Around the World

My Photo scholarship 2011 entry

Worldwide | Monday, November 7, 2011 | 5 photos

These photos are from my trip last year to Antarctica. I had a goal to visit all seven continents before my 31st birthday.

I like to travel off the beaten path, most of the time I travel alone and just meet up with other small tours, or people along the way. I am not going to wait around till I find someone with the money or time....as if I did I would have missed out on some of the best times of my life!

My adventures began my freshman year of college, and have continued ever since crisscrossing the globe. The trip to Antarctica was very different that many of my past, as there wasn't beautiful unique architecture, cute children, or culture to capture. I really didn't know what to expect, and didn't have very high expectations. But, Antarctica is like no other experience, you do feel like you are on National Geographic every day allowing you a moment in time where you are truly one with nature, in a place that is so pristine.

I love immersing myself in other cultures, living and learning from the people I meet. I look back over the past 12 years and see how much I've grown as a person and a photographer. But I've learned to really appreciate shooting just down the street as much as in exotic places like Africa and Antarctica. There is always a new challenge, and something that can be learned to make the next shoot that much better. One of the best things for me recently is getting my work critiqued by other photographers, it allowed me to see my work in a very different way. My ultimate dream would be able to be a full time photographer and give up my day job....but for now I'd take a step towards that dream with a scholarship to learn from one of the best travel photographer in South Africa.