Sporadic Traveller

My Scholarship entry - A 'place' I have visited

Indonesia | Wednesday, July 3, 2013 | 5 photos

The trip shown in the images was a notable point when the topic of finding passion in photography comes to mind.

Lightly packed, I walked through the exit doors of Denpasar International and was greeted by air so humid, I could touch it. Apart from family holidays and time spent working abroad, this was my first trip planned, booked and paid for by me. Up to this moment my mind had imagined a standard issue vacation, made up of days spent with my mood elevated by the cocktail of the day while burying my toes into the sandy beaches. I had no idea that over the next ten days I would walk back through those same doors in love with a culture so different to my own, but so connected to me.

I had always had an interest in photography, since way back I used my parents film cameras, then bought my own point and shoot, which I had until my SLR for this trip. Capturing moments through an SLR made it all seem more real, it has that authentic and professional feeling. Photography has changed the way I travel, you move at a slower pace, you get to know locals before taking their portrait and you take the time to wait for a beautiful landscape to be at its prime, with the perfect light. It's better, you remember more and you feel like a traveler, not a tourist.

Currently I am a business owner in South Africa, with a passion for travel, photography, ticking my bucket list and meeting new faces. As much as I love what I do, I have this creative side that comes out when I'm around certain people or experiencing life beyond the norm. An experience like this would not only help develop a hobby, but put me right into a comfort zone that I don't often get to experience. I love learning from people with experience, as much as I am a mentor to those without.