Travel

My Photo scholarship 2010 entry

Tajikistan | Thursday, October 14, 2010 | 5 photos

Marvelous mountainous, immeasurable hospitality and breathtaking sceneries: Tajikistan in a nutshell. Yet quite undiscovered, this dot-on-the-map is a light which is just beginning to shine. No tourist traps, taxi scams - I encountered genuine people in a pretty country.

I have a bigger collection of pictures brought back home. The five I am submitting show my description of the country in short. Tajikistan is not yet a 'spoiled' country. The people I've photographed weren't asked to pose for me, just said 'Hi, can I take you picture' and tried to work with a natural pose the people gave me.

About me: my name is Reinier van Oorsouw from The Netherlands. 22 y-o, fit as can be and ambitious, motivated and studious to gain more experience in photography. Life is great when you can tell stories through pictures. My photographic experience has mostly developed during travels - I've visited about forty countries in three years. I learned quite a bit about framing, light and getting people to work with you but still there is a lot to learn about technique, lights etc...

About the pictures:
1. Traveling trough Tajikistan has to be done by 4WD. Snowy landscapes and tough roads are common.
2. Donkeys roam around everywhere. This one was nearby a mountain lake on 11.000 feet.
3. Motorbikes are a sign of wealth with nomads. We slept in the yurt of the guy on the background.
4. One way or another we where invited at a circumcision celebration. They asked me to take a picture. Light was horrible but it looks spontaneous and friendly - which is exactly what Tajikistan is.
5. Countryside is beautiful! Little lakes and creeks, colorful surface and mountains all around.

Bhutan would be a wonderful place to gain more experience and get tips and hints.