“A Lock Made By Covid”
Location: Chengdu, Sichuan, China
Date: December 2021
Photographer: Lucy/Junshu Li
Affiliation: Undergraduate Student
Home Country: China
Category: Places
Award: Honorable Mention
2023 International Photography Exhibition

“The picture’s title, “A Lock Made By Covid,” aptly reflects the situation captured in the image. This photograph was taken during the height of the “ZERO-COVID” policy when many domestic residents found themselves confined to their rooms, permitted to venture outdoors only for essential needs. The central figure in the image is the owner of a lock shop. A government propaganda sign prominently displayed on the wall advises, “Wear a mask and maintain social distance.”

“Ancient Escalator”
Location: Oia, Greece
Date: September 2022
Photographer: Hunter Fiers
Affiliation: Staff
Home Country: United States
Category: Arts & Culture
Award: Honorable Mention
2023 International Photography Exhibition

“Mules have historically been used to carry people and supplies up the more than 300 stone steps to Oia from the harbor at Amoudi Bay. As more tourists, myself included, avail themselves of their services ethical question about this ancient practice are coming to the fore.”

"At Noon"
Location: Tehran Grand Bazaar, Tehran, Iran
Date: September 2011
Photographer: Fateme Mohammadi Maklavani
Affiliation: Graduate Student
Home Country: Iran
Category: Places
Award: Honorable Mention
2023 International Photography Exhibition

“This place is the oldest Bazaar in Tehran. During the day, the vibrancy in this market does not decrease until the working time is over. At noon, the largest number of people can be found in the Bazaar. A hole in the rotting roof that was part of the oldest bazaar alleys let the light through in a way that was very dazzling.”

"Azure Umbrella"
Location: Seoul, South Korea
Date: June 2023
Photographer: Ryan McGraw @theryanmcgraw @ryanmcgrawphoto
Affiliation: Undergraduate Student
Azure Umbrella
Category: Places
Award: People’s Choice and Honorable Mention
2023 International Photography Exhibition

“I took this photo during my academic year abroad in South Korea. I had just gotten back to my apartment from a large electronics store in Seoul where I had bought a new zoom lens for my camera. After attaching the lens to my camera I pointed it outside my 6th floor apartment window while zooming in on various signs and people walking down on the streets below. It was a cloudy day and raining, and I noticed that almost everybody had a black or transparent umbrella except for one man who was carrying a bright, azure blue umbrella. I was able to quickly snap a photo of him before he rounded the corner and disappeared from view. When I opened the image in Lightroom I wanted to highlight the gloomy atmosphere of that day and how the man carrying the azure umbrella in particular stood out amidst the sea of monochrome umbrellas. I’m really happy with how this photo turned out especially because I shot it almost completely by chance.”

“Beyond the Gate”
Location: Kyoto, Japan
Date: May 2023
Photographer: Miles Feinknopf
Affiliation: Undergraduate Student
Home Country: United States
Category: Arts & Culture
Award: Honorable Mention
2023 International Photography Exhibition

“This photo captures a torii gate right outside the Fushimi Inari shrine in Kyoto. The torii gate represents a spiritual barrier between the mundane and the sacred and I wanted to capture that in a photo that focuses less on the people walking through it and more on the gate itself. Its form, color, and scale all contribute to its powerful presence and the cultural significance it holds. Set against a clear sky this photo reminds me of the power and beauty these gates posses.”

"Buenos Aires Protest"
Location: Buenos Aires, Argentina
Date: October 2017
Photographer: John Butterfield
Affiliation: Alumni
Home Country: United States
Category: Arts & Culture
Award: Honorable Mention
2023 International Photography Exhibition

“My wife and I were with a group on a walking tour of an historic neighborhood of Buenos Aires, when I saw people marching on a major boulevard several streets ahead of us. I ran ahead and was able to capture the end of the demonstration. Political life in Argentina is characterized by a particularly active culture of social protest.”

“CBD buildings in Beijing”
Location: Beijing, China
Date: March 2023
Photographer: Yijia Jiao
Affiliation: Undergraduate Student
Home Country: China
Category: Arts & Culture
Award: Honorable Mention
2023 International Photography Exhibition

“This is an office building in Beijing. When I walked in and looked up, I was struck by the overall design of the building, so I took note of it.”

“Cadini Di Misurina”
Location: Dolomites, Italy
Date: October 2022
Photographer: Nathan Peachman
Affiliation: Alumni
Home Country: United States
Category: Places
Award: Honorable Mention
2023 International Photography Exhibition

“Hitchhiked three times only to get lost deep in the Dolomites. Took me two days to find the right spot in the park, but it all culminated in the craziest view in all of Italy.”

