Moments of Revelation

Outstanding entries in the inaugural Study Abroad Photo Contest were on view in Farinon College Center. Images taken from the fall semester of 2007 through the summer of 2008 were eligible. View the slideshow.

 

First Place
Diana Hasegan ’10
“Afternoon Walk at the Summer Palace”
Beijing, April 2008

The misty background is not there by mistake. Beijing is very polluted, and most days would look like that. But think about when the Summer Palace actually was used by the emperor and people wearing clothes like the lady in the picture. I believe the landscape would have looked completely different, and you could see what was behind that bridge. Thus this picture shows two aspects of Beijing and the recent history of China: the old tradition, through the design of the bridge and the clothing style of the lady, and the changes that the evolving Chinese society has imposed on the environment. Of course I did not think about these ideas as I was shooting the photo, but life brings about a lot of happy coincidences, and this photo symbolizes for me that moment of revelation, of understanding, of momentary pleasure.

Hasegan, of Tirgu Mures, Romania, studied in Hong Kong in a Lafayette-affiliated program at Lingnan University. She is pursuing a B.S. in civil engineering and an A.B. with a major in economics & business.

 

Second Place
Ellen Rose ’09
“Outdoor Market at Marrakech”
Marrakech, Morocco, November 2007

Tourists pay for things other than scarves and vases at the outdoor marketplaces in Marrakech, whether it be an impromptu snake charming show or taking a photograph of the man who sells cheetah pelts. Knowing this, and wanting to avoid having a small child run after me demanding change for taking pictures, I surreptitiously snapped this image from around the corner. It captures the vendor amidst his dealings, and, I hope, transmits the frenzy and excitement of the marketplace.

Rose, of Spring Lake, N.J., studied in Madrid in a Lafayette-affiliated program run by St. Lawrence University. She double majored in Spanish and art.

 

Third Place
Allison Hellreich ’09
“Sledding in the Swiss Alps”
Grindelwald, Switzerland, February 2008

An unforgettable day. Having decided not to ski for fear of injuring myself, I chose what I thought would be safer, sledding. Growing up in Connecticut, I thought I had experienced sledding in its entirety, but I was wrong. The two-mile sledding course in Switzerland came complete with mattresses tied to trees and wooden walls meant to keep those with difficulty steering from falling into creeks or off ledges. While the sledding was memorable, it was the views that captivated me. We were entirely surrounded by towering giants. It was impossible not to be overwhelmed by their beauty.

Hellreich, of Cheshire, Conn., studied in Europe in the Lafayette-affiliated IES Abroad European Union program based in Freiburg, Germany. She majored in international affairs.