Portfolio-Statement

Markings Of Africa

With this portfolio I wanted to show comparisons between the landscape, animals, and people of Africa. In these comparisons we can also see the relationships between all three. During my trip to Tanzania I saw more and more how the land, animals, and people are all truly connected to each other and how greatly each relies on the other.

Portfolio-Statement

A Day Of Safari

With my portfolio I hoped to show a photographic depiction of what a day is like on a safari. I start with the morning mist, the bottom picture, and work my way through to end of the day with the sunset, the top picture. I wanted to show a progression through color and light as the day progresses through the changing landscapes, animals, and people encountered. I hope everyone can get a small taste of what a safari experience is like!

Portfolio- Markings of Africa

Portfolio- A Day of Safari

Tanzania- Journal

June 22, 2009

Plantation Lodge is gorgeous. Who knew Africa was this lush and green. The weather is so cool here. The lodge is so to die for. Its so so so beautiful.

We went into the crater today and it was crazy to think it was a volcano once. Its massive inside it. We saw cheetahs, wildabeast, zebra, hippo, rhino, and lions. We saw the lions so close. They weren't bothered by us at all during their nap. One got up and walked away and it completely disappeared into the grass. Their coloring is totally adapted to the environment. Then we saw a hyena not 5 feet from our car. And it just continued to lay there too. I felt in no danger at all from the animals. I think people are scarier.

Later we had a nice lunch by the lake. And climbing back up the crater at sunset was stunning. It's all soaking in now, but we are leaving. I dont think this will all hit me til I get home. I know I'll never be able to fully explain Africa to someone else and do it justice.

Tanzania- Journal

June 20, 2009

We met with the Hadzabe tribe today and went on a hunt with them. It was so cool. I loved seeing the hunt in action. They were so skilled. Way more than just shooting a gun. I got a little queasy when they killed the bush baby and monkey (esp. when they beat it's head to finish it off), but mostly I was fine. I wish I could hunt better. They shot a black faced monkey and we all had a piece of it. It was hard to see a Bush Baby on a stick though, but that's the "Circle of Life". No Bush Baby no food for the tribe. They are nomadic so they only hunt. They dont keep cows or grow crops, only hunting and gathering.

After the hunt we danced with them. It was so much fun. This 90 year old woman pulled me in and I danced with the eldest man of the tribe. The dance was was really fun and easy. It was all in a circle and all together. Not like the Maasai, which was mostly jumping.

Oh and I shot a bow, which was so awesome. I hit the target, but I have a nice welt from the string of the bow popping me.

Later in the day we went to see a blacksmith. He melted locks and bullets to make jewelry, arrow heads, and spoons. All the girls bought some bangels. I'm obsessed with all the jewelry they were, which is made of simple materials anyone can find. All of it is so bright and colorful.

I've loved the people and the animals, but I will never forget the faces I've seen here. I will miss being with Babu. He's like my real grandpa.

I've also noticed how the people don't have a "personal bubble". They touch much more. They aren't afraid to come close to you and touch you. They just grab your hand and say lets dance. They pull you in and you dont have a choice. ha! Again I am in awe of this land!

Tanzania- Journal

June 19th, 2009

So I skipped a day. Yesterday we were on top of the escarpment at Lake Manyara. It was so beautiful up there. You could see over the entire lake.

We went to a town, "Mosquito Creek", I've forgotten the Swahili name. We walked around and had lunch. We tried banana beer, which was interesting. We went by a school and the market, but first we went to a hospital. That was pretty intense for me. I almost cried. I thought alot about my dad there. He wanted to come on the trip, but couldn't and I know how much he would have wanted to see the hospital and help!

We saw maleria sick children. It was so sad to see them suffering, but at least they were in the hospital. I find it crazy to see how easy life is for me. We dont have all the diseases to worry about or lack of food or water. We really don't want for anything. I feel like there is a greater sense of community here than in the U.S. Everyone here seems to understand their neighbor. but they think the same about us too. So says Jackson. I like Jackson so much. We call him "Babu", which is Swahili for grandpa.

Oh, today in Eyasi we all went out onto the lake bed to take pics. There were children there herding goats and fetching water. They came up to me and asked me to take their picture. So I did. And one little boy started flipping for me. It was so cool and so are the pics. These other kids kept touching my hair and my skin. I think they were surprised how fair I am.

I was so surprised, more than I thought I would be, at how little they've seen outside of their simple world they know. It slightly disgusts me how much we have, which is really all excess. I mean we still love it though. I just see how blessed I truly am.

Tanzania- Journal

June 17, 2009

So today was one of the best experiences of my life. I saw lions, a leopard, and danced with Maasai women. It was incredible!! I can't believe all I saw today. We all joked that we can't top today, but I think it's true. How can we top it?

