Yemen

My Photo scholarship 2010 entry

Worldwide | Sunday, October 17, 2010 | 5 photos

I took all these images in Yemen in the Arabian Peninsula. The country had long fascinated me and I was keen to visit as part of a long term project on the Islamic world (which now covers Morocco, Egypt, Turkey, Iran, Syria, Jordan, India, Bangladesh and Malaysia). Eventually, I hope to publish the images in a book.

Yemen interested me for a number of reasons. Politically, tribal rule is still very important - and the country is a little of an outsider in the Peninsula. Geographically the country is very diverse, with vast canyons, deserts, mountains and the unique island of Socotra. Culturally, it holds some of the most interesting architecture in the region and financially, it is the poorest country in the Middle East.

Travel in Yemen was travel at its best with great adventure at every turn. I hitch-hiked through the mountains, visited some extraordinary buildings, spent time with fishermen on the coast and met a famous Magnum photographer.

Outside photography, I have a day job in design and website development. This scholarship would give me more time to develop my photographic skills and the opportunity of some truly second-to-none exposure.