Dear Reader,
It was somewhere around day 34 of a voyage aboard the oceanographic research vessel Gyre that my interest in photography began.
Armed with a simple Kodak point-and-shoot camera, I attempted to photograph fishing villages nestled along the banks of the Congo River near Soyo, Angola. Dissatisfied with the results, I searched the ship’s laboratory for something with a little more horsepower and found a Canon PowerShot SX20 IS.
I zoomed in, focused, and began photographing a woman as she fetched a bucket of water, gracefully balanced it on her head, and walked home. In that moment, I realized I had captured a glimpse of everyday life that few people would ever have the opportunity to witness.
That experience inspired me to purchase the same Canon model—and eventually several Nikon cameras—and begin documenting the people, places, and fleeting moments that make the world so remarkable.
A photograph may be worth a thousand words, but the emotion and connection it creates can be worth thousands more. I sincerely hope you enjoy these glimpses into my daily life and travels through more than 26 countries—and that they allow you to experience a little of the beauty, humanity, and wonder I encountered along the way.
Humbly,
Michael Gaskins
