"Travel in West Africa is not an easy journey but it satisfies something deep inside. What makes West Africa special is its people and their culture; no matter where you go, you are never ignored and there is an all-pervasive sense of intimacy. It is a sensuous place -- the red earth roads, the brilliant blue sky, the extreme heat, the drumming, the singing rhythm of the voices, and the smells of cooking and smoke that pervade every sun-baked village. Although often there is no common language, I feel -- and try to convey on film -- a sense of connection to the people I am photographing."