Spiritual Thailand

My Photo scholarship 2011 entry

Worldwide | Wednesday, October 5, 2011 | 5 photos

These photos were taken in Thailand, where I was volunteering on a human rights documentation project. During that time, I visited numerous temples and captured a variety of scenes that show the beauty of these spiritual places. The images exude a range of tones, from the colorful to the meditative, the ominous to the humorous. The photos submitted have not been altered in any way.
I am applying because I am interested in seeing South Africa and in being mentored. I have been taking photos since I was a kid growing up in Kansas, however I do not have a formal photography education. Instead my academic background lies in Peace Studies. As I have shot work while solo traveling to places such as Thailand, I have kept this education in mind while capturing photos and formulating stories. However I now feel a bit stuck - although I have my own website and recently carried out a portrait project funded on Kickstarter, I do not know how to take things further. This opportunity would allow me to gain a professional perspective while also getting feedback and guidance. I believe that this program would catalyze my understanding of photography as work (albeit interesting and fun work). Based on the trip description, I can assure you that I would be motivated and excited to have the chance to shoot at the national park, in Cape Town, and at the community project site. I also believe that I would be able to successfully carry out the assignments, daily diary entries, and post-trip editorial process.
With my background in Peace Studies and passion for photography, I genuinely want to take my work to the next level with this scholarship, and am open to learning, developing, and seeing in new ways. Thank you for your consideration!