Taking Flight

While participating in Lewis & Clark’s overseas study program to India, Ella Bock BA ’19 captured an extraordinary moment of birds in flight.

“The day I took the photo, I had gotten up early to arrive at the Ganges in Varanasi with my host family around 7 a.m.,” Bock recalls. “We went out with lots of little crackers to throw in the water and feed the birds. Each time we did, the boat was swarmed by dozens of seagulls. It was fun, busy, and exciting, so I took lots of pictures. Since I was using my film camera, I didn’t see this particular shot until months later.”

At the urging of her father, who, like the rest of the family, is a regular reader of the Washington Post, Bock decided to submit her photo to their annual travel photo contest. Out of more than 1,000 entries, she nabbed third place. Her image was also the winner of the “Essence of the Host City” category in Lewis & Clark’s 2018 International Photo Contest, sponsored by the Office of Overseas and Off-Campus Programs.

“This picture is a reminder of a giggly, joyful moment that I got to share with an amazing host family that had welcomed me into their home,” says Bock. “The whole experience was so special and incredible.”