ECS students cast a fresh eye on Southampton

The City of Southampton played a starring and often inspirational role in the first Photography Competition organized in the School of Electronics and Computer Science.

The competition attracted 250 entries from staff and students in the School, submitting work in four categories: Southampton, the Highfield Campus, ECS research and project work, and life in ECS.

The quality of photographs was extremely high and the subject-matter surprisingly varied. Students had gone to a lot of trouble to get exactly the right angle and lighting, and, since many of the students were international students, they were approaching the City and the Campus with a ‘fresh eye’. The docks were a favourite subject, as was the Itchen River and the Common. Autumn colours on the Highfield Campus made for some stunning images, and some of the University’s architectural strengths also proved popular. Student life provided some of the most amusing images: students on a Unilink bus in fancy dress, Christmas parties, and diversions in the labs were among some of the subjects chosen.

The competition was judged by photographer Russell Sach, who awarded five prizes and commendations in each of the four categories, with special prizes also awarded to the best photographs from a first-year student and an MSc student.

Many of the photographs have already appeared in the School’s brochures and marketing publications. This image of 'Freedom of the Seas' was taken by Dr Jessie Hey.