Our car got closest to the leopard. I got 2 shots of it. So at least I have evidence of seeing it! It was absolutely beautiful! The lions were so cool too! They were just chilled out, napping beneath this baobab tree. There were mostly females and a young male. He wasn't the leader though. He wasn't old enough. They said the big male was hiding up on this hill.

Then after the park we went to buy items from Maasai women. They were selling necklaces, baskets, carvings, staffs, and other jewelry. They make everything they sell. Everything was so bright and colorful. I'm just amazed at how their culture and traditions are still so alive. Then they danced and sang for us. We even danced with them. It seemed straight out of a movie or something.

I feel truly humbled by this experience. I am in awe of the world God has made. I am so glad to have experienced the little part of it that I have!

Tanzania- Journal

June 16, 2009

Today we went to Tarangire Nationaly park. It was amazing. I got 15ft away from a male bull elephant! We saw a herd of elephant moms and their calfs. They were so big, but barely made a sound when they walked. The babies were so cute. They seemed so peaceful. They just roamed around us like "Hey, whats up." They were beautiful. Truly peaceful giants. I'm just in awe.

We saw tons of zebra. I really started to notice the differences between the stripes of the zebra. They really do have completely individual stripes. No two are alike!

On the way to Tarangire we saw a little Maasai boy, i think, on this hill after we got a flat. He just stood watching us with his herding stick while we took pictures of him. I bet he thought we were just so strange for snapping pictures of him like that. The Maasai culture definitely interests me. I thinking of animal patterns and light and people for my portfolio so far. Not sure on any yet.

Tanzania- Journal

June 15, 2009

We went on our first game drive today. Meryl got sick and it was so sad because she had to stay behind. She's better now though, I think. I hope I don't get sick from the maleria meds.

So right when we get to the Arusha wildlife reserve, we see giraffe. They are so beautiful! They have these long eye lashes and big eyes. Their patterns are just so pretty and the way they move is so graceful. I got some good shots of them because they were so close. I hope I can use them in my portfolio.

Then we saw all of these big troops of baboons. I never seen so many monkeys as I have today! The baboons for the most part are not scared of people or the cars. They came over very close. When you see them in such large groups its easy to see how social they are. They barked and screamed all around us. Jackson, who is one of the guides said a troop of baboons can have up to 100 members!! Which is crazy to think about that many monkeys in one group.

Jackson is so nice. He knows soooo much about the animals and actually spotted many of the ones we saw today. I don't know how he see's them in the bush. He has way better eyes than we do. I've never seen someone spot animals the way some of the guides can!

We saw Blue monkeys and i got some Amazing shots of the little babies. When I see an animal I just start frantically shooting. I try to remember composition and things like that, but maybe I'm supposed to forget that stuff. We saw black and white monkeys too. I forgot what they are called though.

Then in the "Little Serengeti" we saw buffalo, zebra, more giraffe, warthog, egrets. After we went canoeing in a small lake. Mi'chel was my partner and we had alot of fun. She cracks me up. We saw more buffalo and waterbuck up much closer. I really like the waterbuck. They remind me of elk. One guide, Nelson, pointed out hippo, but they were so submerged we couldn't see them.

But the highlight of the day for me was seeing a hyena. It had a hurt leg, but I freaked out when we saw it. It was very scared, looked at us once, and ran off. It was obviously in pain. I hoped it was ok, but that's the "Circle of Life".

Tanzania- Journal

June 15, 2009

So just this morning we saw a wild waterbuck at breakfast. It ran through the yard while we were eating. Brooke said she saw it bathing in the pool. It was so big. It was the size of my horse. Maybe slightly smaller. It was big and furry. It reminded me of an animal in Costa Rica, but I cant remember the name of it.

Tanzania- Journal

June 14, 2009

So we made it to our Arusha lodge and it's so wonderful. It's so much nicer and prettier than I expected. I just took a bath in a stone carved tub. So tired. So I'm going to bed. I can't wait to see Africa in the daylight!

P.S. food is great!

Tanzania- Journal

June 14, 2009

So I'm officially on the flight to Tanzania. I can't believe I'm actually going to AFRICA!! It's so surreal. I don't really believe it. I don't think I can comprehend it. Italy was different. I had some form of an idea of what it'd look like in my head and be like, but Africa, nothing. Some what I've seen on TV.The plane rides haven't been too bad considering we've been traveling for about 18 hours now. I feel like it's just been one big long day. I can't wait to get to our lodge for sure!

I like everyone on the trip so far. Who knows that may could change. I'm sure we'll all get annoyed with each other at some point. Its to be expected when being in a group.

The flights haven't been that bad. I think I already said that so I'm really tired. Maybe a little delirious? A man in the airport, who had been to Tanzania, said he saw a kill and it was definitely something to witness. I really hope we see a kill. That would make my trip complete!

My legs hurt real bad. They have been cramping up on the whole flight. I'm so ansy. I really want to get there, but I think we've even got another drive to Arusha from the airport before we rest.