Rozenn is a freelance travel photographer in both traditional and digital mediums. While she makes her living with commercial photography, her real passion is in documentary photography. It is in this that she can really express her artistic sense and share the happiness of discovering the world's traditional cultures.

Rozenn was born in 1976 and lived her childhood in a quiet village in south of France, made world famous for its excellent wine. She left this beautiful region for the city life of London where she had many new experiences. Serving in pubs, she learned the subtle nuances of beer and by sharing student houses, was exposed to various cultures. But most importantly, she discovered the magic of photography by printing her first black and white cliché in a makeshift lab. Through these experiences, she realised she could combine her love of photography with her desire to travel.

With the camera slung over her shoulder, a backpack full of developing chemicals, and too few dollars in hand, she gave herself the chance to fulfil both her passions. Click ! click ! click ! The Nikon shoots like a machine gun, the winder spinning, the film flying, and the faces captured on film, adding to an ever-growing collection of eternal moments. A phlegmatic old Cuban smoking a cigar, a impassive Peruvian lady watching the Virgen del Carmen festivities, and an Amerindian behaving timorously in front of her objective.

Through the wrinkled faces, calloused hands and dusty feet, she searched for a transparency that would allow her a glimpse of these people's souls. And in the instant it takes to release the shutter, the only unsure glances shot her way were from the llamas by the roadside.

She spent twelve months in close contact with local communities who were often surprised to see a young "gringa" venturing onto their soil and sharing their huts and their meagre fare, their overcrowded vehicles, and their colourful festivals and rituals. Hundreds of yards of film tell the story of thousands of miles of unexpected, yet enriching discoveries.

Then it was time to suspend the festival project and go back to London to make the prints. To earn a living, Rozenn took various jobs as a social photographer. The first six months she was a cruise ship photographer in the Caribbean, followed by a few months as a slopes photographer in Switzerland's ski resorts, and then finally working the beaches on the south coast of France. At other times, she photographed at weddings and covered the Berlin and Cannes film festivals.

There was no quenching her thirst for new experiences. And in the end, she fully reaped the rewards of her efforts. She won both prizes (Social & Editorial and the Overall for the four global categories) at the 2001 Fujifilm competition whose subject was "The Insertion of Foreigners in London (see Awards Link). This eventually leads to her work being published and used on an international level (see Publications link)

But soon it was time for the second phase of Rozenn´s festival project; so she packed her bags again and set off for another year of photography and adventure. Now, in Southeast Asia, the theme of the project was "To capture the originality and diversity of folk festivals and indigenous rituals" (see Portfolios Link).

Following are her own words and feelings about her project, with her thanks to those who helped her on the way:

"From displays of flagellation in Quito, to public mutilations in Phuket, that is, from the Andes to Thailand, and across thousands of kilometres, I discovered evidence of a similarity among all, a commonality that pulses along through the veins of folk legend and revealed through the native processions, intricate costumes, multicoloured spectacles, tribal dances and hypnotic rhythms. The intense gazes and mystic auras of the participants is equalled only by the onlookers who often exhibit the same ecstatic enthusiasm and passion.

These ceremonies - as much impious as religious, but ever colourful, animated and joyful - demonstrate the common peoples' need to celebrate life. rather than make war. Such events have coloured and enriched my life, capturing my heart for many years and leading to a project that shows the diversity and originality of folklore festivals; ethnic traditions that are threatened in today's globalization oriented trend.

Although discovery and exploration have raked over the planet, human adventure is far from over. And even though Latin and Asian art, fashion, music and literature have infiltrated Western pop-culture, it is truly more inspiring to encounter the soul of these people in their homeland.

Within these photos, I have therefore tried to reveal the peculiarities of these far-flung festivities and to immortalise their local customs. Whether it is expressed through ancient Animism, Confucianism, the various schools of Buddhism, the sects of Christianity, or the mythology of Hinduism, all maintain at their collective core an ancestral folklore tradition. I hope each of us will help protect this cultural heritage around the globe.

I lived each moment of my journey with great intensity thanks to the warmth I encountered in even the remotest of places. Hundreds of homes opened to welcome me, and despite the often spartan conditions, I was able to draw comfort and peace.

Those who have sacrificed their meagre earnings in exchange for sumptuousness of costume have guided, informed, encouraged, protected and cared for me throughout my research and travels. The hospitality of these humble and smiling people greatly touched me, spurring me to dedicate myself to this project.

May the spirit of these peoples be captured by my endeavours and not be lost !