Pulitzer Center Update

Celebrating the 2nd Annual DCPS Study Abroad Photography Contest

October 10, 2017 | Education news
By
Brieanna Iyomahan
DC Study Abroad Contest finalists stand with their photographs at a reception on September 26, 2017. All contest finalists received framed prints of their winning photographs and captions. Image by Fareed Mostoufi. United States, 2017.

All the finalists received framed prints of their winning photographs and captions. Image by Fareed Mostoufi. United States, 2017.

"Sometimes we waste time studying inauthentic things, not realizing we have the work right in front of us." Image and text by Kyree Allen. France, 2017. A picture of an Eiffel Tower toy in front of the real Eiffel Tower.

"Sometimes we waste time studying inauthentic things, not realizing we have the work right in front of us." Image  and text by Kyree Allen. France, 2017.

A child sits on top of a tall pole. "To me this picture represents the hope of a bright and better future for the Senegalese kids. Upon visiting NdjiaNdjia, a village in Senegal, I couldn't help but notice that most kids were uneducated because they barely had enough schools to accommodate all of them and in addition to that at a certain grade level the kids would have to drop out because there are no advanced school grades. Nevertheless this picture shows high aiming and being satisfied when you reach the top." Image and text by Perpetua Nkem. Senegal, 2017.

"To me this picture represents the hope of a bright and better future for the Senegalese kids. Upon visiting NdjiaNdjia, a village in Senegal, I couldn't help but notice that most kids were uneducated because they barely had enough schools to accommodate all of them and in addition to that at a certain grade level the kids would have to drop out because there are no advanced school grades. Nevertheless this picture shows high aiming and being satisfied when you reach the top." Image and text by Perpetua Nkem. Senegal, 2017.

"In this photo, we are coming upon a massive, colorful church by Masaya Volcano. The vibrant colors of the church contrast with the dark, stormy clouds that approach to water the land. Nicaraguan citizens, as well as tourists and students in the DCPS Study Abroad trip, are in the picture. The photo was taken in Granada, Nicaragua on June 25th. This moment is important because it is a point of Nicaraguan architecture, one we can admire and appreciate for the style and culture." Image and text by Anthony Robinson. Nicaragua, 2017. 

"In this photo, we are coming upon a massive, colorful church by Masaya Volcano. The vibrant colors of the church contrast with the dark, stormy clouds that approach to water the land. Nicaraguan citizens, as well as tourists and students in the DCPS Study Abroad trip, are in the picture. The photo was taken in Granada, Nicaragua on June 25th. This moment is important because it is a point of Nicaraguan architecture, one we can admire and appreciate for the style and culture." Image and text by Anthony Robinson. Nicaragua, 2017. 

"Ominous rain clouds sweep across a Parisian sky. The glass pyramid of the Louvre rises up to meet the storm." Image and text by Liam Kennedy. France, 2017.

"Ominous rain clouds sweep across a Parisian sky. The glass pyramid of the Louvre rises up to meet the storm." Image and text by Liam Kennedy. France, 2017.

An image of a forest and the cloudy sky above it. "This picture was taken when we were driving through the cloud forest in Quito, Ecuador." Image and text by Damaris Medina. Ecuador, 2017.

"This picture was taken when we were driving through the cloud forest in Quito, Ecuador." Image and text by Damaris Medina. Ecuador, 2017. 

"A long day of play leaves this sea lion tired as he takes a nap on the benches in Isabela island, located in the Galápagos." Image and text by Sierra Lewter. Galapagos Islands, 2017.

"A long day of play leaves this sea lion tired as he takes a nap on the benches in Isabela island, located in the Galápagos." Image and text by Sierra Lewter. Galapagos Islands, 2017.

Image of a bridge in China. This bridge is decorated with red ribbon. "Determination will lead you to explore new culture, history and natural scenery. What more could I ask for? Arriving at the top of Mount Qingcheng was not easy but totally worth it. There were times when my legs would let me down, and I began to feel weak hiking up the mountain and walking up so many stairs. I did not let that stop me though, I continued to push myself because I knew that I would never be given the same opportunity again in life and I needed to take advantage of every single moment." Image and text by Dianna Lazo. China, 2017.

"Determination will lead you to explore new culture, history and natural scenery. What more could I ask for? Arriving at the top of Mount Qingcheng was not easy but totally worth it. There were times when my legs would let me down, and I began to feel weak hiking up the mountain and walking up so many stairs. I did not let that stop me though, I continued to push myself because I knew that I would never be given the same opportunity again in life and I needed to take advantage of every single moment." Image and text by Dianna Lazo. China, 2017.

An image of a young girl chasing a pigeon. "While building a wall may be a priority to some in America, others can still seek and find the rising future of this world on another coast...Spain." Image and text by Michelle Vasquez. Spain, 2017.

"While building a wall may be a priority to some in America, others can still seek and find the rising future of this world on another coast...Spain." Image and text by Michelle Vasquez. Spain, 2017.

"This girl was trying to sell us key chains and accessories. She was dressed in the normal way indigenous locals dressed." Image and text by Dorothy Francis. Peru, 2017.

"This girl was trying to sell us key chains and accessories. She was dressed in the normal way indigenous locals dressed." Image and text by Dorothy Francis. Peru, 2017.

