Μια εκπληκτική και βραβευμένη φωτογραφία με τον πύρινο Επιτάφιο του Πύργου

To Saint Olaf, είναι ένα αξιοσέβαστο Κολέγιο που δημιουργήθηκε το 1874 στη Μινεσότα, από Νορβηγούς Λουθηρανούς μετανάστες. Εκτός από τις σπουδές στις ανθρωπιστικές επιστήμες, προσφέρει επίσης διέξοδο στις καλλιτεχνικές ανησυχίες των σπουδαστών του. Μια από αυτές, περιλαμβάνει την φωτογραφία, όπου εδώ και σαράντα χρόνια πραγματοποιείται ο ετήσιος διαγωνισμός Gimse Global Engagement, βραβεύοντας τις καλύτερες λήψεις.

Κατά τη φετινή, επετειακή χρονιά, το κορυφαίο βραβείο, απέσπασε μια φωτογραφία από τον Πύργο. Εκπληκτική από όλες τις απόψεις. Περιφορά του Επιταφίου στα ρυμίδια, με τις ανθρώπινες φιγούρες στην ανοιξιάτικη νύχτα να φωτίζονται από ένα φλογισμένο κόκκινο.

««Στο νησί της Σαντορίνης, το Ορθόδοξο Πάσχα είναι ένα από τις πιο ιερές γιορτές. Τη Μεγάλη Παρασκευή, κάθε πόλη ξεκινά από την κορυφή του χωριού της με τον «επιτάφιο» ή το «Φέρετρο του Ιησού» με τη νεκρική πομπή. Στην πόλη του Πύργου, φωτίζουν επίσης ολόκληρο τον οικισμό με χιλιάδες μικρές φωτιές ή κεριά που ακολουθούν την πομπή», γράφει το περιοδικό του Κολλεγίου, παρουσιάζοντας τη δημιουργία της Gretchen Ellis “We Didn’t Start the Fire” (δεν ξεκινήσαμε εμείς τη φωτιά).

Enjoy this year’s Gimse Global Engagement Photo Contest winners below.

“Seated in the Sky” by Lars Askegaard ’23
Program: Global Semester
Photo Location: Pichincha Volcano · Quito, Ecuador

“Been There, Dune That” by Mattea Gines ’24
Program: Global Semester
Photo Location: Dune 7 · Walvis Bay, Namibia

TOP AWARD
“We Didn’t Start the Fire” by Gretchen Ellis ’23
Program: The General Course at the London School of Economics and Political Science
Photo Location: Pyrgos · Santorini, Greece
“On the island of Santorini, Orthodox Easter is one of the most sacred holidays. On Good Friday, every town starts at the top of their village with the ‘epitaph’ or the ‘Jesus Coffin’ and has a funeral procession. In the town of Pyrgos, they also light up the entire town with thousands of small bonfires or candles following the procession.”

HONORABLE MENTION
“Trinity Alps Wilderness” by Ruby Hoeschen ’25
Program: Oregon Extension
Photo Location: Snowslide Lake · Trinity Alps Wilderness · Northern California
“This image was taken on my first-ever backpacking trip. After our first three-week long segment focused on nature, our professors took us out into the wilderness for a six-day backpacking trip to relax, reflect, and experience amazing sights such as this rock formation reflecting on the lake water.”

HONORABLE MENTION
“A Scottish Highland Summit” by Kaitlin Johnson ’23
Program: University of Dundee
Photo Location: Peak of Beinn Mhùrlaig Mountain · Arrochar Alps · Argyll, Scotland, United Kingdom
“This photograph was taken on the best hike I have ever been on! I was studying abroad at the University of Dundee for a semester, and this was the first of many Munros (a mountain in Scotland with a height over 3,000 feet) I had the opportunity to summit. The weather conditions on this day were perfect as it was clear and sunny, which is extremely rare in Scotland. What meant the most to me on this day was connecting with my newfound study-abroad friends. Everyone on this summit hike was from a different country, yet we were all together, bonding over our love for the outdoors and the Highlands. I will always remember this day!”

HONORABLE MENTION
“Symmetry” by Gretchen Ellis ’23
Program: The General Course at the London School of Economics and Political Science
Photo Location: Giant’s Causeway · Northern Ireland, United Kingdom
“In Northern Ireland, 40,000 interlocking basalt columns create a beautiful pathway to the sea, known as the Giant’s Causeway. It is named from a legend where the Gaelic Irish giant Fionn Mac Cumhaill challenges a Scottish giant to fight and builds the causeway for protection. Now it is simply a UNESCO World Heritage Site.”

HONORABLE MENTION
“The FCC (Funky Carrot Collection)” by Cassidy Schnell ’23
Program: Environmental Sustainability in Japan
Photo Location: Asian Rural Institute · Tochigi, Nasushiobara, Japan
“When our class stayed at the Asian Rural Institute, an organic farm in Nasushiobara, Japan, we helped out every morning and afternoon with farm chores. As part of Team Vegetable, I helped de-stem and wash hundreds of carrots by hand. We had competitions when sorting the vegetables for who could find the quirkiest-looking carrots. Oftentimes these types of imperfect foods get thrown away, but they’re still perfectly delicious and nutritious. This is a great reminder to opt toward ‘imperfect’ produce when you shop for your groceries!”

HONORABLE MENTION
“Lifta” by Manal Zaman ’24
Program: The Bible in Context: History, Geography, and Culture in Israel and Palestine
“Our group visited Lifta, an abandoned Palestinian village on the outskirts of Jerusalem. We were led through the village by Yacoub, a Palestinian refugee who was forced to flee from Lifta. Yacoub reminisced about the time he spent as a child in this beautiful village, and described the sense of love, hospitality, and volunteerism of his community while he was growing up.”

“A Helping Hand in the Cloud Forest” by Ian Derauf ’23
Program: Global Semester
Photo Location: Santa Lucia Cloud Forest · Ecuador
“Emma gets a helping hand from our guide, Noé, on a rainy hike in the cloud forest of Santa Lucia, Ecuador.”

“Soweto Towers” by Luanga Kasanga ’25
Program: Global Semester
Photo Location: Orlando Power Station · Soweto, South Africa
“This photo was taken at the Orlando Power Station, with the prominent decommissioned Cooling Towers in the background. They form an iconic part of the Soweto skyline, and after seeing them featured in various South African TV shows and movies, I am glad I got to see them in person for the first time!”

“Dancing in the Desert” by Lars Askegaard ’23
Program: Global Semester
Photo Location: Wadi Rum Protected Area, Jordan
“During Global Semester’s visit to Jordan, we stayed in Wadi Rum, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that is home to numerous Bedouin and nomad communities in the southern region of the country. The desert’s rich red sand and rock formations remind its visitors of the Martian landscapes pictured in movies, as Hollywood directors have filmed numerous space odyssey films in Jordan’s ‘Valley of the Moon.’ While on a hike up to the top of a plateau, Freya Gordon ’24 and I performed a dancing lift that we had practiced in salsa class during our previous stay in Quito, Ecuador. We clearly have room for improvement, but are happy to have captured this moment!”

“Agua Fresca” by Andrew Mendez ’25
Program: Puerto Rican Politics and the Environment
Photo Location: Crash Boat Beach · Aguadilla, Puerto Rico
“A day of snorkeling, bridge jumping, and sea fishing.”