Alumnus Gets “Once-In-A-Lifetime” Opportunity To Photograph Nobel Ceremony

The Queen’s alumni network has helped graduates make connections, start their careers, and in one rare case, led to the opportunity to photograph the 2015 Nobel Prize celebrations in Stockholm, Sweden.

Mike Fergusson, Artsci’10, MA’13, was the lucky alumnus whose photography skills – which he honed as a student at Queen’s – led to what he describes as “a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”

Mike, a photographer who lives in Sweden, attended a Queen’s alumni event in Stockholm in December in honour of Dr. Art McDonald, the co-recipient of the 2015 Nobel Prize for Physics. Mike chatted with several Queen’s alumni and staff members at the event about a variety of topics, including his skills as a photographer. He has taken all types of pictures but his current job is more science related – his photos are used to construct 3D models (a process known as photogrammetry).  

When a freelance photographer was unable to make a photoshoot for Dr. McDonald, his family, and research colleagues on the day of the Nobel Prize Ceremony, Mike received a last-minute email asking if he could fill in.

“I was happy to return to portrait photography for a short time while in Stockholm. It was an opportunity one does not refuse,” says Mike.

Mike attended the Queen’s alumni event for the opportunity to be a part of the Nobel celebrations and the chance to connect with other Queen’s grads. Opportunities to sing the Oil Thigh with other Queen’s grads are rare for Mike – he only knows two other alumni in the Nordic country.

Mike started taking pictures when he studied classics at Queen’s. For his Master’s of Arts degree, he focused on photogrammetry of underwater shipwrecks and inscriptions with Professor George Bevan. Nowadays, he uses those skills to develop measurement systems for the automotive, offshore, and manufacturing industries, as well as 3D imaging in heritage (including archaeology and architecture), geology, and civil engineering applications. He is employed by a small company and works on various projects throughout Scandinavia.

“In the past, I have done a lot of portraits on campus for drama productions and various student-run events when I was at Queen's. I have done a number of weddings and some corporate shoots, but never anything like this,” says Mike.

To connect with both students and alumni and learn of different opportunities around the world check out Queen'sConnects on LinkedIn.