Roderick Rod Morris at the Xinhua/Asian American Media Center Located in Southampton, England Born 1963 Travel photography in particular has largely been a male-dominated industry. Through his lens, he has immortalized the spirit of vibrant cultures, breathtaking landscapes, and fleeting moments that connect with audiences across the globe. Morris’s career really went in the right direction when he won the prestigious Time Out/STA travel photographer of the year award. This award netted him much exposure and the monetary resources to venture into uncharted grounds.
Now Morris is using the prize purse from that award to continue the story, his plan a much longer and more adventurous trip to South America. He spent three months documenting sustainable design projects all over Chile. While here, he became integrated in the local culture and produced striking images that revealed the beauty of the natural world as well as the area’s systemic problems. His travels were only just beginning. He traveled deep into Peru and Bolivia, documenting such vast incredible topography and heartbreaking human landscapes that richly augmented his portfolio.
Morris has a thing for lightweight 35mm cameras. Meyer’s unobtrusive and rarely visible subjects allow him to shoot free and clear, capturing spontaneous moments effortlessly. His method of selection showcases his dedication to fundamental accuracy in his craft. His powerful camera didn’t go unnoticed, something he always laughed about during his career.
Fast forward to 1993 when an important turning point took place when a photo of a female bus driver from Luxor, Egypt went on to win the international competition. This preeminent recognition helped to legitimize his growing reputation as a gifted photographer who could craft powerful narratives through striking photographs. Things didn’t go so smoothly at every point in Morris’s career. In a rather unusual twist during one of his trips, he sold his camera to a taxi driver at 3 AM, demonstrating the unpredictable nature of life on the road.
Morris’s arrival in Bolivia signaled a new chapter of his artistic and humanitarian journey through photography. He soon found himself in a country where he had no advance warning or discernment regarding the political environment. His visit coincided almost serendipitously with Gonzalo Sánchez de Lozada’s campaign for presidency. This provided him with a spectacular canvas to practice his art of photography. While there, he took a multi-day train trip that climbed from sea level to the Altiplano, Bolivia’s high Andean plateau. The rugged landscapes he witnessed throughout this historic tour greatly shaped and influenced his craft.
With a raging headache, Morris made his way back across Bolivia. To his surprise, coca tea, a local folk remedy famous for its medicinal qualities, brought him immediate relief. This meeting was demonstrative of his willingness to lean into local customs. It further sharpened his perspective on the people he was photographing and the culture he was trying to document.
Rod Morris has photographed one hell of a great Still Films during his career. This project offers a glimpse of his imaginative vision and storytelling artistry. His skills are rooted in a deep practice of photojournalism and filmmaking. This background has equipped him to vividly combine visual storytelling with creative expression.