Exhibition showcases students' international photos

Monk in Lalibela

"Monk in Lalibela," taken by junior Danny Growald in Lalibela, Ethiopia, is among the images featured in "International Eye," an exhibition of photographs taken by Princeton undergraduates on view through May 31 in the Guggenheim Gallery of Whitman College and the James S. Hall '34 Memorial Gallery in Butler College. Sponsored by the Office of International Programs, the exhibition showcases students' participation in international study, internships and service.

"International Eye," an exhibition of photographs taken by Princeton undergraduates on five continents, will be on view through Monday, May 31, in the Guggenheim Gallery of Whitman College and the James S. Hall '34 Memorial Gallery in Butler College.  

Showcasing students' participation in international study, internships, service and research, the exhibition was created through the second annual international photo contest held this past fall and sponsored by the Office of International Programs. Thirty-six photographs were selected from 253 submissions by 129 students concentrating in 27 departments. Most of the students' international experiences were funded by Princeton programs and departments.

"We were pleased to see even more interest in the contest this year," said Nancy Kanach, senior associate dean of the college and director of the Office of International Programs. "The exhibition is a great outlet for students to share their experiences with the broader campus community. As students bring their international experiences back to the Princeton campus, they influence campus culture and inspire others to pursue similar experiences. These photographs are a concrete way to connect student experiences on campus and abroad, which makes both sets of experiences richer."

Undergraduates were asked to submit photos that told a story about their time abroad, that lent a fresh perspective on the monuments, cityscapes and landscapes they encountered, or that revealed an aspect of the culture within which they found themselves. One "Best in Show" prize was awarded, along with "Best in Category" prizes in six categories: cityscape, abstraction, landscape/nature, people, social commentary and animals. An additional 29 photographs received honorable mention.

Photographer Andrew Moore, lecturer in visual arts in the Lewis Center for the Arts, selected the winning photographs with assistance from Giorgio DiMauro, associate director of the Study Abroad Program, and Martina Anderson, communications and outreach coordinator in the Office of International Programs.

The "Best in Show" and "Best in Category" for cityscapes went to junior Niklas Peters, a concentrator in the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs, for his photo "Play," taken in Aburi, Ghana. Peters participated in a Princeton Global Seminar titled "Sustainable Design: Creating New Solutions for Global Development" in Accra and Kumasi, Ghana, last summer.

Other "Best in Category" winners were:

  • Abstraction: sophomore Alexandra Hay for "Veneration," taken in St. Petersburg, Russia.
  • Landscape/nature (tie): senior Christopher Yarnell for "In Kono, Sometimes I Feel Small," taken in Koidu Town in Kono, Sierra Leone, and junior Rachel Jackson for "The Anglican Cathedral," taken in Zanzibar, Tanzania.
  • People: junior Danny Growald for "Monk in Lalibela," taken in Lalibela, Ethiopia.
  • Social commentary: senior Anastasia Oldham for "The City Stoop," taken in La Paz, Bolivia.
  • Animals: sophomore Megan Charles for "Ladybug on Lavender," taken in Luberon, France.

"This is an artistically serious contest, thanks to our judge, Andrew Moore," DiMauro said. "We wanted to emphasize the creative opportunities that open up when abroad. As an outsider, one is often more sensitized to the beauties and incongruities of everyday life in another country."

The exhibition is on view weekdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The photos also can be viewed in an online gallery on the Office of International Programs website.

Ladybug on Lavendar

Sophomore Megan Charles earned the top commendation in the animals category for "Ladybug on Lavender," which she took in Luberon, France.

 

The City Stoop

"The City Stoop," taken in La Paz, Bolivia, by senior Anastasia Oldham, was selected as the best photo in the social commentary category.

 

The Anglican Cathedral

Junior Rachel Jackson's "The Anglican Cathedral," taken in Zanzibar, Tanzania, shared honors for the best image in the landscape/nature category.