Stories not atoms I started 'stories not atoms' to enter the documentary competition... but after discoveirng what and how I can share future travels online here, I will be back to add more and more!

My Photo scholarship 2010 entry

China | Sunday, October 17, 2010 | 4 photos

These photos were taken in Sanya, Hainan, the southern most city in China, on October 15, 2010. The ‘Computer City’ shopping complex sits on one corner of the main junction, where a stream of motos, trucks, cars, street vendors and pedestrians are constantly on the move. Inside, it is predominantly youth wondering the four levels of electronics, fashion and accessories.

The island of Hainan has grown exponentially over the past 10 years. A pile of gravel, bricks and bamboo scaffolding at the front of each house and shop tells the story of China… a story of growth. And, for Hainan, the next 10 years will be no different with 25 billion dollars being pledged by the Chinese government to further development in anticipation of a tourism boom.

Economist Robert Fogel from the University of Chicago predicts China will be the largest economy in the world by 2040. Youth. Education. Aspiration. Consumption. Movement. These images, acting as a microcosm of Chinese society, begin to tell some of that story.

For me, the essence of photography is storytelling. It’s about having a front row seat into different lives, cultures and communities. I am passionate about people, their stories and using words and imagery as vehicles to incite understanding, action and change.

I have pursued photography, independently, from a young age. It has acted as an outlet for my natural tendency to stare… or watch the way a shadow falls a certain way. I am happiest when I have my camera in hand and time to wonder, watch and gaze.

Stories are everywhere and telling them is something I want to spend the rest of my life doing. As a journalist starting my career, words are my trade. But creating and capturing photographic narratives is where my heart lies.