“Canvas of Tea”
Location: Hangzhou, China
Date: May 2023
Photographer: Zheng Xiang
Affiliation: Undergraduate Student
Home Country: China
Category: Arts & Culture
Award: Honorable Mention
2023 International Photography Exhibition

“The tea growers, dressed in traditional attire, are carefully picking tea leaves with a sense of reverence for the centuries-old tea culture in lush, vibrant tea plantations located in Hangzhou, the hometown of tea. The landscape is reminiscent of a Chinese ancient ink painting, with undulating tea trees resembling strokes of Chinese ancient ink painting, creating a tranquil and picturesque setting.” 

"Cobalt"
Location: Essaouira, Morocco
Date: May 2023
Photographer: Jen Heaton
Affiliation: Staff
Home Country: United States
Category: Arts & Culture
Award: 1st Place
2023 International Photography Exhibition

“The smell of fresh fish fills the warm, damp air as picture-perfect cobalt boats are strung together by men with wind-worn faces. This is a rare calm moment in Essaouira’s bustling harbor as the fishermen come in with their daily catch. They work hard, embarking hours before dawn, returning to port just as the city begins to come to life. This is a glimpse into everyday life on the Moroccan coast.”

"Dream"
Location: Yunnan, China
Date: June 2023
Photographer: Shih-Hong Lee
Affiliation: Alumni
Home Country: Taiwan
Category: People
Award: Honorable Mention
2023 International Photography Exhibition

“What people sometimes revel in is not necessarily real happiness, but may also be a sinking dream woven with nicotine.”

“Field Trip to the Museum”
Location: Kanazawa, Japan
Date: May 2023
Photographer: Miles Feinknopf @miles.feinknopf
Affiliation: Undergraduate Student
Home Country: United States
Category: People
2023 International Photography Exhibition

“This photo captures a couple of school girls browsing an art exhibit at the Kanazawa Museum of Contemporary Art. While it may appear as though they are peering out of a window into a wooded forest or jungle, it actually is a canvas with a very high resolution image printed onto it. The lack of frame around the canvas makes it further blend into the wall making it truly appear to be an opening beyond. Beside this, I felt the matching uniforms spoke to the traditions and expectations of school children in Japan and wanted to capture the way in which the students experienced the gallery.”

"Garden of Kings"
Location: Madrid, Spain
Date: May 2023
Photographer: Ariana Winbush @__.ariana.w.__
Affiliation: Undergraduate Student
Home Country: United States
Category: People
Award: Best in Show
2023 International Photography Exhibition

In Madrid, specifically the, highly gentrified, neighborhood of Lavapiés, there is a hideaway, an oasis of peace in the bustle of the city that is used as a playground for children, as a getaway from the ever-changing neighborhood, or a place to test your mind in a game of chess.

“Himalayan Masks”
Location: Kathmandu, Nepal
Date: July 2014
Photographer: Ryan Staples
Affiliation: Staff
Home Country: United States
Category: Arts & Culture
2023 International Photography Exhibition

“I had meant to take a simpler photo of these Himalayan masks when a tourist in the shop leaned out the window. His physical human face among the mythical hewn faces struck me.”

“Hometown moon”
Location: Wenchang, Linchuan, China
Date: February 2019
Photographer: Zhangbang Wan
Affiliation: Undergraduate Student
Home Country: China
Category: Arts & Culture
2023 International Photography Exhibition

“The ancient city of Wenchang in Linchuan, China, has a history of more than 2,000 years, and the moon shines brightly.”

"Land of Volcanoes"
Location: Mendoza, Argentina
Date: January 2022
Photographer: Santiago Lacroix Eussler
Affiliation: Graduate Student
Home Country: Argentina
Category: Places
2023 International Photography Exhibition

“La Payunia is the region with the highest density of volcanoes in the world. Being there feels like dwelling in a painting, within seas of colors and textures thousands of years old.”

“Le Chat”
Location: Montmartre, France
Date: February 2023
Photographer: Alexandra Lew
Affiliation: Alumni
Home Country: United States
Category: Arts & Culture
Award: Honorable Mention
2023 International Photography Exhibition

“This photo depicts a man playing La Vie en Rose on the accordion with his cat on his shoulder as they look over a busy square in the center of Montmartre.”

