The Ark

My Photo scholarship 2011 entry

Worldwide | Thursday, August 25, 2011 | 5 photos

When I was in high school, I met a young woman named Amila, a Bosnian refugee. We weren't close, but I admired her courage and ability to rebuild her life. Thirteen years later, we reconnected and she invited me to visit Sarajevo. That brief sojourn inspired my first major book, "The Archipelago: A Balkan Passage," which was published by Autumn House Press in January.

These photographs appear in the book, and my Bosnia series is among my proudest achievements. While I have evolved as a photographer, I am still astonished by the human expression in Sarajevo, a city that narrowly avoided complete annihilation.

As a nonfiction writer and photojournalist, I am drawn to nations that have experienced major national trauma. At 31, I have dedicated my life to chronicling healing and recovery in the wake of human and natural disaster. South Africa is one of these countries, owing to Apartheid, urban violence, and an uncertain future. Ten years ago, I spent a few days in Cape Town and Stellenbosch, and my interactions left an indelible impression. I have long desired to go back and learn more of the South African story. Like Sarajevo, South Africa is a scenic and historic country that struggles to survive its scars. I would like to help communicate that struggle through images.