“The Student’s Eye” offers a wide range of photographic essays on topics such as veterinarians, homosexual culture, homeless shelters and the shrimping industry. In addition, the exhibit featured self-portraits and various individual photographs.

According to Leslie Parr, associate professor of communications, the exhibit features two years of student work from the various photography classes Loyola offers.

Ashleigh Nushawg, a communications sophomore, created a photo essay on Dr. Beth Leuck, a veterinarian at Audubon Zoo.

“At first, I wanted to do the entire zoo, but then most of my work had Dr. Beth in it, so I ended up just focusing on her,” Nushawg said.

Nushawg photographed animals such as a toucan undergoing medical treatment from Leuck.

“It’s cool being [so close] to a 150-pound jaguar,” Nushawg said.

Erin Brent’s “Miss Gay America 2005” depicted the life of Raquel Chevallier, who won the title of Miss Gay America in October 2004.

Brent, a communications senior, followed Scott Peters, who transforms into Raquel Chevallier at night. Through her photographs, Brent illustrated the normalcy of Peters’ life despite his homosexuality.

Matt Tilbury, communications senior, also exhibited some of his work at “The Student’s Eye.”

His photo essay on Brantley Baptist Center, a shelter for the homeless with drug or alcohol problems, was completed in a few weeks.

“It was the end of the semester, so we really had to do it fast,” Tilbury said. “I worked across the street from Brantley Baptist so I had been wanting to go in there and see it but just hadn’t had the time.”

Tilbury’s photographs focused on the community of people within Brantley Baptist and the problems they face while staying there.

“A lot of the people there have cocaine problems,” Tilbury said. “You really have to care about your subject though.”

Alethia Picciola, communications junior, was also featured in the exhibit. Her photo essay focused on the Louisiana shrimping industry, which, according to her, is a dying culture.

Picciola wrote that she chose to document the shrimping industry to illustrate the many problems that the shrimpers face.

Friends and family members came to the exhibit to support their photographer.

“It’s great that Loyola has such talent,” Mary Lanaux, communications senior, said. “And that so many students came out to support it.”

Although the photographs are not for sale, Parr said a student could decide to sell a photograph if he or she wished.

“There’s a lot of good work out there, you just need to come out and see it,” Parr said.

The exhibit will remain open in the Diboll Gallery on the fourth floor of the Monroe Library until April 7.

Sarah Castagnetta can be reached at [email protected].