My Perfect Getaway

My Photo scholarship 2011 entry

Worldwide | Tuesday, November 8, 2011 | 5 photos

My name is Romina Castagnino and I am currently studying geography and environment in Lima, Peru. I chose this career because I have a passion for exploring, traveling and nature. In one of my adventures this year, in Tarma-Peru, I came across three dogs in pure synchronization with nature, perfectly blended together. They captured my attention because even though they only showed me a glimpse of their lives, I was already drawn to believe I was part of them, or at least I felt the liberty they had as they ran freely across the land they call home.

The story I want to portray through these series of images is the landscape seen through their eyes. The message they give us is to appreciate where we live and, if we embrace this, we will find the precious freedom that enables us to live our days doing what we love without any sort of inhibitions. These dogs teach us that happiness is found in the simplest things on earth and that freedom lies within ourselves.

I strongly believe that my duty as a photographer does not end by shooting the “perfect picture”—it goes beyond what we can actually see; it’s the story that we create and what we do with it that will truly define our success. When people are able to learn something out of my perspective it will be the moment where I will consider myself accomplished.

I would like to win this scholarship because I am a true believer that we can only enrich ourselves by experiencing new things. An opportunity such as going to Africa with Mr. Jason Edwards would take my passion to the next level. Not only would I be doing what I love the most, I would be living out my ultimate dream.