Colonial Africa

With the sun beating on the beige hood of our Land cruiser we crushed through the bush. I was shooting the entire Lion King Cast perched on the roof with my 70-200mm 2.8L lens when we spotted the gaping black hole in the high grass. A few seconds later our vehicle had a disagreement with gravity and disappeared into the ground.

I had very little idea of what to expect arriving in Dar Es Salaam on a pitch black tuesday night. I had never visited the African continent before and my expectations where weaved by a thin string of National Geographic wildlife photography and relief effort images shown on the news.

As we sped into the night with the doors locked through the poorer districts of this east african metropolis i braced for two weeks of foreign experiences. 

A million red suns toiling in dusty afternoons, this country of Children runs on a different clock. An environment and attitude so foreign it will make you stop in your tracks and marvel at the slow chaotic rhythm of a proud people living in unbelievable poverty. 

Every preconception i had about Africa was both reinforced and challenged. The chasm between rich and poor, between lush and barren left me both cynical and optimistic. Tanzania is a country of colors. Where you go to, and who you speak to, will show you a different part of the spectrum.