2024-25 Bing Overseas Studies Photo Contest

Source: https://bosp.stanford.edu/2024-25-bing-overseas-studies-photo-contest Parent: https://bosp.stanford.edu/bosp-photo-contest

Each year, BOSP receives hundreds of photo submissions from students in our quarter-length programs and global seminars. These images capture students’ distinctive study-away experiences—from academic exploration to breathtaking natural and urban scenery, as well as local customs and traditions. Explore this year’s winning photos and honorable mentions here, along with the image descriptions below. Images 1–10 (top to bottom).

Photo Contest Winners & Honorable Mentions (from top to bottom)

1. From Constantinople to Bologna by Danielle Gonzalez-Gaubeka

Academic Pursuit Winner, Florence, 2024-25\ "A class visit for our history course on Italy and the Islamic Mediterranean took us to the Università di Bologna, the world's oldest university in continuous operation since the 11th century. In the library’s archives, we examined historic manuscripts authored by Italian scholars in the Ottoman Empire, bringing our course material to life."

2. Snorkeling with the Turtles by Erika Tande Hill

Academic Pursuit Honorable Mention, Australia, 2024-25\ "One of many sunrise snorkels on the Great Barrier Reef, where we crossed paths with green sea turtles, rays, and reef sharks. After decades of protection, the species is now listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List."

3. Fork of Vevey by Shree Ghosh

Bing Trip Winner, Paris, 2024-25\ "This was taken on the Bing trip to French-speaking territory in Switzerland. The absurdity of the fork in such a beautiful landscape was this physical manifestation of how I viewed the opportunity of going abroad. It was a privilege to continue my Stanford education while being exposed to the wonders of the world. I saw myself in the Fork of Vevey."

4. Amid England's Rolling Hills by Kaitlyn Leitherer

Bing Trip Honorable Mention, Oxford, 2024-25\ "On one of our first weekends in Oxford, we went on a Bing trip to Devon where we had a stop at King Arthur's castle in Tintagel (tin-tah-jell). I love this photo because I believe it captures the blur and beauty of study abroad. Your thoughts move faster than your steps as you try to make sense of new places. It's a kind of forward motion into unfamiliarity and exploration! And the best part is that you don't get to do it alone. Amid cliffs and coastlines, you're swept into new friendships and memories. The photographer is Natalie Shtangrud! The two photographed are Kaitlyn Leitherer and Nadia Chung."

5. Still (Scottish) Reeling by Kaitlyn Leitherer

Cultures, Customs, and Traditions Winner, Oxford, 2024-25\ "I made a close friend during my time at Oxford, and one day he asked if I was up for a challenge: in three weeks, I’d be his guest at the Oxford Caledonian Society’s Scottish Reeling Ball. I’d have to learn 12 traditional dances, with 200 people in a grand ballroom. Reeling is fast-paced Celtic linedancing done in groups of six. You glide through figure eights, ducking under arms and legs, while being spun and twirled. There would be hours of dancing, then an intermission at Midnight for breakfast of beans, meat, and whiskey, then back to dancing! Most attendees had grown up with it. I had three weeks and zero coordination. It ended up being one of the best nights of my life. I was definitely seeing stars after six hours of nonstop spinning, but also Emma Watson was actually in attendance! Trying to figure out when I’ll ever get to reel again. (I'm the one in the middle! Photographer is Coco Cottam)"

6. El Rastro de Madrid 2 by Bryant Mendez Melchor

Cultures, Customs, and Traditions Honorable Mention, Madrid, 2024-25\ "Walking through the Madrid Rastro was like stepping into a living palette. Every stall overflowed with color—lost art, textiles, quirky trinkets—all arranged with a kind of accidental artistry. There was so much beauty in what others had discarded, a reminder that value can be found in the stories things carry and the creativity they inspire when given a second life."

7. Up Close and Personal by Emma Klemperer

Photo Favorite Winner, Australia, 2024-25\ "I took this photo in Lamington National Park, one of our stops for our Terrestrial Ecology course. I fell in love with entomology during this class and enjoyed exploring the smaller side of life. This wasp was just one of the many bugs I came across!"

8. Laundry Day by Bryant Mendez Melchor

Photo Favorite Honorable Mention, Madrid, 2024-25\ "On a weekend trip to Barcelona, some people from our cohort wandered from the Gothic Quarter to La Sagrada Familia. We passed a residential building where every balcony was hung with laundry swaying gently in the sunlight. The colors caught my eye first, a quiet mosaic of ordinary life. And yet, there wasn’t a single person outside. In that moment, the building felt both full and empty at once: full of movement and presence through the clothes themselves, yet empty of the people who made that life. It was a strange kind of intimacy, seeing lives suspended in the air, visible yet unseen."

9. Stargazing at the Edge of the Reef by Erika Tande Hil

Urban and Natural World Winner, Australia, 2024-25\ "A cloudless night on Heron Island. After a long day of fieldwork on the Great Barrier Reef, our cohort gathered on the jetty to stargaze as the Milky Way rose over the dock. We all gazed skyward and sat together in silence and awe. It was a moment of quiet connection."

10. Dolphin Watching by Erika Tande Hil

Urban and Natural World Honorable Mention, Australia, 2024-25\ "An aerial shot from a special hike on Minjerribah. If you zoom in, you can see our whole cohort on the rocks, watching the water. We spotted seven dolphins that day!"