Wanderlust

My Photo scholarship 2010 entry

Syria | Monday, August 16, 2010 | 5 photos

Syria overwhelmed me with it's breathtaking landscape and unbounded kindness. People living in such barren and harsh landscapes moved me with their warmth and generosity; none more so than the bedouins who hosted us in their camp. We made our way to the camp in the back of a pickup truck, lounging on colourful cushions and watching the town of Palmyra become smaller and smaller behind us. We were introduced to the best hunter in Palmyra who rode alongside us on his motorbike and later showed us videos of falcons on his mobile phone. We stood by as camels were given water, car engine problems were solved and dinner was prepared. We fell asleep under a blanket of stars as our new friends explained arabic words and their culture.

My photographic eye thrives every time I travel, and travel was in fact one of the first reasons I picked up a camera. I would relish in being given the experience to combine travel and photography in a more serious assignment such as this. When traveling and shooting I am always conscious of the story I am telling and the reasons I am taking a photo - it should not simply be because the scene is 'exotic' or 'other' but should engage and capture the essence of the area or person and ignite the imagination of the viewer.