Bwabwata National Park, Namibia

My Photo scholarship 2010 entry

Namibia | Sunday, October 17, 2010 | 5 photos

Bwabwata National Park in northeastern Namibia is one of the few game parks in Southern Africa where humans and animals live together within the park borders. The park contains the traditional lands of the Khwe San and Humbukushu people. But living within the park comes with limitations on land use, agriculture, and hunting, among other things. It also presents an opportunity as communities continue to craft creative and sustainable ways to live harmoniously with animals such as elephant, lion, and antelope, and the natural world. Former poachers are now employed to patrol the park in tandem with government rangers to prevent poaching. Programs to sustainably harvest high-value plants for market plan for long-term income. These photos show the human side of Bwabwata National Park and the indigenous peoples’ day-to-day struggle. But most of all, they show dignity.

Make no mistake – the people in these photos are poor and the photos reflect poverty. Yet, they also reflect ingenuity, perseverance, and pride. Never is there shame or derision.

The ability to convey human dignity, without pity, under trying situations is why I should be chosen for the scholarship to Bhutan. The eye for the everyday, and the ability to invest it with power, is why I should be chosen. My desire to learn how to do this better – with greater craft, with a more nuanced eye, and with more empathy is why I should be chosen. Bhutan, with its largely intact culture, presents an incredible opportunity to develop both photographic and human skills. The country has about it a gentleness and dignity. It is this dignity and humanity and the ability to convey it that I wish to bring to the photographic world.