I always enjoy a new challenge, so recently I entered a competition for a photographic scholarship.
I was required to submit a photographic essay featuring up to five images which told a story about a place that I had visited. I decided to focus on my trip to Peru from 2014. As a travel photographer Peru was an inspiring destination providing a wealth of opportunities; a spectacular mix of rich history, vibrant culture, stunning landscapes, unique wildlife and a passionate people. I wanted to provide an insight into this fascinating country through my submission "Peruvian Perspectives".
I was also required to prepare a 1500 character essay about myself - my passions, my love of photography, what drives me to take a better shot and where I wanted to take my photography. This was an exercise that very much focused my mind on my recent photographic pursuits and it gave me a greater appreciation of just how much photography means to me.
As at the competition closing date there were more than 3,700 entries. It will be a tough competition to win, with many, many excellent and unique entries having been submitted from aspiring photographers worldwide. There can be only one winner but I figure that you have to be in it to win it!
The prize for the lucky winner will be an all expenses paid assignment to photograph the vibrant people and breath-taking landscapes of Nepal. More than just this, the winner will be mentored on assignment by Canon Master and world leading travel photographer, Richard I'Anson.
The winner will be given a brief to compile; he or she will be commissioned to capture a specific shot list of 30 images. Additionally, the winner will have to keep a daily travel journey and post from this to social media forums whilst on assignment. On return from the assignment, the winners top photographs will be shortlisted, processed and colour balanced to produce a professional portfolio.
This is an incredible prize and will provide a once in a lifetime opportunity for an aspiring photographer. I can only hope for the best. Nothing ventured, nothing gained!
THE LANDSCAPES: The almost surreal desert landscapes of the Ica region tell a story of endless contrasts, the contrast of light and shade being so obvious. The tiny village oasis of Huacachina is overrun daily by tourists, some whom come to simply enjoy the serenity of this location whilst others are seeking the thrill of a dune buggy adventure.
THE PEOPLE AND CULTURE: This beautiful young native Peruvian was participating in the 30th anniversary celebrations of her secondary school – the Un Melagrino Siempre Adelante College in Ayaviri. The costumes of the students were brilliant and their celebrations joyful highlighting the spirit and pride of the Peruvian people.
THE HISTORY: The Monesterio De San Francisco in Lima is a place of great historical significance with the church and convent being added to the UNESCO World Heritage list in 1991. Also in the Monastry is an ancient library which houses 25,000 antique texts some of which predate the conquest.
THE ICONIC SITES: Machu Picchu is the iconic destination in Peru and for that reason to capture a distinct image is challenging. With this in mind I trekked to the site pre-dawn to capture the moment when the soft morning light illuminated the city and the mountain that towers over it.
NATURE AND THE WILDLIFE: The Islas Ballestas are known as the Galapagos of Peru being a haven for fauna and avifauna of the region. This mating pair of red-legged cormorants is native to the coast of South America but it is a “vulnerable” species with annual declines of up to 97% in some regions.