Between sun and stones

My Scholarship entry - A 'place' I have visited

Ethiopia | Sunday, January 6, 2013 | flickr photos

My story, ‘Between Sun and Stones’, tells of the elegance and resilience of Ethiopians living in remote areas in difficult conditions.
I am a South African living in Istanbul. Always an observer, I have recorded vanishing social and ethnic minorities since we moved to Turkey in 2002. At first there were many ruined images. Then I joined a photo club and started taking classes. Eventually a friend and I ran the club and now we organize its workshops. I continue to learn as challenges multiply. I am happiest photographing off the beaten track where dust, flies and heat are the norm. Above all, I try to take images that show the unpredictability of lives that are sometimes beyond our comprehension.
Six months ago I set the goal of becoming a professional photographer. My first career was in publishing and now I want something different. I’m nearly there: website done, professional social media links working. I now do pro-bono work for two charities in Istanbul but need to find ways for my work to support my joint passions of photography and travel. So, having the chance to learn first-hand from a professional on assignment in Oman would be an invaluable gift.