For more than 20 years, the Office of International Affairs has hosted an annual International Photography Competition where Ohio State faculty, staff, students, visiting scholars and alumni are invited to submit photos taken outside of the United States. Photographers enter photos in three categories, which in the past have included People, Places, Politics, Animals, Signs and Transportation, among others. First, second and third prizes, as well as a number of honorable mentions, are awarded in each category, and one photograph is named "Best in Show." The winners are displayed in the annual International Photography Exhibition in the Ohio Union and online.
People's Choice voting is now open for the 2024 International Photography Exhibition. Voting closes on November 6 at 12 p.m. Eastern time. Vote by liking the photos on Facebook or Instagram. The photos with the most votes in each category will be named People's Choice winners.
The 2024 International Photography Competition is closed. The next competition will open in August 2025.
International Photography Competition
2024 International Photography Competition Rules and Submission
All The Ohio State University students, staff, faculty, visiting scholars and alumni are invited to submit photos to the 2024 International Photography Competition. The competition opens August 13, 2024 and submissions are accepted until September 23, 2024 at 11:59 p.m. EST. All photographs must be the original work of the entrant, of high quality and taken outside of the United States. Photographers are invited to submit one photo in each of three categories: People, Places and Arts & Culture.
A panel of judges chosen by the Office of International Affairs will select 40 photos based on artistic expression, creativity, originality, photo commentary and the quality of the image to be on display at our photo exhibition in the Ohio Union. A Best in Show winner will be selected and first, second and third place awards will be given in each of the three categories. There will also be People's Choice Awards for the photos that receive the highest votes via the Facebook voting phase.
- All current students, faculty, staff, visiting scholars or alumni at The Ohio State University are eligible to participate, except for full-time staff within the Office of International Affairs.
- The 2024 International Photography Competition and Exhibition phases:
- Submission phase: August 13 - September 23, 2024
- Judging phase: September 27 - October 20, 2024
- People's Choice online voting phase: ends November 6, 2024, 12 p.m. Eastern
- Exhibition in Ohio Union: October 22 - December 13, 2024
- Reception: November 12, 2024
- Photographs must be:
- the original work of the entrant
- taken outside of the United States
- of high quality
- include photo summary commentary explaining story of the image
- submitted via our online submission form before September 23, 2024 at 11:59 p.m. - entries accepted starting August 13. Photographers must submit all their photos using one submission form.
- an acceptable image type for the online submission form (jpg, gif and png)
- no larger than 16MB and no smaller than 1MB
- Note: images selected for the exhibition will be printed, displayed and framed as an 8"x10" image (submitted photos should be close to that aspect ratio)
- Entrants may submit one photograph in each of the following categories (thus each photographer is limited to submitting three total photos):
- People
- Places
- Arts & Culture
- By submitting a photo and reading and agreeing to the rules, entrants are agreeing to grant The Ohio State University and the Office of International Affairs use of the photographs in displays related to the contest and in other printed and electronic publications. Efforts will be made to credit the entrant when possible.
- Judges from the Office of International Affairs will select 40 photos based on artistic expression, creativity, originality, photo commentary and the quality of the image to be on display at our photo exhibition in the Ohio Union. Photos chosen for the exhibition will be printed, displayed and framed as an 8"x10" image. The judges will also choose a first, second and third place entry for each category, which will be announced at the 2024 Photography Exhibition Reception.
- If your photo is one of the 40 chosen for the exhibition, you will be notified via email. Your photo will then have the chance to win the People’s Choice Award through the Office of International Affairs Facebook page. All photos that made it to the exhibition will be posted in a categorized album on Facebook for you to share and encourage others to vote. The photo with the most likes from each category will win People’s Choice.
For questions, please contact Victor van Buchem, van-buchem.1@osu.edu.
International Photography Exhibitions
International Photography Exhibition Albums on Facebook
- 2024 International Photography Exhibtion
- 2023 International Photography Exhibition
- 2022 International Photography Exhibition
- 2021 International Photography Exhibition
- 2020 International Photography Exhibition
- 2019 International Photography Exhibition
- 2018 International Photography Exhibition
- 2017 International Photography Exhibition
- 2016 International Photography Exhibition
- 2015 International Photography Exhibition
- 2014 International Photography Exhibition
- 2013 International Photography Exhibition
- 2012 International Photography Exhibition