Carnival in Segovia

My Scholarship entry - A 'place' I have visited

Spain | Monday, January 7, 2013 | 5 photos

I've been backpacking for about 3 years. It's taken me a while to learn to love this type of lifestyle, and at times, it's easy to lose sight of why I do it; photography helps me remember. When my feet are killing me and I'm dying for a kebab, I remember what a wonderful opportunity I have to see and capture what's going on around me during the day's last 30 minutes of sun. When I'm dying to sleep in, I remind myself of how beautiful the light is in the morning; when I'd otherwise say it's too hot, cold or rainy to check out a local festival, I remind myself that I can't duplicate today's events tomorrow.

Some bock at travelers who are always behind the lens, saying it prevents them from actually enjoying the moment; in my case, it forces me to enjoy it. At the same time, photography is much more than a means to an end, and I am currently working to refine not only my technical skills, but also my ability to interact with communities and individuals I capture. When language is a barrier, how can a camera bring it down? How can I capture both what I see and what my subject feels? Developing skills to answer these questions is my goal in applying for this scholarship.