Join us for Homecoming!
October 18-20
See the schedule

SCM Studio and Planet Club co-host photo Faceoff Gallery

April 28, 2011
By cnp
Posted in Student Organizations

Someone once said a picture is worth a thousand words. This was certainly the case during the U of O's recent Earth Week festivities, when a photo competition and gallery co-sponsored by Ozarks' SCM Studio and Planet Club showed off the talents of many of Ozarks' shutterbugs.

“The Photography Faceoff Gallery was something SCM Studio had originally planned to have in March,” said SCM Studio President Andrea Dankert. “When we found out that Planet Club was having a photo gallery as part of their Earth Week festival, we suggested collaborating. That worked out great. Since SCM Studio mainly practices advertising and PR with other groups, this was a great opportunity for us to practice our event planning skills. After Planet Club agreed, we decided to add a nature theme to the gallery itself.”

Photo Faceoff Gallery" src='data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns=%22http://www.w3.org/2000/svg%22%20viewBox=%220%200%20210%20140%22%3E%3C/svg%3E' data-src=

SCM Studio President Andrea Dankert shows off some of the photographs on display during the SCM Studio/Planet Club’s Faceoff Photo Gallery during the recent Earth Week festivities. The gallery exhibited dozens of beautiful photographs submitted by Ozarks’ photographers.

Dankert said the group decided to offer three prizes for a “nature section” of photo submissions, funded by Planet Club – $75 for first, $50 for 2nd, $25 for 3rd – with an additional $25 prize for the “general category.”

The winners were as follows:

  • Stephanie Cloud 1st place – Nature Category $75
  • Melody Teo 2nd place - Nature Category $50
  • Matthew Friant 3rd place – Nature Category $25
  • Melody Cochran 1st place – General Category $25

“While stumbling onto a group of butterflies, I’ve found that beauty is in the details of nature,” said 1st place winner Stephanie Cloud. “I was thrilled to capture a photo that allowed people to see the intricate detail of each butterfly and the beauty of the group as a whole.”

Butterflies by Stephanie Cloud" src='data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns=%22http://www.w3.org/2000/svg%22%20viewBox=%220%200%20210%20140%22%3E%3C/svg%3E' data-src=

First Place in the nature category was awarded to Stephanie Cloud for her photograph of a group of swallowtail butterflies.

Melody Teo’s thoughts on her 2nd place prizewinning entry were humorous and insightful: “That photo was taken when I was on a plane. I have always been fascinated (even somewhat obsessed) with the sky, so it was one of the MANY pictures of the sky that I have. Haha. Winning was on my mind, but more than anything I just really wanted to share the pictures that I had taken with other people. I had a blast looking at the pictures that all the other participants had turned in.”

Clouds by Melody Teo" src='data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns=%22http://www.w3.org/2000/svg%22%20viewBox=%220%200%20210%20140%22%3E%3C/svg%3E' data-src=

Second place winner in the nature category was Melody Teo’s photograph of clouds at sunset.

“When I first saw the contest I jumped on it and was very excited to submit a photo into the nature category,” said 3rd place winner Matthew Friant. “Wildlife and landscape photography is one of my biggest hobbies, and to have a contest like this with a nature category was a lot of fun. Just seeing the talent that I wasn’t even aware of right around me was really cool too.”

The Frog by Matthew Friant" src='data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns=%22http://www.w3.org/2000/svg%22%20viewBox=%220%200%20210%20140%22%3E%3C/svg%3E' data-src=

Matthew Friant took third place in the nature category with this photograph of a tiny frog.

Melody Cochran, who won 1st place in the general category, agreed. “I am just glad that people enjoy looking at my photographs as much as I enjoy taking them. Photography has turned out to be a pretty successful hobby for me!”

Photo by Melody Cochran" src='data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns=%22http://www.w3.org/2000/svg%22%20viewBox=%220%200%20210%20140%22%3E%3C/svg%3E' data-src=

The winner in the ‘General’ category was this photograph by Melody Cochran.

The Faceoff Gallery brought in close to 100 entries.  “We got some very impressive submissions,” Dankert said. “Dr. Sharon Gorman, a wonderful nature photographer herself, judged the nature category, and both SCM and Planet Club members judged the general winner. It was a hard decision because there were so many wonderful photographs.”

Dankert said they wanted a “nice gallery feel,” which she felt was accomplished. “We put it in a small, intimate gallery space overlooking the television studio. Over 100 students showed up to view the entries!”

The SCM Studio’s purpose is to enhance Strategic Communication majors’ educational experiences through helping other organizations plan and promote campus events while Planet Club is a student organization geared toward environmental awareness.

Topics: