Nicole Raphael Named Finalist in Photography Contest

by Carissa Hernandes
2.14.07

The afternoon drifts away as senior Nicole Raphael drives around Omaha. She is looking for a good place to take pictures of the landscape that is now blanketed with snow. Suddenly she sees the perfect shot and reaches for her camera.

This is a common occurrence for Raphael, who has a passion for photography. This passion has led Raphael is to be named a finalist in the Photographer’s Forum’s Best of 2008 College Photography contest, a contest is open to high school and college photographers from around the world.

Photographer’s Forum is a quarterly magazine that commits itself to creating communication and publishing experiences among budding photographers. Raphael was first introduced to the contest by her art teacher.

“The thing that stood out to me was that she expressed a real passion for photography,” art teacher Cindy Cronn said. “When someone shows that much drive and passion for something that is half the battle.”

To become a finalist, Raphael had to beat out about 14,000 people and be in the top 5 percent of all submissions. All finalists get a picture in the Best of College Photography Annual 2008. The top prizes of $3,000 and two Nikon cameras will be awarded to the first and second place winners.

Raphael had to send in a portfolio of pictures to the judges that showcased her best work. She sent in a variety of pictures including one of a Chinese man playing an instrument, one of a brick arch in Barcelona and one of the Titan football team out under the lights on a Friday night.

In her sophomore year, her friend, Kyle, introduced her to the world of photography. He was heavily involved and encouraged her to pursue her interests.
 Raphael said that the world around her has inspired her work. She has traveled to Spain, Hawaii and many other places and has taken pictures everywhere she has gone. She also admires the work of other photographers.

“Sometimes I buy magazines and not read a single word,” Raphael said. “I just look at all the pictures and the ads. Also I’ll watch ‘American’s Next Top Model’ and look at all the great photos.”

Raphael is already looking forward to her future as an emerging photographer.

“I am dreaming big,” she said. “I want to join the staff of a big fashion magazine like Elle, Cosmopolitan or Vogue.”

She plans on going to Morningside Collage in Sioux City, Iowa and majoring in photography.