In Michaelmas Term of 2022, the Archives Centre held a competition for photographs of Churchill College curated by current undergraduates and postgraduates.
The following images are a selection of the impressive entries we received. Popular themes included nature and wildlife on campus, the college’s distinctive brutalist architecture, and the college grounds as a social space.
Student Photography at Churchill College
Anna Yiu, Music, 2022
Some of these photographs will be featured in the foyer of the Wolfson Hall, Churchill College’s lecture theatre and event space, which will soon be renovated with new display panels reflecting the college’s rich history since its founding in 1958.
Digital copies will also be preserved in the College Archives, which contain items documenting our origins, culture, and administration. This amounts to hundreds of boxes and many digital items, and grows every year.
Titles and captions by students. Years refer to students’ year of matriculation.
Viviana Gong Miao, Economics, 2021
‘Churchill at first sight’
Viviana Gong Miao, Economics, 2021
When this photo was taken in 2018, I had just started my postgraduate study at Cambridge. I had no idea of the incredible journey that awaited me, but my intuition told me that I was in for a great experience. Now looking back, I want to add to that: this is going to be your happiest time in life.
Kechun (Katrina) Li, Master and PhD in Theoretical and Applied Linguistics, 2018
Photographer: Ruoxi Liu
This is my most familiar shelf in the college library - All about linguistics! The shelves underwent reshuffling during the summer of 2022 and I was catching up with my old friends in their new place.
Kechun (Katrina) Li, Master and PhD in Theoretical and Applied Linguistics, 2018
Photographer: Jian Cui
Ellie Vitanov, Computer Science, 2021
Lena Alfter, Musicology PhD, 2022
It can be difficult to capture a butterfly on camera without a fast shutter, but given patience and time (both necessary in lockdown), you can grab a lovely shot when they take a moment to spread their wings.
Soren Hough, Biochemistry PhD, 2019
This duckling was separated from its mother and its fellows, unable to jump up the ledge to join them on the grass. It took some doing, but the duckling eventually rejoined the family.
Soren Hough, Biochemistry PhD, 2019
The rule of threes can be difficult to follow with plants, but this tree helpfully provided its branch as a triad.
Soren Hough, Biochemistry PhD, 2019
‘Newlyweds’
Miriam Eley, Engineering, 2021
Miriam Eley, Engineering, 2021
‘Nocturnal sun’
Miriam Eley, Engineering, 2021
‘Dancing people’
There's something about the way the light hits the folds of an elaborate flower... Georgia O'Keefe was onto something when she said, "…in a way—nobody sees a flower—really—it is so small—we haven’t time—and to see takes time like to have a friend takes time."
Soren Hough, Biochemistry PhD, 2019
In the silence of an almost empty Churchill campus, the jays began a bold reclamation of Wolfson Flats. Who knows — it was probably theirs before it was ever ours.
Soren Hough, Biochemistry PhD, 2019
Simon Luo, Computer Science, 2021
Felt like coming home, arriving back at college after a long autumnal evening spent on Grantchester meadows.
Benjamin Schwabe, Natural Sciences: Chemistry, 2019
The full catalogue for the College Archives can be found here.
These photographs will be preserved in CCPH, the Photograph and Audio-Visual Collection, containing items ranging from 1920 to 2022.
With thanks to all participants.