a journal of a man with words, camera and his heart https://journals.worldnomads.com/michaeleko/ Fri, 10 Apr 2026 13:02:00 GMT World Nomads Adventures Papua is the second largest island in the world. Divided by two countries of Indonesia and Papua New Guinea, this island has rich biodiversity. Alfred Russel Wallace, a british naturalist, noted that Papua's species biodiversity is similar with Australian ecological biodiversity. Yet, while global industrial now put their hand to exploit natural resources, the Papua's ecosystem is threatened. In 2014, I have visited the Bird's head peninsula of Papua to identify the biodiversity and socio-cultural livelihood of the local people. I have seen people in this particular location are understand their land has richness biodiversity. Forest is important for local people in order to fulfill their daily needs. All of the precious rich ecological system might be vanish in future as the global industries has point their finger to exploit this island. But i hope i was wrong. I have a dream our next generation could able to see the ecological treasures as I witnessed today. It might be hard, but i do believe that there are always a room for hope. https://journals.worldnomads.com/michaeleko/photos/51313/Indonesia/My-Scholarship-entry-Paradise-land-of-Papua Travel Indonesia michaeleko https://journals.worldnomads.com/michaeleko/photos/51313/Indonesia/My-Scholarship-entry-Paradise-land-of-Papua#comments https://journals.worldnomads.com/michaeleko/photos/51313/Indonesia/My-Scholarship-entry-Paradise-land-of-Papua Fri, 21 Nov 2014 15:12:00 GMT 0 Born in Jakarta, Indonesia. I grew up in a working class family who live in the outskirt of the city. During my elementary time, story telling was my favorite class rather than mathematics or others. I prefer to free my imagination and curiosity to the social and art lessons. I first took a photograph was in 2000, at a school excursion. Since then, I decided that photography would be a medium that I would use to tell stories, the passion that I love since my childhood. For me, seeing is a gift. I feel grateful when see the sun shines everyday. Nevertheless, a grace is also the other name of responsibility. The act of witnessing is equal to the responsibility to tell the truth. Stories need to be shared to other people either those are good news or bad news. The basis of democracy is freedom of speech and expression. I believe when people can tell the truth and make respectful dialogue, the world will be a better place. My parents once asked me why I choose to be a photographer. So, I told them: “Telling the truth is a responsibility for every one. Photography is a way that I use to do that idealism.” https://journals.worldnomads.com/michaeleko/photos/42464/Indonesia/My-Scholarship-entry-A-place-I-have-visited Travel Indonesia michaeleko https://journals.worldnomads.com/michaeleko/photos/42464/Indonesia/My-Scholarship-entry-A-place-I-have-visited#comments https://journals.worldnomads.com/michaeleko/photos/42464/Indonesia/My-Scholarship-entry-A-place-I-have-visited Tue, 2 Jul 2013 19:57:00 GMT 0 Photography is my way of live. Before I learn it, “seeing” is just an ordinary act. Since I took my first picture, I feel that vision is a gift. When I take picture and share it to friends, we could see and feel the life we live. We can be connected to the world. When I see people smile or cry in front of a picture, I believe that art can touch the human soul. Therewith, we can respect others. I decided to learn photography when my parents suggested me to take another way of life (live securely as an office-employee). I debated to them about this all the time. I know that being a photographer in a country where it is not a common job is very risky. In fact,the decision is not a stable matter. I sometimes think about it. Is it really the best decision for my life? Being secure or take the risk to live as a photographer? Then I heard about this scholarship. In this anxiety, I hope I can learn about life as a photographer. I believe every man has his own role in society. Before a photographer convince others by his pictures, he must convince himself. By this workshop, I hope I can convince myself that being a photographer is the best contribution I can give to the world. https://journals.worldnomads.com/michaeleko/photos/38694/Indonesia/My-Scholarship-entry-A-place-I-have-visited-Sixty-seconds-to-green-inferno Travel Indonesia michaeleko https://journals.worldnomads.com/michaeleko/photos/38694/Indonesia/My-Scholarship-entry-A-place-I-have-visited-Sixty-seconds-to-green-inferno#comments https://journals.worldnomads.com/michaeleko/photos/38694/Indonesia/My-Scholarship-entry-A-place-I-have-visited-Sixty-seconds-to-green-inferno Sun, 13 Jan 2013 20:42:00 GMT 0 Borneo is the world's third largest island. Many endemic species and other rich biodiversity live there. Charles Darwin described Borneo as 'one great wild untidy luxuriant hothouse made by nature for herself'. If so, personally I describe Borneo as 'a mother who sacrifice herself for her son'. We - who live in this world - are her sons. In 2010 and 2011, I went to an area that so called 'Heart of Borneo'. This is an upriver area where many rivers in Borneo start their flow. Like a heart, this is an area where the heartbeat of Borneo always pumped. Paradoxically, this is an area where the natural degradation was happened massively for decades (i.e: illegal logging and illegal hunting of wildlife). Fortunately, in 2004, illegal logging and wildlife hunting was banned. Now, people make peace with nature. In my trip, I record these 'love-hate' relationship. For me, photography doesn't always talk about aesthetic matter. It also talks about its potential to make a positive change to society. I have inspired by many achievement of great photographer. Besides lift the aesthetic debate, their work could lure the society to aware about problems that have been recorded. For example, I have been inspired by Nick Nichols’s photographs of 'Megatransect project' that inspired the President of Gabon to create 13 new national parks. Thus, the photograph could be the potential tool to make a positive change in society. In this scholarship, I hope to learn how to behave as a photographer who put the respect and humanity in every photographic assignment. Not just take a beautiful photos, also to make a strong picture that inspire people to make a change. NatGeoSociety have done it. So, I need to learn it from one of their photographer. https://journals.worldnomads.com/michaeleko/photos/31874/Indonesia/My-Photo-scholarship-2011-entry Travel Indonesia michaeleko https://journals.worldnomads.com/michaeleko/photos/31874/Indonesia/My-Photo-scholarship-2011-entry#comments https://journals.worldnomads.com/michaeleko/photos/31874/Indonesia/My-Photo-scholarship-2011-entry Tue, 8 Nov 2011 05:05:00 GMT 0