The Gimse Study Abroad/Away Photo Contest

About the Gimse Study Abroad/Away Photo Contest

Each year, in February, the Smith Center for Global Engagement office sponsors a photo contest open to all students who have studied abroad/away on St. Olaf international or domestic program during Fall, Fall w/January Term, January Term, Spring w/January Term, Spring, Academic Year, or Summer term.

The Smith Center is pleased to call our photo contest The Gimse Study Abroad/Away Photo Contest in honor of Professor Emeritus Sculptor and Art Historian A. Malcolm (Mac) Gimse ’58 and his wife Jackie. Professor Mac Gimse taught at St. Olaf for 31 years in the Art Department. During that time, they took groups of students (both enrolled college students and Life Long Learning groups) on international study programs twenty times. They led Global Semester three times and the Term in Asia and the Term in the Middle East programs each twice. In addition the Gimses have led nine January Term Programs to European destinations and four Life Long Learning Groups to places all over the globe. Through these programs, Mac and Jackie have led over 500 students, assisting them in achieving an informed global perspective while becoming long-term extended family. An accomplished photographer, Mac took thousands of photos during his travels and used those photos to the benefit of the students who took his art history and architecture classes on campus.

43^rd Annual Gimse Study Abroad/Away Photo Contest Details

CONTEST DATES

CONTEST OPENS: December 12, 2025

SUBMISSION DEADLINES:

Spring 2025 = January 15
Spring 2025 with January Term = January 15
Academic Year 2024-2025 = January 15
Fall 2025 = January 15
Fall 2025 with January Term = January 15
January Term 2026 = March 5
Spring 2026 with January Term = June 15
Spring 2026 = June 15
Academic Year 2025-2026 = June 15

Submit Your Photo(s)

PARTICIPANT ELIGIBILITY:

ENTRY FROM TIME STUDYING ABROAD/AWAY WITH AN SMITH CENTER PROGRAM: The contest is open to all students who have studied abroad/away on St. Olaf International or Domestic programs for the following term dates:

Spring 2025
Spring 2025 w/January Term
Academic Year 2024-2025
Fall 2025
Fall 2025 with January Term
January Term 2026
Spring 2026 with January Term
Spring 2026
Academic Year 2025-2026

ENTRY INFORMATION

NUMBER OF ENTRIES: You may submit up to five entries, each of which should be submitted through the above form.

REQUIRED INFORMATION: Entries must include:

Title of the Photo(s): This will be used when displaying the selected photos and in the St. Olaf Magazine.
A description of the photograph to provide context to the image and for judging purposes (i.e subject of image, anecdote about the image, relation of subject to the study abroad/away program, etc.).
Location photographed (i.e. place/city, landmark/historical site, country)

WHAT MAKES A GOOD PHOTO?: We will be looking for photos which are representative of your study abroad/away experience. The judges especially like to see:

Images that show Oles participating in experiences abroad/away
Photos that are unique to your own experience — beautiful scenery is great, but consider also submitting photos that show the people you are with or the specific activities your group is participating in
Cross-cultural content
Images with high artistic/technical quality

ETHICAL CONSIDERATIONS: Photographs that display unethical content or images that are not sensitive to the host culture/community will not be selected or displayed on the website. We strongly recommend that students review the National Press Photographers Association’s Code of Ethics for recommended guidelines and additional information.

In general, students should consider the following about their submissions:

Does the image respectfully represent, without distortion, the true culture, context, content, or meaning of the subject, host community, and/or host culture?
Is the image sensitive to local culture, norms, customs, etc. – or does it seek to exoticize, distort, or make fun of the local culture, norms, customs, etc?
Would the individual within the photograph be proud of the image?
Did you seek permission from the appropriate individual when taking this photograph? This is especially critical if the image is of a child, an individual with a disability, religious symbols/iconography or individuals who are in the middle of actively practicing their faith (e.g. praying, meditating, etc.), government buildings, symbols, and/or employees. Due to their sensitive nature, we will not accept photographs that include identifying images of children without the expressed written consent of a parent or legal guardian.
Could the image embarrass or expose the individual?

By submitting an image, it is firmly understood that you have understood and complied with the above ethical considerations.

JUDGING CRITERIA:

If interested, the rubric for judging can be found here.

PARTICIPANT RESPONSIBILITY/LIABILITY:

By submitting an entry, you give the Smith Center for Global Engagement at St. Olaf College and the College permission to display and share your entry and accompanying details. Your final submission also gives St. Olaf College and the Smith Center for Global Engagement the right to reproduce the entry, in part or in full, for use in college publications or in any other non‑commercial manner. All photographs will become part of the St. Olaf College Archives. The Smith Center for Global Engagement will be responsible for producing enlargements, mounting them, and setting up the exhibition displaying contest entries. The finished enlargements will become the property of the Smith Center for Global Engagement/St. Olaf College. Photographers/submitters will not receive a printed/mounted copy of their photo.