The Golden Road to Samarkand We are the Pilgrims, master; we shall go Always a little further: it may be beyond the last blue mountain barred with snow Across that angry or that glimmering sea. Surely we are brave who take the Golden Road to Samarkand. - Hassan by James E. Flecker

My Photo scholarship 2011 entry

Worldwide | Tuesday, September 13, 2011 | 5 photos

Who am I ? I’m 178cm tall, I have red-ish blonde hair, my star sign is Leo, I have an odd obsession with cars and what follows is why I should win the scholarship. I have been extremely fortunate to have parents who want me to experience the world and at age 16 they let me go to Africa on a school trip without them. Culture Shock 101 ! It was without a doubt the most humbling experience of my life, it took me out of my comfort zone with a cold hard slap to the face (figuratively not literally!). Through the scholarship, I would love to learn more about South Africa and show that there is more to the country than the stereotypical issues (not that they aren’t important) that saturate the media. I love getting out of my comfort zone and scaring myself just a little bit, for example – on a recent trip to the Kimberley Region I went in a helicopter with no doors at over 1000ft… personally I like doors on a helicopter but then I wouldn’t truly understand the meaning of a ‘white-knuckle ride’… as I do now. I voluntarily write for the Macquarie University Magazine about anything and everything with the hope that one day I will be able to combine my love of photography and writing. Through the scholarship, I hope to learn how to not just to take a photograph but create it. I would love to begin a career with National Geographic with the help of this scholarship; I have a passion for exploring, experiencing and learning which is why I know Nat Geo is the place for me. One final thing – I am determined. When given an opportunity I do not take it for granted and want to learn as much as I can from it.