The Mahouts of Phuket

My Photo scholarship 2011 entry

Australia | Sunday, November 6, 2011 | 5 photos

My submission is titled 'The Mahouts of Phuket'.

Every photograph I shot I tried to approach as a photojournalist, to capture a moment in time, in an interesting, artistic and intimate way and impart a story to the viewer by drawing them into the moment and share the experience with me.

I want the viewer to understand through the look in the eyes of the mahout's commitment, trust and friendship he has earned with his charge, hear the traditional Thai song being sung like a whisper of the mahout as we amble through the silence and coolness of the rainforest in time with the side to side motion of the elephant's walk, see the commitment of the mahout's to their animals by living onsite with them close to their simple but practicle homes, get an understanding of the close bonds formed between animal and master and feel the wisdom in the elephant's eyes and their commitment to their family unit.

I am already planning my next trip overseas to Japan and no doubt will come back with another 1700 photographs. Digital photography has now made photography easily accessible and able to be enjoyed by many. The difference is to view the world in a different way and capture what thousands will miss and then to share that moment with them. I do like to break the rules from time to time and shoot directly into the sun!

It is now time to work in an area I am passionate about. I see this scholarship as the opportunity to learn more of the craft I truly love and no longer want as just a hobby but to turn into a full time career. Hopefully I have not left it too late.