YouAlberta
University life's full of moments you think you’ll remember forever. Your first day of classes, late-night study sessions, snowy walks across campus and celebrating when you finally submit that final assignment.
But sometimes, a photo is the best way to hold on to those memories. The North Campus is filled with recognizable landmarks, beautiful buildings and little student traditions that make for the perfect photo opportunity.
Whether you’re a first-year student building your campus photo collection or a graduating student looking to capture the places that became part of your everyday life, here are some must-take photos before your time at the U of A comes to an end.
The Bookstore Bear
Let’s start with the most obvious one: The Bookstore Bear.
Located in the Students’ Union Building (SUB), this bear in the U of A Bookstore has become one of those quintessential U of A photo ops. Whether you pose beside him on your first week of classes or take a silly photo with friends, it’s an easy way to mark your time at the university.
I think that taking a picture with the bear should be an unofficial university requirement.
It’s simple, recognizable, and most importantly something you can recreate over the years.
Main Quad
If there’s one place on campus that captures the student experience, I think it’s the Main Quad. During the warmer months, students are sitting on the grass, talking with friends, studying outside or enjoying a break between classes. When colder times approach, it becomes a completely different scene, covered in snow and surrounded by the atmosphere of an Alberta winter.
If I could give one piece of advice, it would be to take photos here even when nothing exciting is happening.
A picture of you and your friends sitting on the grass might be unimportant now, but years from now, that could be the photo that brings back the best memories!
Rutherford Library’s Reading Room
For anyone who has ever wanted to be transported to a magic-like study space, Rutherford Library has you covered! The second-floor reading room in Rutherford South has vaulted ceilings and wood detailing that give it a distinctly old-world feel. In my opinion, this is one of the most underrated photo spots on campus. It's easy to walk into Rutherford focused on finding a place to sit, completely overlooking the room itself. The next time you're studying there, look up from your laptop for a second.
Your favourite study spot
Not every photo that matters needs to be of a popular landmark. In fact, I think your favourite study spot might end up being one of the most meaningful photos you take.
Think about where you actually spend your time. Maybe it’s a particular table in the library. Maybe it’s a quiet corner of your faculty building. Maybe there’s a coffee shop you go to between classes. Take a picture of it! These places might seem completely ordinary now, but they become part of your university routine without realizing it. When you graduate, you might find yourself missing the exact place where you used to sit and study for exams.
A campus sign
Sometimes the simplest photo becomes the one you keep. Take a picture beside one of the U of A campus signs after you’ve first arrived and take another when you leave. It’s an easy way to mark the beginning and end of your university journey. You can turn it into a tradition with friends.
Whenever someone graduates, everyone returns to the sign for one final group photo.
Your favourite building
With so many buildings across North Campus, every student eventually develops a favourite. I think there’s something special about photographing the building where you spent the majority of your degree. It represents even more than the architecture. It represents the classes you took, the professors you met, the assignments you completed and the people you encountered along the way. It doesn't necessarily have to be the prettiest building on campus. It just has to mean something to you.
Start your campus photo bucket list
You don’t need a professional camera or a perfectly planned photoshoot to document your university experience. If there’s one thing I would encourage every student to do, it's to take more photos than you think you need.
Photograph the landmarks, but also photograph the ordinary things.
So before you graduate, look around and take the picture ... because one day you'll be glad you did.