Photos: My Scholarship entry - Chao Vietnam

davidhodgson — Sun, 2 Nov 2014 14:49:00 GMT

The two things I love most in this world are travel and photography. Recently I joked with my partner that if there was a dream job out there for me it would incorporate both. I could honestly not think of anything better than being a travel photographer. I have a good eye for photography however I have had no formal training. I have assisted my best friend and mentor as a wedding photographer on numerous occasions and he taught me everything I know. But, I have never had my own camera to practice on. I have been saving for many months and I am very close to my goal of purchasing my very first camera. In 2012 I went overseas to Vietnam and took a collection of photos using nothing more than an i-phone and a cheap Kodak to dispel the myth that one needs a super expensive camera to take amazing photos. My style is raw and I enjoy taking photos that capture an emotion not just the aesthetics.

Lovers Waterfalls

davidhodgson — Thu, 2 Aug 2012 22:37:00 GMT

My partner and I hired a driver for the day and set about our own tour, which we devised. There were highlights, disappointments and special memories along the way and we wouldn't have changed a thing. It was one of those perfect days when even the disappointments were great.

Special Moments:

1. Doing something I have always wanted to do. Walk behind a waterfall. What a way to start our day. Prenn Falls

2. Walking across a rope bridge, this was something that epitomised Vietnam for me. We were very much in the jungle and to walk across a rope bridge and through the hollow of a tree, which acted as a door was an unforgettable experience.

3. Witnessed hard-working young children, who were referred to as 'minority people', driving a herd of cattle

4. Drank weasel poo coffee

5. Ticked off a bucket list item that failed to live up to expectations. The magnificent Pongua Falls have been widely acknowledged on social media for the iconic photo where 4 monks are walking across it. In reality, the river that fed these magnificent falls was damned up years ago. All that is left now is a trickle. Though this was disappointing, it was still a major milestone to visit this site and remember what once was. There is still a magical feeling about the place.