Conclusion

It’s been 2 years since I went to the Galapagos and yet a day doesn’t go by that I don’t think about what I saw and how amazing it was. I’ve talked at length to people about it, so many times that they get bored of me talking about the same ‘old shit’ every time.  But the mere fact that I still talk about it, must mean that it has somehow changed me, why else would I talk about this trip like no other. I’ve been to many amazing places on this planet but none captured the sense of adventure, the sense of exploration, the sense of knowledge, the sense of discovery better than the Galapagos. A place so vivid in its landscape that you know before you even go there, that you will fall in love with it. It will change your DNA and what makes you ‘you’. There are not many places on the planet that can do this.

From a young age, the nature of planet earth has always been on my mind. Learning about the dinosaurs in primary school, learning about the sciences, going on school trips to the Natural History Museum countless times right through to visiting the Giant Sequoias in California.  All these things strengthened my desire to see the new and experience the wonder of nature.

Growing up and watching countless nature programs on the BBC, one could dream of seeing creatures of such colour and variety in their natural habitat. Seeing the wildlife in the Galapagos was a humbling experience for me. I was raised to believe in religion, but to keep sane, I had to let it go so I could stay on the path that I’m on now. It’s been liberating to say the least.  Being a person of science, and seeing things before me which at times were just jaw dropping, exquisite and majestic, is ….. what life is about. Being there, and going from island to island, you learn much about yourself. Being away from civilization, the hustle and bustle of city life was comforting for me. To have time to think beyond the realms of barriers, boundaries and borders…… this is what the Galapagos did for me..

Being a photographer in the Galapagos was liberating. Years of reading and people telling me what you should and should not do was all washed away. I was free to be me, free to  pursue my photography as I saw fit.  I was doing it for me, and it was a bonus that people liked the resulting photos and videos.  Since then many more people have viewed my photos and videos and I’ve been getting humbling emails from people all over the world. To have brought a sense of joy to a wide variety of people through my work is an amazing feeling.  The notion that we as humans can connect through visual representation, and that these in turn can break down barriers of race, creed and religion is powerful. To connect with people through photos is a wondrous feeling.

The journey to the Enchanted Isles has made me even more aware of cultural subtleties that divide and split people.  It’s made me more aware of the love that we have inside of us, the power it has to enable us to do great things in life and also to help others. But more than that, it has opened my eyes and mind to the wonders of the planet.  Now more so than ever, I wish to travel to, photograph and film places.

We live in a world where we want things quickly and instantly, and that’s a shame. I’ve learned to be patient in my life and will take my time with my projects so that they’re only shared when they’re ready to be shown to the world. Admiring the nature of the Galapagos gave me a sense of slowing things down, appreciating those moments a little longer, long enough so that it still lingers in your mind when you hear a piece of music or see a photo.

I will for the rest of my life talk about the Galapagos.  I will show and share my photos and films of it with everyone and anyone, because it is truly a unique place on this planet from which we still have much to learn. Only by doing this, will we learn to appreciate each other.

So the Galapagos Islands, it has been an immense, powerful experience and has forever left an indelible footprint on what makes me who I am….

To see my photos from this amazing trip, head over to https://www.flickr.com/photos/moon24/sets/72157625758754443

To see my videos that I shot out there, then please head over to https://vimeo.com/album/1593075

Prints from my trip to the Galapagos are available to purchase from http://www.m24instudiophotography.com/p134219154

Mamun Humayun
www.m24instudio.com