Photos: My Scholarship entry - Weekend Nomad

russ_photo — Mon, 24 Nov 2014 04:28:00 GMT

My photography teaches me things every time I'm out in the field. I learn about the world around us, the people we share the planet with, the animals that exist alongside us and the relationships that bind us all together. As I go along my journey I learn more each day the importance of how we need to educate, adjust and grow to keep the world spinning towards a sustainable future. As I evolve on my ever learning journey, my appreciation and awareness of the fragility of our planet expands, I see species disappearing, whole ecosystems being threatened, cultures disappearing into the grasp of modernity and its with photography that we can help preserve, or at the least create awareness of the beauty and importance of our planet. My dream is to have the capacity to bring these issues to the surface, to guide people in further understanding and appreciating our endangered planet in all forms, nature, animals and cultures. In showing people these issues, spreads further awareness and understanding and I see photography as one of the best mediums to spread this message, translate the information and tell the stories, as it has for many years before. Russ Francis - 31 - UK

My Scholarship entry - A 'place' I have visited

russ_photo — Fri, 11 Jan 2013 02:51:14 GMT

The essence of photography for me is having the ability to capture the moments we experience in life, then to create an image that lasts forever. The moments when all the elements come together for that instant, you click the shutter and you know you have caught something special. When in these moments and all the components fall into place, the huge wave of enjoyment I feel is intoxicating. I also see photography as an excellent means of communication and a way to create awareness of the subjects and location that we shoot.

I first picked up a camera in 2005 and as with many people, photography changed my life dramatically, it took me from not having much ambition in life to believing that I can chase a passion and make a difference with it. What I have learnt over the years is to have people to aspire to and to have others around you who share the same dreams, the same goals and most importantly share the knowledge that we gather on our journey. This is why earning the chance to win this scholarship and to be mentored by a veteran such as Jason would be invaluable experience, to have the chance to digest just a fraction of his knowledge would be a once in a lifetime opportunity.