Exit Strategy

My Photo scholarship 2011 entry - A Day in the Life of a Salmon Fisherman - Kodiak, Alaska

USA | Tuesday, November 8, 2011 | 5 photos

Mediocrity. Desk job. I cannot do these things. I won't do these things. Though I cannot remember exactly when this decision came about, my philosophy through life has been a refusal to "merely live." My soul craves adventure, my heart yearns to experience things, my mind pines for interaction.

My experiences have brought me through the military, into Asia numerous times, beyond the law, sailing across the pacific, salmon fishing in Alaska, and working in many various jobs along the way. Through all this, at my side, has been a series of trusty cameras, starting from my first Minolta D-700 purchased on Ebay in the late 1990's.

For many years I have dreamed of going beyond the realm of amature photography and utilizing my experience and eye in a more professional way. Nevertheless, like S ill-fated Sysiphus, I have tried numerous times to succeed in the field only to be shot down, in one way or another - be it monetarily or due to a lack of focus. One of the key ingredients in the life I have lead, though adventurous and interesting, is a profound lack of focus that causes me to change directions spontaneously. I do things with intense passion, and oddly enough, drop them without thinking.

Photography has been a large portion of my life that remains, regardless of my lack of focus. Because I believe I will find the right mentor with the right situation that will help me focus on my work, I am applying for this scholarship. To work along side a seasoned professional such as Jacob, truly learning without restraint, would be a priceless asset. In doing so, and in such a fantastic location as South Africa, I believe part of me would gain the focus necessary to go beyond mere hobby and into something more sublime.