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    Travel Photography Scholarship 2008 - The Winner Tells All!

    Day 8 - The End to the Adventure

    AUSTRALIA | Wednesday, 27 August 2008 | Views [1101] | Comments [3]

    I didn’t bother going to bed this morning. I just packed my stuff, called a cab and went straight to the airport at 5am to catch my flight to Sydney, which would connect to Vancouver. For those of you who have ever thought about going partying with friends you haven’t seen in a year, in a foreign country, a couple (literally) hours before 18 hours of flight, all I can say is don’t.
    However... what I can say is this. Always ask for the 1st class upgrade, especially if you have the aforementioned “Canadian Charm”. Nothing nurses a hangover better than a first class flight home! You get big comfy sleeper bed, poofy slippers, and anything you want from what seemed to be your own personal stewardess. Just don’t touch the complimentary champagne; stick to the OJ and water!
    I got home just fine, and dropped off my 43 rolls of film at the local lab hours after getting off the plane. I would spend the next 2 weeks scanning those rolls 24 frames at a time. It’s times like this where I wish I shot digital! Regardless, I think I’ve walked away with about 100 great shots to add to my portfolio, all of which I’ll be submitting to World Nomads and National Geographic. Which reminds me, that I’d like to thank World Nomads, National Geographic, Queensland Tourism and none other than Jason Edwards for making this trip possible and giving me the experience of a lifetime. The memories, knowledge, skills and insight that I gained are priceless and appreciated more than you could ever imagine. Needless to say, my goals in life have shifted a bit and I’ve come home with new endeavors and dreams of where they might take me next!


    Cheers and thanks,


    Nelson Mouëllic
    Photographer

    Comments

    1

    With patience and hard work your dream of becoming an outstanding photographer will come to you.
    You are already a step higher. Good luck

      Alain Sep 19, 2008 9:41 AM

    2

    I don't know if you read these comments, Nelson, but my advice to you is NEVER AGAIN hand all of your precious rolls of undeveloped film to be processed in one batch. I had a friend - a very good photographer - who spent a month touring Europe with his almost-adult kids, as a special family trip before they all left home, and - you guessed it - he handed over all his rolls of film to his tried and true processor when he returned. The processor had a bad batch of chemical and they were all ruined. After he stopped weeping he admitted that he had thought about mailing the film home in batches as he exposed it, but decided it might be risking some of it getting lost. Don't put all your eggs in one basket.
    BTW - GREAT photos! Congratulations.
    Sara Shadbolt
    Founder Member
    Abbotsford Photo Arts Club

      Sara Shadbolt Nov 8, 2008 9:40 AM

    3

    Firstly I'd like to congratulate Nelson on his efforts in central Queensland. He was professional, spontaneous, creative and never hesitated when asked to run across dry river beds under the Outback sun to fetch me lenses I'd forgotten. He was a credit to himself and his country in the way he behaved and dealt with the local community. He has produced some beautiful frames and remembered to focus on strengths in his own style rather than trying to capture images the same as mine. Most importantly Nelson was a sponge when it came to listening and learning and I hope he gained much from the experience. He was fantastic company and undoubtedly believes Aussie men in the outback use only two words, mate and @#&%!

    For the record we dodged at least 400 kangaroos and Nelson nearly killed three old ladies, not just one! He looked considerably older and more worn at the end of the shoot than at the start, and Australian cowgirls were more than he could handle. Nelson decided to omit my warnings about driving like Jacques Villeneuve on outback tracks or the fact that he didn't even realise we had a flat tyre whilst trying to break the speed record from Hughenden to Muttaburra. The Australian sun baked him well and he had a wonderful 'just removed from the oven' glow, however he was a little soft when it came to the cold and had to borrow my gloves in the helicopter.

    And what, no mention of my spider spotting abilities!?

    JE

      Jason Edwards Nov 12, 2008 10:11 AM

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