NZ Land & Sea

My Photo scholarship 2011 entry

New Zealand | Tuesday, November 8, 2011 | 5 photos

I was really hoping I could find the paper I wrote in the third grade stating that I wanted to be a National Geographic photojournalist when I grew up. I remember that day - feeling so smart for knowing the word "photojournalist" and beyond ecstatic to discover what it was I was destined to do. Nat Geo is a part of my family, my childhood, my earliest memories. Photography is in my blood. However, since my ecstatic destiny-driven days of the third grade, I have labeled it a hobby and filed it away in my drawer of life dreams. I have peeked inside this dream drawer several times, but its contents remain just that - a dream.

When I saw this opportunity, I couldn't look away. I took my camera everywhere I went. I saw my trip to Hawaii as the perfect opportunity to take breathtaking photographs. However, I ultimately decided to submit photos from a time in my life when I felt most inspired; a time when possibilities seemed endless, stirring up sensations reminiscent of my third grade aspirations.

I had my first taste of pure independence and adventure during my year traveling down under. It's a time I constantly revert to when seeking empowerment and affirmation that I am capable of making dreams realities. Specifically, my road trip through the south and north islands of New Zealand was an experience that evoked inspiration and appreciation. From the people to the landscape, it is a place unlike any I had encountered. It awakened my inner daredevil. It allowed me to take everything in, to live in the moment and not worry. Not only was it the setting of my greatest adventure, but in those two weeks, I shot over 700 frames. I hope the five I have chosen capture the beauty of this country - in its land and creatures - as well as the personal adventure it provides.