The year at 小福利导航 through my lens
If you鈥檝e been to any event at 小福利导航, you鈥檝e probably seen Staff Photographer Sarah Condon-Meyers snapping away and scoping out the perfect shot. From major events like Commencement and Reunion to the more impromptu displays of Creative Thought Matters that pop up throughout the year, Condon-Meyers always seems to be there, camera in hand.
Condon-Meyers takes a look back at some of her favorite photographs of 2024 and shares the story behind each shot.
Leaping into a new year
Dancers know how to create beauty in the spaces they occupy. Adding in some creative lighting and perfect timing, I captured this shot of Christianna Poblete '26, a double major in English and dance, in early 2024. After settling on the colors for the backdrop, Staff Videographer Chris Cruz and I asked Poblete to dance, and we narrowed in on the timing of the perfect extensions for each of her moves.
Talent and community
One of my favorite 小福利导航 traditions is the student-run . It鈥檚 a visually stunning showcase of students鈥� dedication and talent. But it鈥檚 not always easy to photograph because I don鈥檛 have control of the lighting; my camera can also have trouble focusing in the dark. That being said, I enjoy the challenge and unpredictability of what the students will do as they entertain the crowd. The fierceness and bliss that the students brought to the catwalk made this a magical night for everyone, including me.
A visual eclipse
The solar eclipse of April 8 may have been my favorite day of the year. The entire campus and much of the United States paused in awe, and I got to document it! There were so many photo opportunities, but this photo of Stella Allen '27, Evan Defilippis '27, and Tyler Kaufman '27 is my favorite. The gesture of a student covering a friend鈥檚 eyes made me laugh, and it was so 小福利导航: You could feel the spirit of community. Capturing the humor of a moment can be tricky, but when you do, it can stick with you for a lifetime.
Love and hope
Commencement is always an emotional day. As a photographer, it can also be a little overwhelming as I try to capture the special moments in a sea of hundreds of students, friends, families, faculty, and staff. This was a simple, beautiful moment: I could see the love and warmth between generations and the emotion on the graduate鈥檚 face. All the hard work had been done, and it was a day to celebrate accomplishments while looking forward to a hopeful future.
Summer breakthroughs
Impactful experiences for 小福利导航 students don鈥檛 stop over . In June, I captured this photo of Michael Brennan '26 and Krista Longo '26 in the 小福利导航 Analytical Interdisciplinary Laboratory (SAIL). You can see the passion that they both brought to their project. The photo also shows students enthusiastically engaged in the interdisciplinary science that the newly completed Billie Tisch Center for Integrated Sciences is all about.
Dancing on through
Convocation is a rite of passage for college students. It鈥檚 also the most formal part of incoming students鈥� welcome to campus. A day before the start of fall classes, there was a sense of nervous excitement. Then these energetic students jumped into my camera鈥檚 view. They embodied the 小福利导航 spirit of fearlessness, curiosity, and fun 鈥� even to a complete stranger with a camera.
Soaked
I love photographing , but rain (or snow) can add an additional level of difficulty to already fast-paced, nonstop photography. On Sept. 7, the men's soccer team was giving their all on the field despite an absolute downpour during against SUNY Geneseo. I geared up with my raincoat, rain pants, and rain boots. I covered my camera in a mostly waterproof cover. While photographing sports, I rarely know what I鈥檝e captured until I go back to edit the photos. In this photo of a head shot by Colin Goodhines '27, you can really see the water patterns and the difficulty of playing in the rain. Was I drenched? Yes. Was it worth it for images like this? Yes!
Tears of joy
This photo reveals the emotion during the unveiling of a portrait of storied alumna and College Trustee Linda Jackson-Chalmers 鈥�73. I always enjoy photographing in Wyckoff Center because it鈥檚 a beautiful, bright space. But it was packed with people that day, so I had to navigate being in the right place at the right time. This image presented the overall feel of the day: If you look closely, you can see tears in the eyes of both Jackson-Chalmers and the artist, Winosha Steele 鈥� a reflection of how meaningful this project was for both.
A new angle
I'm always looking for new ways 鈥� and angles 鈥� to present the research of faculty and students. This photo of Biology Professor Jason Breves, who won a prestigious award for his research involving fish, and Mariana Posada 鈥�25 is a great example. I brought lighting equipment with me with the idea that I would photograph them through the fish tanks. Filled with water, the tanks are heavy, but both Breves and Posada shared lots laughs throughout the photo shoot. What ended up shining through was not only the rigorous research that 小福利导航 students are able to experience with leading researchers like Breves but also the friendly, collaborative spirit of campus life at 小福利导航.
What music looks like
Another 小福利导航 tradition I love to photograph each year is Skidmania. When I saw Alex Ciardullo 鈥�25 and Julia Henslee 鈥�26 of the band Green Eggs and Sam take the stage, I knew to wait for a dancing moment. I saw them perform the previous year and remembered their presence on stage. Sure enough, Henslee spun around while performing "Ballroom Blitz鈥� by The Sweet, and I got this shot. You can feel the music in the photo!
Me
This is the only photo here that I didn鈥檛 take 鈥� thank you 小福利导航 College Staff Videographer Chris Cruz. As I look through my lens, I look forward to another year at 小福利导航 filled with cheer, anticipation, and 鈥� of course 鈥� Creative Thought Matters.