Natural Fascination

My Photo scholarship 2010 entry

Worldwide | Sunday, October 17, 2010 | 4 photos

"I come from a land down under..." These lyrics never held much meaning to me until recently. Being from a country that is both the flattest and the driest inhabited continent on Earth, I had no idea how affected I would be by the natural beauty of Vancouver Island.

The island has managed to retain large swathes of natural beauty, witnessed in the form of the damp, dark environments created by sprawling forests of Douglas-fir and Western Red Cedar and loved by moss that clings to everything (1). Streams seem to spring everywhere and you get caught up listening to water making its way over rocks and waterfalls (2). Popular summer destinations like the Sooke Potholes (3) are deserted during the colder months allowing you to enjoy the peace and isolation. The water is icy and clear - the darkness of the water showing its depth. Standing on the shore in East Sooke gives you a majestic view of the mountains across the Strait of Juan de Fuca (4) as the fading afternoon light illuminates their snow-laden peaks. I watched for hours until I could no longer see their outlines having never experienced anything like it before.

While studying at university I would regularly destitute myself because of my love of photography. If I needed materials I would forgo many things so I could get into the darkroom. I am now a teacher and, having bought myself a digital SLR in 2009, have reignited that desire to take photographs and share my vision of the world. I wish to be mentored by Jason, to learn the ability to consistently capture the diversity of the world, begin networking within the professional photography field, and to share my images with others who might never have the chance to experience it.