Chronicles of the Wild

My Photo scholarship 2011 entry

Worldwide | Saturday, October 22, 2011 | flickr photos

I was recently offered to join a friend on a journey to Papua New Guinea. Being both marine ecologists, we had been invited to go explore the Conflict Islands, a remote, inhabited atoll of the northern Coral Sea. More than just a nice destination, this travel revealed itself as a determining experience that ignited in me a desire to further develop my photography and reporting skills in order to promote environmental and wildlife conservation.

I hope to raise awareness on the beauty and uniqueness of our planet in sustaining life in all forms, shapes and colours. Coral reefs are one example and the Conflict Islands, with their 22 islands, shallow lagoons, pristine reefs and plunging outer walls, depict an ideal image of what most shores should look like in a world where human/nature interactions were minimised. In this series of photographs, ranging from seascapes through to animal portraits, I tried to portray the Conflict Islands as a marine biodiversity ‘hotspot’.

The story I wish to tell through this entry is how a particular community, the natural world, is vanishing under the combined influences of human activities and a changing climate. At the dawn of the 21st century, I believe that it is time for our society to set environmental welfare as a higher priority if we want our planet to sustain future generations. This is what I believe in, what makes me wake up everyday and want to keep trying harder to fetch my dreams. I see photography as a strong medium to raise awareness on the beauty of our planet and the challenges it faces. Documenting Africa, its wildlife and cultural identity alongside Jason Edwards would be an invaluable experience that would enable me to take my photography further and get closer to my ambitions.