Dusty Toes

My Photo scholarship 2011 entry

Worldwide | Monday, November 7, 2011 | flickr photos

Whenever I remember my trip to Indonesia, I think of one word: luck. Out of all my trips, this ranks as both the least organised and most serendipitous. During my stay in the east Javan city of Malang, I stumbled upon a yearly festival celebrating the history of the city. Walking to the festival was a delight; masses of people, two-wheelers and cars streamed along the streets and there was a wonderful atmosphere. The celebration was held on an affluent road in the heart of the colonial area and upon entering, we were greeted by a replica of the old city castle. A variety of entertainment lined the streets joined by numerous street vendors, though the real stars of the show were the people; friendly, happy and in good spirits. Groups of youths arrived in fancy dress and happily posed for photos. At the end of the first night, I thought I'd try and capture the other side of the celebration, the litter and sparseness when people leave and what they leave behind.

Urban and people photos are rare for me, though I push myself to understand the art better. I am fascinated by animals, jungles and forests and have volunteered in and visited numerous national parks in the past. For me, photography is about more than an image, it is about conveying atmosphere and characterising a moment in time. For this reason, conflict photography is equally interesting though morally confusing. The challenge of capturing a moment appeals to me and this is why I love photography. My overall hope is to be good enough to do just that.

I would love to have the opportunity to spend a week in a national park with the aim of learning, improving and capturing the spirit of the place in images.