Meredith

Lamarck-Coulaincourt Metro Station in the Montmartre section of Paris. It was very quiet. I stumbled upon these staircases on my way home from a bar on the back side of Montmartre. The blurriness of the photo nicely complements the few drinks that I had at the time I took the photo. I can never seem to keep my hands steady. This scene is in fact quite representative of many of my nights in Paris.

Jeff

This isn't me in the photo, but since I had to find a photo that reminded me of me the trail, I thought it was okay. I took some time off before I went to school and after spending a summer working at home I decided to hike the appalachian trail. My father and I got in a really big fight because he said it was dangerous to walk it in late/fall winter, which is when I would be at the end of the trail. I found this guy online who also wanted to go, so I wouldn't be alone. There was this one night when it was freezing and I really regretted being there at that time, but in the morning everything was frosted over and the sun made the day fine, so it was totally worth it to be out there at that time. I can totally see why people have philosophical religious experiences more often in nature.

Karen

My parents bought a house on pequot lake when I was five and every summer since we have been going up there for there. When I was 16 I worked as a lifeguard at the public beach and met these two guys, also lifeguarding, who were staying at their parents house alone that summer. For basically six months we had a party at their place with every kid under 20 in the area. The best night, though, was when there were just about five of us and there was a family of loons that had a nest right near their dock and, for some reason, they were really noisy that night. The cops came because the neighbors had called saying that we were being too noisy. It had been the loons that they heard. To me, it was perfect that we were living somewhere that the neighbors couldn't hear a party every night for a month, but the loons were louder than we ever were.

Elizabeth

My grandfather lives in Grafton, Vermont and he used to be a electrician there, so when he has his annual "Christannukah" party everyone in the town goes. It seems cliche to say, but Grafton really is the town that time forgot. One year my older brother and I got drunk off the Grog. It smelled so good and no one was paying attention to us... he was 13 and I was 11. Anyway, we decided to put on a dance show and as we pretended to tap and sing to "Baby, It's Cold Outside" basically the entire town cheered us on, probably in the knowledge that we were slightly wasted. To this day, Grandpa shows the videotape of us "singing" and "dancing" at the party. People sing it at us on the street when we go to visit for Christmas.

Allison

The middle fork of the Toulomne River runs through the summer camp where I sent eight years as a camper and two as a counselor. Camp Tawonga was just outside of Yosemite, and every summer I counted down the 100 days until I would travel to the place where I met all my lifelong friends, enjoyed the sun, and indulged in the most comforting and spritual community I'd ever been a part of. The River was a particularly special part of the camp experience where Tikkun Olam (being a part of and learning to take care of nature) became a tangible and arrestingly beautiful part of my life.

Aaron

This is a pic of Alpine Meadows Mt. in the Lake Tahoe area! Moving to and living in Tahoe has been one of the best decisions I have ever made. The skiing, not to mention the beauty of the scenery, is unlike any other. Being able to be out on the slopes on a fresh powder day is an incredible experience. The adrenaline, the snow and the mountain makes it a perfect day. Not to mention this is where I propose to your sister :) But that wasn't when this picture was taken.

Peter

This is a picture of the River that runs through North Conway, NH. This was taken by a friend of mine during a hike we took around October during the peek foliage season. Living in NH has been a great experience, but its during this particular time when the trees turn brilliant shades of yellows, reds, and oranges that makes living here so much better than anywhere else. New England is truly a unique place to live during the autumn and I feel fortunate to be able to experience this privilege. The second photograph is of course Zeb's General Store. North Conway is where my business is, which I built with my partner from the ground up. When we first started, Zeb's was a candy counter and a cash register that sold $18.46 in its first day. Being able to see this place grow has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life.

Erica

Storm King Park is a hilarious name for any place, much less for one of the most beautiful landscape-art-parks ever. It is in Westchester County and has been perfectly designed with both nature and art in mind. The last time I went there was with friends from Sarah Lawrence and we took a picnic there in late spring/early summer of senior year and it was just magical. It was after all our work was done and we were high out of our minds, so being there was just... utopian. There was this one gigantic tree that everyone climbed into and there were certain branches that were so thick you could lay down on them without fear of falling. It was nearing the longest day of the year so at six o'clock the sun was still out and hitting the trees at just the right angle. Ever since then I can't tell you how many times we have all threatened to take a zip car out there for the weekend, but it never seems to work out.

Lucy

this is a photo of the edge of the old navy yard in brooklyn. on flushing ave there are several mansions where the naval officers and their families used to live. there are fences and signs all over that say that it's military property and trespassers will be shot, and i've never been brave enough to sneak in, but i love looking at the dilapidated old houses from the street. i don't think anyone has lived there since the 50s and the houses, which used to be huge and extravagant, are basically crumbling into dust, abandoned. a developer wants to build a supermarket and condos there. i love walking by here because it makes me think about the people who might have lived in those houses and what brooklyn was like way before i moved here and how the city and the waterfront are always changing. and it makes me angry and sad that these beautiful houses right by the water were left to rot and soon they will get torn down so someone can make a profit building something cheap and impermanent.

Julie

This is a picture from Boothbay Harbor, ME. My dad came here with my Uncle and grandparents every summer when he was little, and my family has continued the tradition. Since I'm not able to go every summer now, ever time I am here I feel incredibly lucky. The people, the scenery, the smells, the sounds - everything has a memory to me. This place has an instant calming effect on me and in my mind is one of the most beautiful places on earth. This is a picture I took while kyaking with a friend of mine during a particularily beautiful sunset. Although the picture turned out nicely, it does not do this place justice and doesn't include the smell of the ocean, the sounds of the lighthouse or any other elements that make this place so special.