Mining for sulphur in Kawah Ijen, Java

My Scholarship entry - A 'place' I have visited

Indonesia | Thursday, July 4, 2013 | flickr photos

My passion for photography only really manifested itself when I took my camera with me on a backpacking trip less than three years ago.

I had packed in my job as a local news reporter and bought a one-way flight on New Year's eve, from London to Paris. I didn't know it at the time, but that short flight was the beginning of an almighty journey taking in 23 countries - and hundreds of thousands of photos. My camera was one of few belongings that stayed with me throughout the two year journey.

Even when my camera wasn't on me, I found myself subconsciously framing things - people I spoke to, scenes I passed and streets I wondered through.. And I still do it!

Now I'm back, I have a chance to look back on my travel photos and think about how I can improve - how I would have taken them now. Some of them I look back at with pride, and some with frustration. The chance to learn from a National Geographic photographer - the best in the field - would be a dream come true; it would be a great 'helping hand' in my pursuit for a career doing something I love.

Thanks for reading.

Matt Paish