Study Abroad with Carthage

Study Abroad Photo Contest

Students share the best photographs from their time abroad

Winners have been announced in Carthage's 2011 Study Abroad Photo Contest. Students were invited to submit their favorite photographs from a semester abroad or a J-Term study tour.

In the Semester Abroad category, first prize went to Daniel Diaz, '11, for his photograph Divine Light, taken of St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City. Second prize went to Cristal Tucker, '13, for her photograph Perfect Time, taken in Palma, Mallorca, Spain. Third prize went to Lauren Schoepke, '12, for her photograph A Florentine Night, taken in Florence, Italy. There were also two finalists: Janice Fox, '11, for her photograph Medina at Sunset; and Carissa Pearlman, '13, for her photograph A Harvest Hand.

In the J-Term category, first prize went to Jennifer Carlson, '11, for her photograph Hustle & Bustle, taken in Ghana. Second prize went to Lisa Suttman, '11, for her photograph Solitude, taken in Sweden. Third prize went to Karin Wirth, '13, for her photograph La Lancha, taken in Guatemala.

Semester Abroad Category

First prize

Divine Light, by Daniel Diaz, '11

This photograph of St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City was taken by Daniel Diaz, of Mt. Prospect, Ill., while he was spending a semester in Seville, Spain. "Visiting the Vatican was an experience almost impossible to put into words," he wrote. "The feelings of history, grace, power, tradition and so on were extremely overwhelming. When I saw how this picture turned out, I was again speechless. To this day, I am still humbled by that visit. Some events are better left unexplained by words, and this might be one of them."

Second prize

Perfect Time, by Cristal Tucker, '13

This photograph was taken in Palma, Mallorca, Spain, by Cristal Tucker of Oak Forest, Ill., during a semester in Salamanca, Spain. "I associated this picture with beauty and all the art I experienced first hand, as opposed to just looking at the world through pictures in school books and online," she wrote. "This picture was taken during my visit to Palma, in the cathedral, which was partially designed by the artist Gaudi. It was by far my favorite cathedral. It had so many abstract depictions of a cathedral, completely out of the 'norm' for a cathedral. It is my absolute favorite picture that I took during my semester abroad."

Third Prize

A Florentine Night, by Lauren Schoepke, '12

Lauren Schoepke, of Algonquin, Ill., spent a semester in Seville, Spain, and took this photograph while visiting Florence, Italy. "I associate this picture with romance and the quaintness of Florence," she wrote. "This was my night in Italy. I can't really put into words how important this picture is for me. I never really understood how beautiful a city could be until I stood on this bridge in Florence. Shortly after this photo, I met an older couple from Florence. I sat and talked with them for an hour about their wonderful city. This picture will always remind me of Renato and his wife."

Finalist

Medina at Sunset, by Janice Fox, '11

Janice Fox, of Baraboo, Wis., took this photograph while studying in Rabat, Morocco. "I associate this photo with being full of life and color and wandering the streets, conversing with shop owners and others I met," she wrote. "The medina is a fascinating place that can be full of people, sounds and smells at one moment — and empty the next, like at sunset, when people leave to pray in the mosques. It's both lively and peaceful. It's the source of living for many, and a source of enjoyment and life for me."

Finalist

A Harvest Hand, by Carissa Pearlman, '13

Carissa Pearlman, of Lake in the Hills, Ill., took this photograph in Tinum Village while studying in Merida, Mexico. "I associate this with the extreme man-labor that goes into maintaining a cornfield without the machinery that we use," she wrote. "I took this picture while observing the hard work and process that takes place daily in the cornfield. The importance is that the ‘milpa’ owners work hours in the sun to stalk hundreds of corn. But though it seems long and impossible to us, they have developed their own system and tools to get it done. The farmers have their own way of getting it done without heavy machinery."

J-Term Category

First prize

Hustle & Bustle by Jennifer Carlson, '11

Jennifer Carlson, of Lombard, Ill., took this photograph at a fishing village in Cape Coast, Ghana, while on a J-Term study tour. “This photograph shows people in their element and the environment we were exposed to while on our trip. The bold, bright colors also add a beautiful touch and variety to this shot. It was shot to show people who didn’t go on this trip what a typical day is like in the life of a Ghanian. Since Ghana is a third world country, and making a living is very hard for them, I wanted to show in this photo what a typical day is like for a big fishing village such as Cape Coast."

Second prize

Solitude, by Lisa Suttman, '11

Lisa Suttman, of Forreston, Ill., took this photograph during a J-Term study tour to the Island of Branno, Sweden. "I associate this picture with peace and solitude, and an escape from the hassles of everyday life. It is very relaxing. This image shows a bright, sunny winter day, as well as the beauty of Sweden and the island archipelago. As sunny days were rare, this was a great moment captured. It also reflects one of my favorite days of the trip."

Third prize

La Lancha, by Karin Wirth, '13

Karin Wirth, of Springfield, Ill., took this photograph in Jaibalito, Lago de Atitlán, Guatemala. "This photograph captures the essence of Lago de Atitlán (Lake Atitlán)," she wrote. "I see the simplicity of life and the natural beauty of the area. The picture combines the presence of the mankind with nature and the majestic volcanoes. The relationship of the people with the lake is one of interdependence. This picture was taken near the dock at Jaibalito, where we waited each day for our lancha (boat). There are two modes of transportation at Lago de Atitlán, foot and boat. Ever since people settled on the lake, it has been important to their survival. Today the people rely on the lake for transportation and tourism, among other things. However, the lake is also dependent upon the people for its preservation. This picture portrays a snapshot of this relationship."