Bali

My Photo scholarship 2011 entry

Worldwide | Tuesday, November 8, 2011 | 5 photos

At 45 people would say I have more behind me than in front of me, honestly I can’t see myself getting to 90, but that’s a positive not a negative. The limited time we have here is in some way a gift for those that take it.

Discovering photography later in life has some benefits, the kids are grown up and you have a little more money to spend on travelling and equipment. Mind you it’s not the equipment that takes a good photo, but the soul behind the lens. The equipment just makes it a little easier.

I’m constantly honing my craft, seeing things that others can’t see until it’s pointed out to them in ink and paper. Trying to recreate that feeling you had before pressing the shutter is far from an easy task, but rewarding and I never want it to be easy.

My first trip overseas was Bali in 2004 and I took my recently purchased Kodak easy share camera. It was 2 megapixel, limited zoom and dreadful flash. I think I took 1 or 2 shots that were half decent, but there my love for travel , and travel photography was born.

I’ve been back a few times since my first experience as a tourist, taking more time to “see and feel” the island and learn a little more of the culture and the lifestyle. Our last trip I made a point to visit “Bali Aga”, the original Balinese on the island. These people were walking around their village in western t-shirts and I didn’t take any photos of them, only the village. It wasn’t until I arrived back home that I realise I should have. And I won’t make that mistake again, time is too short !

Photography is art, and Art is life.