if these walls could talk

My Photo scholarship 2011 entry

Worldwide | Tuesday, November 8, 2011 | 5 photos

When I was younger, I was always fascinated by National Geographic magazines and wildlife documentaries. Surrounding myself with these images inspired me to go in search of all the fascinating people, places and wildlife that I’d been so besotted by in my youth and even led me to spend six months volunteering with animal rescue in Ecuador.
I realised after travelling the world in search of these places that home is just as fascinating. Now I look at everything with the same appreciation as I do when I travel. This is what led me to base my scholarship entry on a local place.
I am always framing images in my mind and imagining how they would look through a lens, so I take my camera with me everywhere I go. I can’t stand seeing a once in a lifetime image and not being able to capture it.
I spent the last ten years as a support worker and learnt a unique perspective of understanding different people, and how to use photography as a means of advocating for those who cant speak up for themselves, or who are misunderstood. I want to use photography to help people to appreciate and understand other people, cultures and situations and to treasure the beauty of everyday life. I think visual images are the most powerful way to do this.
A few months ago I quit my job and have applied to study photography next year as a step towards my dream of being a photographer. What I would love to gain from this scholarship (apart from all of Jason’s wisdom and experience in travel and wildlife photography), is to understand how to respectfully and effectively photograph different groups, and how to use my images to influence people.