51萝莉

Published April 9, 2018

Twice in one month, University听of听Louisiana Monroe student Siddharth Gaulee has won a prestigious contest for student photography.听

In early March, he won third place in the Audience category at the College Media Association Conference for an image he took during a protest in New York City. Gaulee was recently notified that the photo went on to win first place in the Adviser and Professional category.

March 7-11, Gaulee and fellow members听of听The Hawkeye staff attended the CMA conference in the Big Apple. Gaulee, The Hawkeye鈥檚 art director, was assigned with 22 other students to hit the streets and take a representative photo听of听New York.

鈥淲e were supposed to capture a scene听of听New York. There was an International Women鈥檚 Day march and I though it represented all the revolutions and movements听of听New York,鈥� Gaulee said.

鈥淭here were people and signs, but I knew I had to set my photos apart,鈥� he said.

There was a ruckus at the rear听of听the march and following his instincts, Gaulee headed in that direction.

鈥淭here was a woman holding a 鈥楩or Trump鈥� sign and there was an altercation. Then it turned out she had a weapon and the police came,鈥� he said听of听the incident in Washington Square Park. 鈥淚t was not the best photo听of听the day, but I wanted to tell the story without someone having to read the caption.鈥�

As a winner in the Audience category, Gaulee got to visit with professional photographers who were providing constructive criticism and also judging the photos for the Professional category.

鈥淭hat was very cool. I got to talk to photographers from the New York Times and New York Daily News,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 was super proud. One听of听the professional photographers said I have an eye for photojournalism, not just a news shot.鈥�

As it turns out, the other professional judges agreed and named him the first-place winner听of听the contest. The prize is that his photo will be the cover on next year鈥檚 conference folder.

Winning at CMA was one听of听Gaulee鈥檚 goals for 2018 鈥� he even listed it on his New Year鈥檚 resolutions. Gaulee also wanted to thank two people who have encouraged and helped in with his photography and digital media.

鈥淚 want to give a shout out to Srjdan Marjanovic, creative director, and digital media editor Emerald McIntyre. They are always so receptive and so helpful. I don鈥檛 have a photography class. They are my mentors,鈥� he said.

Gaulee is a junior听communications major studying digital media and production. He is from Nepal and Jacksonville, Fla.