It’s amazing what you can see through a camera lens. It’s even more amazing what you can see when you take a step back from the lens and give the world around you a good look. That’s the lesson we learned from Megan Gilbert, a student at Iowa State University, an alumna of ISA’s French Language and Liberal Arts program at the Institute Catholique de Paris, and an ISA Featured Blogger. Not only has Megan spent the semester sharing with us stories and photos of her life in Paris; she also gave us some insights into her winning photos, “La Nouvelle Vague du Touisme,” which won the Tales of the City Category, and “Horsing Around,” the winner in the Wildlife category.
“Living in Paris for an extended period of time, it could be easy to dismiss the charm of the city, but as the last light of day disappears over the horizon behind the Eiffel Tower, a spell hangs in the air. As thousands of dazzling lights illuminate the structure, there is no denying the city’s magic. When I finally pulled my eyes away, I realized that I was surrounded by a sea of phones. Many have forgotten how to live in a moment because they’re more focused on preserving it.”
“As I traveled the steep, winding roads of Iceland, I was overwhelmed by the sheer beauty of the country. The mountains, glaciers, black sand beaches, waterfalls, geothermal pools; all of it. Past another bend in the road, a herd of wild horses grazed on the banks of a small stream. When my group stopped to take photos, this horse walked right up to me to check out my camera.”
Thank you so much, Megan, for helping us stop and take a look at the world around us!
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