2011 Photo Contest Winners

"A Sense of Place"

1st Place - Geena Maharaj - "Typical

The loudness and impatience of this Indian street, makes one lose sight of the intolerable heat.  It's chaotic to watch, but you'll never fully understand, until you're riding in the back of a rickshaw in this land.  Holding on for dear life with eyes wide as can be, praying you won't hit a stray cow or a monkey.  But in all this bedlam, you can't help but realize, this mess is the beauty of India in disguise.
 

2nd Place - Sara O'Neill - "Walking with Giants"

This photo was taken at Giant's Causeway on the Antrim Coast in Northern Ireland.  It is a place where myth and science collide.  These basalt columns are a result of a volcanic eruption, but the legend behind them is more interesting.  It is said that there was once a causeway between Scotland and Ireland.  A Scottish giant came to fight the hero Finn McCool, but was tricked into thinking Finn would be unbeatable.  The giant ran back to Scotland, tearing up the causway to stop the Irish hero from following him.
 

3rd Place - Kallie Aultman - "Historical Wonder"

This is a photo of the Hagia Sofia in Istanbul, Turkey.  The Hagia Sophia is currently a museum, but was a prominent religious site.  On our final night in Turkey, I snuck up to the balcony of our hotel to capture the beauty and essence of this historical wonder.
 

Honorable Mention - Megan Brown - "Parking Lot"

This photo was taken from the streets of Venice.  We later rode these gondolas through the rivers and explored Venice by water.
 

Honorable Mention - Sara O'Neill - "Full Circle"

This picture is taken on Knocklayd Mountain.  It was one of the first places I visited during my semester abroad and one of the last.  This field exemplifies Northern Ireland's rural beauty and serenity.
 

 "An Intercultural Experience"

1st Place - Megan Brown - "Just Married"

This photo was taken while walking through the cobblestone streets of Assisi.  We were headed up to see the Rocca Maggiore fortress that towers over Assisi and the whole valley when we stumbled upon this beautiful bride.
 

2nd Place - David Hackworthy - "Lonely Bedouin"

This phot was taken in Wadi Wum, or 'Valley of the Moon', located in the southern part of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan.  My group had been riding on camels in a huge caravan and had taken to feed the camels at a beautiful cliff overlooking the pass beneath us.  Pausing atop of our sandstone outcrop, I spied one of the Bedouin guides and camel owners taking a rest atop of an adjoining outcrop that guarded the pass.
 

3rd Place - Adrienne Geile - "Sunlight"

I took this photo in St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican, in Rome.  My favorite part is the woman and her sons, slightly blurred, crouching and staring from the corner in the foreground.  They look like they've been suddenly startled by this bright beam of unexpected sunlight, illuminating the marble floor and enveloping the young woman standing as if stunned, maybe floating, in the midst of it.  Something has interrupted dialy life here, something ethereal; something new and striking and beautiful.
 

Honorable Mention - Dan Probst - "Thirsty dogs in downtown Madrid"

On a brisk, December morning I was walking to the Prado Museum with a couple friends.  Along the way, we walked through a beautiful park in downtown Madrid.  I watched the white dog jump up to drink out of the water fountain and quickly snapped this photo.
 

Honorable Mention - Sara Backlund - "Roman Street Artist"

This photo was taken in Rome, Italy.  We were walking down a small side street near the Trevi Fountain.  I was surprised to see this elderly gentleman over to the side.  He was very focused on painting a detailed art piece directly on the well-worn pavement as the busy pedestrians briskly passed him by.  It appeared to be the beginning of an image of Jesus.