Winner of First Medwards Photo Competition Announced!

Congratulations to Sara Misku, who has been named winner of the inaugural Medwards Photo Competition! Her winning photograph, titled MEGP, will be displayed in the Art Café, alongside works by other brilliant artists like Tracy Emin!

Our panel of judges, including award-winning photographer, Michael Meredith, and members of the Senior Leadership and Communications Teams narrowed down 40 entries to a shortlist of just eight images. MEGP was then selected as the winner by Head Judge, and Acting President, Rachel Polonsky.

Rachel Polonsky shared why Sara’s photograph was her winner, writing:

“As a college that proudly makes its own traditions, we celebrate our students as they reshape and redefine the Cambridge experience. Sara’s subject – the Murray Edwards Garden Party – feels unmistakably ours, and captures the freedom, joy, and unbridled creativity at the heart of our community.”

Guest Judge, Michael Meredith, also praised MEGP, describing it as “pure joyous fun!” He added:

“If you asked someone what colour characterises Medwards’ architecture, many would say “grey”, so it’s great to see a combination of natural and human-made lights bathing the college in such vivid shades.”

Sara was astonished to find out she had won the competition, sharing:

"Winning is such a surprise and delight! This photo was a fleeting, unplanned moment and I loved how it captured the spirit of Murray Edwards Garden Party. All the entries were incredible and I'm honoured that my photo resonated with the judges."

She looks forward to seeing her work on display later this term.

We were thrilled by the exceptionally high quality of photographs submitted for this year’s competition. Our panel found the judging process incredibly difficult and wanted to share feedback for some of their favourite entries below.

Isobel and Chloe stood out with their compelling black and white film photographs. Isobel reflected the unique lines of light and shadow created by our modernist college architecture by staging her models in monochrome, structural outfits. Chloe used her greyscale technique to challenge our understanding of beauty, reinventing unusual or overlooked areas of college into unexpectedly striking backdrops.

Sara chose a candid style of photography, that received high praise from guest judge Professor Michael Meredith. Sara’s entries captured moments of joy shared between friends, with the relaxed poses and authentic laughter of her subjects inviting the viewer to celebrate the exhilaration of the everyday.

Amelia, Andriana and Akshita’s entries suggested a wonderful sense of movement that playfully represented our vibrant and busy college community. From billowing gowns to blowing out birthday candles, the figures in these photographs feel so full of life that they might just start moving!

Paavni captured the powerfully supportive relationship between student and college in her photographs. Paavni’s use of colour subtly connects celebrating figures to the flowering college grounds around them, almost suggesting that the garden itself a participant in the celebration. The natural world becomes a beautiful metaphor for the ways college echoes and enhances the ambitions of our students.

Teia’s entries ingeniously used an absence of figures to evoke the theme of community. Her focus on empty chairs, invites us to supply the people who should be sitting there, with each viewer imagining their own community of friends, fellows, or colleagues.

Grace focused on natural light in the Medwards Gardens, with streaming sunbeams creating a sense of hopeful freshness that perfectly captures Lent Term. In contrast, it’s the light glowing from inside college that represents ‘home’ in Hanniya’s photograph, with the warm tones representing the comfort and safety you feel when you return to a place where you belong. 

Our judges were particularly impressed by the camera techniques used by Emilia and Akanksha. Emilia used a vintage wash to give her photograph of matriculation an instantly nostalgic feel, whereas Akanksha used reflections to capture a truly unique image of Fountain Court and the Library simultaneously. 

Two photographers demonstrated a remarkable ability to maintain the integrity of colour in their photographs. The judges were blown away by the glorious oranges and pinks in Markey’s ‘Medwards Sunset’ and Zara’s vibrant blue water was both eye-catching and true to life in her bright snapshot of Fountain Court.

Special thanks to our brilliant judges and all the students who entered their wonderful, thought-provoking photos. Keep an eye out for this year's competition!