travels

My Photo scholarship 2010 entry

Worldwide | Tuesday, October 12, 2010 | flickr photos

I am a New Zealander but I live in Surabaya, Indonesia with my partner Andy. We are both teachers at an international school here.

What I love more than anything is exploring new places and taking photos of the people we meet along the way. Indonesia is a brilliant country because you never, ever know what crazy situation will be waiting around the next corner. I always carry a small Panasonic Lumix super-zoom camera with me. However, I recently upgraded to an Olympus EPL-1 with a fixed 20mm lens.

So how to choose five images from thousands? These photos, taken during a recent trip to Sri Lanka, are my first foray into the world of fixed focal length. I like not being able to zoom; it means I have to get closer to things and think more carefully about composition. I am desperate to learn everything I can to create better images. I have to admit that I only know the basics about digital adjustment, so what you see is truly what was taken at the time.

I believe I should win this scholarship because:
- I love finding out about different cultures. I always research each country I visit, so I have a better understanding of what I'm photographing. Visiting Bhutan would be a dream come true.
- I have been taking photos for many years, and I am ready to move up to the next level. To do this, I need to understand the more technical aspects of photography.
- Finally, I just enjoy meeting new people and recording their stories through photography. I have travelled extensively and pretty much nothing phases me: food, heat, language, public transport...

Thank you for considering my application.
Rachel Kirby
Surabaya, October 2010