During its first 50 years of formalized study abroad offerings, Beloit has sent more than 4,000 students to 93 countries. Many of these students made photographs that they’ve been able to share over the last several years in a semi-annual photo contest orchestrated by Beloit’s Office of International Education. From grand landscapes to intricate interiors, from the shores of Brittany, France, to the mountains of central Tibet, the selections that follow seem to say “Happy Anniversary, Beloit College Study Abroad” in a language all their own.

"The Berlin Bubble," Berlin, Germany. First Prize, Fall 2010

“A man was blowing huge bubbles that floated around the street. I snapped this picture of one bubble’s soapy surface reflecting the old architecture of a building behind me,”  says photographer Elise Wall’11.

"The Walk Back: Oyster Fishing on the Coast of Brittany," Brittany, France. First Prize, Fall 2008

“I went fishing for oysters with my host mother one weekend, not knowing exactly what fishing for oysters entails. The experience involved getting stuck in the mud and walking several miles through low tide in the rain. Here we are, plunder in hand, headed back towards the shore,” says photographer Anna Meyer’09.

"Quito Bebes," Quito, Ecuador. Honorable Mention, Spring 2006

“These are my host nieces who I lived with in Quito. One day, they came home from school with their faces painted as part of an Independence Day celebration. They fought all the time, so this was a rare moment when they posed for a picture,” says Kelsey Sheridan’06.

"Four's a Crowd," Nimbin, Australia. First Prize, Fall 2006

“These four were in a gutter overflow pipe at a farm stay during a sustainability and environment program,” says Matthew Miller’07.

"Climbing the Great Wall of China," Jinan Shandong, People's Republic of China. First Place, Spring 2009

“This photo was taken on the Great Wall, on a section called Simatai, which has had very few repairs and, in some parts, was a treacherous hike. In this photo, I wanted to show one of the patrol towers up close. However, by having the Great Wall scaling the mountains, I was attempting to depict the awe that one feels when climbing it,” says Emily Peterson’10.

"A Sea of Prayer (Flags)," Drak Yerpa, U-Tsang, Tibet. Student Choice, Spring 2008

“This picture was taken on Drak Yerpa, a mountain in Central Tibet and one of the holiest places in the Tibetan Buddhist world. Two of Tibet’s greatest historical figures, Songsten Gampo, the first Buddhist king of unified Tibet, and Padmasambhava, the man credited with spreading Buddhism to Tibet, meditated in caves near the summit. Pilgrims hike to these caves to pray in the same place as their spiritual idols. As they climb to the summit, they hang prayer flags to spread luck and good fortune for all beings on this earth,” says Ross Koenigs’08.

"Volantes del Cielo," Sevilla, Spain. First Prize, Fall 2007

“Every spring, Sevilla’s residents construct a city of tents (casetas). Far from being simple, each tent includes plumbing, electricity, a bar (for food and drink), dance area, tables with seating, and bathrooms. They are elaborately decorated, as in this photo I took of a group of women and a curious girl sitting inside a caseta. Despite such modern facilities, the overwhelming traditional atmosphere of the fairgrounds is like revisiting southern Spain during the 1800s. Nearly all natives, regardless of age, wear traditional flamenco attire and spend the week socializing, dancing Sevillanas, a flamenco-type dance, and riding through the fairgrounds in horse-drawn carriages,” says Lorin Jones’07.