Exploring salt at dawn

My Photo scholarship 2010 entry

Bolivia | Friday, October 15, 2010 | 5 photos

These photographs illustrate the bizarre world of the Saltflats at Altiplano, Bolivia. My travelling companions and I were entranced as we made our way from the sulphurous lakes to the flats. We played with lighting, perspective, shutter speed and composition trying to capture the phenomenon of the natural wonders that baffle the eye. The photographs are intended not only to demonstrate the odd physical nature of the landscape but to show the spirit of the moment in time, a group of young travellers overjoyed by the scenery but also the start of my efforts to capture and preserve my travel stories not only through journals but through a far more enlivening media, photography. The nature of the salt flats is a blank slate through which we allowed ourselves to revert to childhood and play games in the alien surroundings; this is the place and moment which I have endeavoured to capture. The story of a completely unique experience, and its effects on the participants.
During my extensive trekking and traveling last year using my camera became as natural as walking or washing (or, in the case of washing maybe more so). I am aware of my limitations as a photographer – they frustrate me but taking photos at university is great practice and lots of fun and I hope to get more professional help and experience as and when I can afford it, There are no Saltmarshes in Northumbria but I continue to take photographs on climbing trips and indeed everywhere else. The thought of Bhutan and the chance to see and capture images of its landscape flora and fauna would be fantastic. To learn from someone who has already achieved a great many of my personal targets as a photographer, explorer and traveller would be phenomenal.