"The photo is of a carousel at pause, the perspective taken from the angle and viewpoint of a child. The photo evokes a feeling of familiarity and innocent excitement of something cherished as a child." Image and text by Kaniz Fatema. National Harbor, 2017.

"The photo is of a carousel at pause, the perspective taken from the angle and viewpoint of a child. The photo evokes a feeling of familiarity and innocent excitement of something cherished as a child." Image and text by Kaniz Fatema. National Harbor, 2017.

Peter DiCampo, co-creator of Everday Africa, spoke to the finalists and their families about his experiences as a photojournalist. Image by Fareed Mostoufi. United States, 2017.

Peter DiCampo, co-creator of Everday Africa, speaks to the contest finalists and their families about his experiences as a photojournalist. Image by Fareed Mostoufi. United States, 2017.

Framed images taken by finalists of the 2017 DC Study Abroad Photography Contest were displayed throughout the receptin for families and Pulitzer Center staff to view. Image by Chuck Kennedy. United States, 2017.

On Sept. 26, 19 middle and high school students from across District of Columbia Public Schools (DCPS) gathered with their families at the Pulitzer Center to have their work celebrated at a special reception.

These students were finalists from the 2nd installment of the DCPS Study Abroad Photo Contest, which was designed by Pulitzer Center and the Global Studies department at DCPS to celebrate photography by students participating in the DCPS Study Abroad program. The program, which is now entering its third year, provides 8th and 11th grade students in DCPS the opportunity to travel locally and abroad. This year, nearly 400 students traveled abroad to over one dozen cities to study language and culture. Before their departure at the beginning of the summer, students met with Pulitzer Center staff and journalists to review techniques for  taking captivating photographs and pairing them with informative and insightful captions. The curriculum utilizes reporting from Pulitzer Center-supported projects like the Out of Eden Walk and Everyday Africa.

Upon returning from their study abroad locations, students were then challenged to submit some of the photographs they took, and the meaningful captions that accompany them, to the Pulitzer Center for consideration. The Pulitzer Center received an increase in submissions from last year, but was able to narrow the submissions down to 27 finalists.

At the reception for finalists, students connected with other peers who had studied abroad and shared the thought processes and experiences behind their photographs. Students then heard from photojournalist Peter DiCampo, co-founder of the viral Instagram feed Everyday Africa. During his presentation, students learned that DiCampo also discovered photojournalism as a study abroad participant. DiCampo described how he was able to transform his experiences into powerful photos that show the varied experiences of people within a nation beyond the sensational headlines and labels that are usually assigned to them. These experiences combined with his work as a photojournalist led to him co-create the Everyday Africa Instagram feed, which is dedicated to depicting everyday life in the continent.

This concept of revealing the different realities and experiences to the viewer resonated with participants like Duke Ellington School of the Arts student Kyree Allen, who studied abroad in France. While in France, Allen took a picture that focused on a toy Eiffel Tower while the real Eiffel Tower was depicted out of focus a few feet behind. This purposeful arrangement and his caption, which read, “Sometimes we waste time studying inauthentic things, not realizing we have the work right in front of us,” allowed Kyree to emphasize to his audience that, “not everything we see is what we should believe in.” During the reception he gave more background on his photo and said, “We spend so much time looking at the fake things and not really enjoying the realness of the moment.”

Allen’s work, and the exceptional work of 10 of the finalists, can be found in the slideshow above this article. Below are the names of all 27 finalists, who were selected by Pulitzer Center staff and their work can be viewed here.

 

2017 DCPS Study Abroad Photography Contest Finalists:

Troy Williams, Dunbar HS

Nicaragua

Anthony Robinson, Duke Ellington School of the Arts

Nicaragua

Giullo Lacoviello

La-Mancha, Spain

Ally Han, School without Walls

China

Liam Kennedy, Alice Deal MS

Paris, France

Kyree Allen, Duke Ellington School of the Arts

Paris, France

Dearra Hart, Eastern Senior HS

Nicaragua

Perpetua Nkem, Bell Multicultural HS

Senegal

Damaris Medina, District of Columbia International

Quito, Ecuador

Sydney Hill, McKinley Technology HS

Barcelona, Spain

Emilia Majersik, Wilson HS

Ecuador

Nakya Carethers, Duke Ellington School of the Arts

Peru

Ying Chen, School without Walls

Spain

Sierra Lewter, Benjamin Banneker Academic HS

Spain

Betelhem Assefa, McKinley Technology HS

Guatemala

Dwayne Fralin, Duke Ellington School of the Arts

Guatemala

Dianna Lazo, McKinley Tech HS

China

Kendall Barratt, Duke Ellington School of the Arts

China

Ziaire Beckham, Woodrow Wilson HS

Chendu, China

Nishi Mehta, Hardy MS

Spain

Lamrot Jinfessa, Raymond Education Campus

Ecuador

Michelle Vasquez, Duke Ellington School of the Arts

Barcelona, Spain

Dorothy Francis, Duke Ellington School of the Arts

Peru

Ray Vincent De Jesus, Benjamin Banneker Academic HS

New York

Kaniz Fatema, Duke Ellington School of the Arts

National Harbor

Amani Green, Thurgood Marshall Academy

Dominican Republic