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My Photo scholarship 2010 entry

Worldwide | Sunday, August 29, 2010 | flickr photos

I am Kayla Varley, 18 years old, and a photographer attending Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, California. The photos that I have entered into this contest mean a great deal to me because Montana is truly where my heart lies. I have fond memories of the beautiful landscapes, traveling with my father under harsh conditions, trying to get shots of the giant herds of elk. My family travels to Montana every July and I always come back to California with an 'image bank' of photos that tell day by day what I did during my time. The images that I am presenting to World Nomads are photos that will always leave an imprint on my mind because I know what story they tell. They tell the stories of the sweet summer, family time, learning, and experiencing new sights. To the viewer these photos can be pretty and interesting to look at, but if they are not connecting and bringing that impact that all photos need, then I am not doing my job. As a photographer I need to connect with my viewer on an emotional level. If I have not done that with these photos then I have failed. I want to bring my talent for storytelling to this project and I want to win because I want the experience. I'm trying to get my foot in the door so an opportunity like traveling and taking photographs with a famous photographer is something I cannot and should not pass up. To leave myself out of this competition would be a huge disservice to National Geographic because I feel that I have what it takes to win this scholarship. My job as a photographer is to show the beauty in this world through my photographs, and I intend on fulfilling my job.