Frequently Asked Questions
For the purposes of this opportunity, we would consider you to be a professional photographer or filmmaker if you have been commissioned regularly to take photographs or make films (of any genre). We will also consider you to be a professional if you derive more than 25% of your income from photography or filmmaking of any kind. If you have only had a few photos or films commissioned, or keep a regular video channel of your own, then we would not consider this professional. If you are still learning the craft of photography or filmmaking and the majority of your income is not derived from these activities, then you are eligible to apply.
We appreciate that the photography and filmmaking industry is difficult to break into and there are a lucky few who can count themselves as professional full-time photographers or filmmakers. This scholarship is very much about the mentorship, and the judging panel will be selecting the person who they feel will most benefit from the learning opportunity.
If you are a finalist, you will be asked to outline your experience to date, and it will be the judging panel who decides who is most suitable based on their previous experience, application creative content and written component. So, while we are not stipulating exactly what does and does not constitute a professional, think about the spirit of the mentorship program and whether you think you would make the most ideal candidate.
Yes, you will need a current passport with at least six months validity after the date of your planned departure.
Winners will be required to confirm their visa requirements and arrange any required visas themselves prior to the trip. Entrants must be eligible to obtain a visa to visit the Scholarship trip destinations if it is required.
We want to see 3-5 photos or a 30-60 second of video you have shot, that captures a travel story. This can be new or existing work and must be supplied as a single, publicly accessible URL link so our judges can review it. While this Scholarship is not for professionals, you'll need to convince our judging panel through your application that you have the spirit of adventure and a passion for travel photography or filmmaking. Our goal is to give the winners a foot in the door of the travel content industry, so your submission should demonstrate your talent and desire to turn your passion into a profession.
Your photos or video will be judged equally on creativity, how visually engaging it is, and execution.
Your travel photos/video should:
Your 150 words or less written submission should tell us why you should be the scholarship recipient and what winning this opportunity would mean to you. We will weight entries based on photography/video (70%) and written submission (30%).
Each entry will be individually judged, based upon individual creative merit. Chance plays no part in determining the winner.
The three (3) scholarships will be awarded based on submitted photography/video (70%) and the corresponding written submission (30%). Photography/video will be judged on creativity, how visually engaging it is, and execution.
Written submissions will be judged based on how well you convince our judges you should be the scholarship recipient.
No, however by applying for this scholarship you allow World Nomads to showcase your content on the World Nomads website and in advertising and to use the content to promote the World Nomads scholarships. More details can be found in the Terms & Conditions.
The scholarship winners will each receive prizes valued at more than $17,000 USD , including travel to and in Africa, mentoring from The Travel Shooters (Dan and Zora), professional camera gear and more:
*The winner is required to purchase the policy via a reputable travel insurance provider and ensure the policy suits their individual objectives, needs and financial situation. See terms and conditions for full details.
Winners will be required to shoot photos and film during their trip using their new gear. They will be supplied with an assignment brief prior to the trip, outlining the shots they will need to capture on the trip for World Nomads, Fujifilm, Vacations & Travel magazine, and Go2Africa.
We expect the photo and film captured to include a mix of content shot and recorded on location, along with some editing and post-production completed after the trip. The Travel Shooters will work with you to provide feedback, advice and mentoring to help you develop the best work possible.
Every day, you will work alongside industry pros, Dan and Zora, to gain invaluable mentoring and hands-on experience across photography, videography, production, editing and business acumen.
Depending on your skill level, Dan and Zora will tailor your learning experience to your needs. They will help you develop skills to reliably capture extraordinary landscapes, unique wildlife, portraits and more. Plus, develop the ability to relate and build a fast rapport with people from a different culture so they’ll either happily be in your shot, – or give you a little local knowledge to help your mission.
You’ll get instant feedback and advice from the mentors to kickstart your travel career alongside two other winners.
The trip will require the winners and mentors to be out shooting content daily, so basic fitness levels are a must.
The general requirements are to be:
No, you cannot email your entry to us. All applicants need to fill out the application page and submit their applications via our website. If you have encountered any specific issues, please contact us at scholarships@worldnomads.com