement that was electric and infectious on that colourful day. Sticky coloured powder, cool buckets of water, mischievous smiles, the hypnotic chant of “Happy Holi!” in a baritone loop in the background, humid and claustrophobic alleyways, being pressed shoulder to shoulder to someone who has a short lived vendetta against you and somewhere deep down the Hindu religion that is evident in everybody and everyday life. This is truly an amazing and unforgettable experience.

The thrill that I personally experience from travelling and photography is overwhelming. I crave new experiences and challenges. The opportunity of meeting new and exciting people, immersing myself in unique cultures and being in awe of breathtaking landscapes is something I’ve always loved. I have the patience and hunger to learn from a professional who is already established and works in the industry that I’m so keen to be apart of. I know that I will learn and grow from an experience like this and produce beautiful images.