Feeding the masses

My Scholarship entry - Somewhere on the Indian Railways

India | Sunday, November 23, 2014 | 5 photos

I bought my first camera when I began traveling, at age 20. Before that, I’d taken few pictures. I traveled alone, and to cure my loneliness I took pictures.

I traveled for the next nine years. Along the way I taught myself different techniques – mostly trial and error stuff. For the first few years I had no idea what shutter and aperture were. But slowly, I learned.

Photography has now taken control of my dreams. I would like to become a professional, but I have no idea how. All I have is my camera and a passion. This scholarship would help organize my zeal into something solid. If I win, I plan to absorb as much wisdom as I can from Jason, and to create images that absorb as much as they can from South America.

I just returned to the US after many years of traveling, and feel alienated and unwilling to recede into the culture. Whatever happens, I will continue pursuing my photography. My first large project will be a tour of small villages around India, traveling alongside my wife, who speaks fluent Hindi. The plan is to travel around taking family portraits, then, using a portable printer, provide those we photograph with what may the only image they have of themselves.