The Children of La Escuela del Rio Negro

My Photo scholarship 2010 entry

Costa Rica | Saturday, October 16, 2010 | 7 photos

Though the act of snapping a shutter is simple in itself, the thought and inspiration that influences this action are what bring my photographs to life. Within my work, I aim to portray the widely diverse elements that tie a life together. In many cases I find this inspiration within the fleeting moments, that occupy the simple passage of a day. Through these moments, I seek to tell the stories that unfold around and within me. These specific photographs were taken during my time spent in Puerto Viejo, Costa Rica at La Escuela del Rio Negro. While helping teach english in this school I was given the amazing opportunity to spend time with the students, playing with them, teaching them, making arts and crafts, and getting to know them. It was a truly eye-opening experience and I am so blessed to have been apart of these precious children's lives even if for just a short time. When taking these photographs I intended to illustrate the different qualities in character in the children focusing mainly on their attitudes within the classroom. I found it intriguing that although as silly, joyous, and energetic as they were during play time, they approached each days lesson with a sincerity and determination I have not witnessed within other schools and even universities. In these photographs I tried to capture both their joy, playfulness, curiosity, along with their serious, and studious characters, and overall eagerness to learn. I can not wait to expand my travels and continue to work on photographing and capturing the diversity of human characters and lifestyles around the globe.