David Wright Photography – Murchison Falls National Park – Uganda from djwright.

While traveling Uganda, I spent 3 days in Murchison Falls National Park. I had planned to go to the park with a public group but the tour company accidentally booked a private group for my departure day.

My travel window for seeing the park was super tight and thankfully the private group, a wonderful Danish family, were open to my traveling with them and we had a great time together. Pictured below is Morten, his 3 daughters, and our game warden walking towards a pool of hippos. See more of the photographs here!

Morten and his 3 daughters, Murchison Falls National Park, Uganda, 2009

During the coming weeks I’ll be writing about preparing for Uganda, making work in Uganda, editing the work together, preparing for the Chelsea Art Museum exhibit, and all that happened in between and afterward. I find the process quite fascinating and it’s my aim to make it useful and interesting for you.

Self-portrait, A River Blue, Uganda, 2009

Working on this now…

Elephants, Murchison Falls, Uganda, 2009

When I arrived in Uganda I spent a couple night in Kampala, Uganda’s capital, and then headed North to Lira, a town where I slept before heading to Alebtong the next day.

The Lira Hotel was the safest in town but the first night there I wondered. The lights were dim and in the hallway and entrance to the building were seated guards with handguns. Nothing ever happened or probably ever does. The north is much safer now than it used to be.

The best part of the Lira Hotel was that you could eat a dinner of rice and cooked banana (called matooke — almost like sliced potatoes) for 3,500 UGX ($1.90 USD). After eating I would go next door and buy a couple of juice boxes, usually passion fruit and something else. I’d fall asleep with my window open but kept the screen in place to keep mosquito out. It didn’t matter because they would somehow always get in. Outside my window would be dance music, people laughing and drinking long into the night.

I made this photograph the next morning. It’s not a great photograph by any means but it was one of the first I made while in Uganda.

Lira Hotel, Lira, Uganda, 2009

It’s important to take a break from a major body of work.  I’ve been doing this regularly with the work I made in Alebtong, Uganda.  Below is a good example of why it’s important.

I have been struggling with making the photograph of these 3 girls the way I want it to look.  A few weeks ago I knew it didn’t look the way I wanted it to.  It seemed lifeless and the toning was keeping the photograph from living on the level it wants to live on. This afternoon I decided to reapproach the photograph and am happy with where I began and where I finished.

I like when things fall into place after taking time away.

Before

After

George and I made this picture the last day I was at A River Blue.

Still editing my work from Africa…

Eunice, A River Blue Student, 2009

Man lately it has been quite a long road!  I’m unemployed, my girlfriend’s unemployed, we’re both living at our respective parents’ homes.  It’s been difficult and most likely won’t get any easier for awhile.  But tonight I became really excited.  For change.  For photography.  For new beginnings.  I have a feeling we’re heading towards a mountain but it’s going to be grand adventure.  It always is.  I’m hard at work on the Africa work and will have it online soon.  I hope you’re as excited as I am.