Oman: A Place I Once Took for Granted I'm Raya, an Arab-American finishing up my last year at the University of New Hampshire. I will be getting my degree in English/Journalism, with the hopes of one day becoming a photojournalist.

Oman- A Place I Once Took for Granted

USA | Monday, December 10, 2012 | 5 photos

I'm Raya, an Arab-American finishing up my last year at the University of New Hampshire. I will be graduating with an English/Journalism degree then heading to a local newspaper to intern as a photographer. My passion for photography is well known in the English department so when this opportunity opened up I got e-mails pushing me to apply. They made sure to add that this would be a long shot, but an opportunity worth applying for. I agree--I have so much to learn with photography- that stirs me.

I have been to Oman four times, and have hundreds of photos to show for this. But looking back at them I see little risk, due to being a woman visiting my family there- I was limited in where I could go and what I could shoot. By having counterpart Jason Edwards, we both will be able to record Oman in the way it deserves. Unlike the common believe that only women have limits as to where we can be- men have restriction as well. With a woman photographer present, Jason and I can get access to a lot of places that at times neither one of us could get close to. I love storytelling through my photos, and most of all; taking people to places they may never get a chance to go.