A 'place' I have visited. My scholarship entry

A 'place' I have visited

United Kingdom | Thursday, July 4, 2013 | flickr photos

My first camera was a box brownie that my Dad gave me.  It never had any film in it but I used to take photos around the house and garden when I was little.  If only I could see those pictures now!
My childhood was spent with plenty of freedom floating around the British Isles on a boat with my siblings and parents. Travelling is kind of in the blood and my Dad applied for the Merchant Navy when he was 18 despite being expected to carry on in the family business he was desperate to travel the world and his wanderlust has been passed on.  When I was 16 I applied for residency to Australia.  Needless to say I didn't get there for another 9 years...
I didn't settle in college and it was only when I had got some of the travelling out of my system in my late 20's that I discovered photography. I travelled to Indonesia, New Zealand and Australia for a year and a half on my own.  After this I was lucky enough to study for 4 years using film and hand printing black and white and colour in a college of art.  I loved everything about the process and still do, I still shoot full frame and crop seldom. When I finished my study I moved to North Wales where I have now been living for 10 years.
I love where I live it's a beautiful part of the country and this is now home although I still plan good trips away. During this time I've been to Sri Lanka, Costa Rica and Canada.  I haven't used my photography skills professionally and have just been involved in small projects locally and asked by friends and family to do weddings and portraits.  Its been 10 years since I did my degree and I still long to make it my full time profession.  I would really like to get a break and would be blown away to receive such a gift that this scholarship would be to the winner of this competition.  
I hope I never stop learning about photography for the rest of my life, it's a never ending learning curve that keeps me hooked!  If I won the scholarship I would really like to pass on some of my knowledge to others.  Through my current work I work for a local youth charity and I am helping one of the girls with her photography projects, It feels like I am giving something back and I would like to continue this and contribute in any other way that I can.  I am planning a three week trip away in January to South America and I am doing some research on what groups or charities I could work with while I am there. When I'm travelling I do love to meet new people and hear their stories on life.
Travel photography has always been my ultimate dream job, I just haven't had the confidence to pursue my dream so far in my life.  It would be awesome to experience what It would be like at a professional level first hand.  I would inhale every minute of the experience and work hard.