Hanunuo Mangyan Weaving

My Scholarship entry - A 'place' I have visited

Philippines | Sunday, January 13, 2013 | 5 photos

I've done a bit of traveling and have made it to some of the world's famed landmarks and though I see why they are very popular, the Indiana Jones in me still wants to see the hidden beauties of the world, the unknown wonders waiting to be discovered. I crave, as cliché as it may sound, to get off the beaten path and trod the untouched. I want to be able to wander the streets of a land so far removed from the westernized world that I am accustomed to and well, frankly, far removed from my day-to-day consciousness. I want to be immersed in a culture very different from what I know or even familiar with and find the most essential things that actually connect instead of alienate me from this very culture. I thirst to get lost with absolutely no knowledge of the local vernacular. I yearn to see the similarities instead of the differences of one place to another and be able to capture them in such a way that I can show to others what I have come to realize.

In a world equipped with all the image-capturing devices, it is ironic that the quality of photographs taken decreases. I sadly believe that the power of the camera is taken for granted nowadays. This opportunity will give me the training I have always longed for in terms of photojournalism. It will be a chance for me to cherish each shot I take instead of going trigger-happy knowing I have all the gigabytes to spare anyways. It has always been a dream to work for National Geographic and I believe this chance brings me closer to being part of a team with a shared passion for exploring the world and making a difference.