“Metal Worker”
Location: Fes, Morocco
Date: September 2019
Photographer: Linda Teufel
Affiliation: Undergraduate Student
Home Country: United States
Category: Arts & Culture
Award: Honorable Mention
2023 International Photography Exhibition

“The busy streets of Fes were used as an extension of their living and working spaces. This man was doing metalwork on the sidewalk. His small storage space was packed with his tools and supplies.”

“Mulafossur Waterfall”
Location: Faroe Islands
Date: June 2023
Photographer: Shin Wong
Affiliation: Alumni
Home Country: United States
Category: Places
Award: 2nd Place
2023 International Photography Exhibition

“So lucky with amazing weather and beautiful sunset.”

“No Fear”
Location: Dhaka, Bangladesh
Date: March 2014
Photographer: Mashnur Rashid
Affiliation: Graduate Student
Home Country: Bangladesh
Category: People
Award: 3rd Place
2023 International Photography Exhibition

"The photo was taken during the Holi festival (the festival of colors), celebrated by Hindu followers. People throw and spray paint among themselves and indulge in a joyful celebration. I found this boy waiting for his turn to throw paint but he was afraid at first. When he himself was drenched in colors, his fears were gone."

"No Fishing Today"
Location: Riomaggiore, Italy
Date: September 2017
Photographer: Gwen Smith
Affiliation: Alumni
Home Country: United States
Category: Places
2023 International Photography Exhibition

“I got up early in the morning to take some photos before all the tourists would be coming in. The boats were all still on the landing because there would be no fishing today because of the massive waves that were caused by a storm out at sea. The waves were hitting the breakers and spraying the water so high. It was amazing!”

"Omo Valley Man"
Location: Omo Valley, Ethiopia
Date: July 2016
Photographer: Brian Cruickshank @brian_cruickshank
Affiliation: Alumni
Home Country: United States
Category: People
Award: Honorable Mention
2023 International Photography Exhibition

While in the Omo Valley (Ethiopia), I entered a Mursi village and met this man who allowed me to take this photograph in his hut. It’s an intense, close and tight portrait that I think works especially well in black and white.

“Painters”
Location: Tehran, Iran
Date: September 2011
Photographer: Fateme Mohammadi Maklavani
Affiliation: Graduate Student
Home Country: Iran
Category: Arts & Culture
Award: Honorable Mention
2023 International Photography Exhibition

“Painters always pay attention to structure.”

"Pathos"
Location: Chennai, India
Date: June 2022
Photographer: Ranjith Kumar Abhinavam @orbitaldebris
Affiliation: Faculty
Home Country: India
Category: People
Award: People’s Choice and Honorable Mention
2023 International Photography Exhibition

"This is a common but an unfortunate sight in India. People in the streets with out money for their next meal, which we are so fortunate to not have to think about. She was asking for money and as a person running around with a camera seemed only appropriate. Helped her with some cash which I hope helped feed her and her kid. I asked her if i can take her photograph, she looked at me with the cash crumpled in her hand. I still vividly remember as i looked through the viewfinder, the kid who was lying on her shoulder looked at me, I decided to focus on the kids eyes, and the mother a bit off focus."

“Reflection of Joy”
Location: Valencia, Spain
Date: March 2017
Photographer: Stacy Orbaker
Affiliation: Staff
Home Country: United States
Category: People
Award: Honorable Mention
2023 International Photography Exhibition

“During the month of March, Valencia Spain is host to a festival called Fallas. Each neighborhood has a Fallera/o Mayor as well as a court. They are the faces of the neighborhood during the year leading up to the culminating event on March 19th. Fallas was declared an UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2016. That same year, I took this image during the Ofrenda parade in which each neighborhood carries flowers to the Plaza de la Virgen. The long march is filled with as much emotion as tradition. The father and child captured in the photo found moments to create joy during the long walk. Can you see the child’s smile reflected in his glasses? A simple game between the two brought them both joyful smiles. The Ofrenda is tradition rich in culture and rich with relationships.” 

“Rolling Through Røkland”
Location: Røkland, Norway
Date: December 2022
Photographer: Victoria Piper
Affiliation: Alumni
Home Country: United States
Category: Places
2023 International Photography Exhibition

“You’re on a train. You’ve been on this train long enough to see the sun both rise and set. In between those two events you saw so much of the Norwegian countryside: frozen rivers, frosted trees, and majestic mountains. You’re starting to believe in stories of trolls and dragons. Stopped at a station you put your face up to the glass to peer into another life, the few rare houses at the base of a mountain, and wonder what their tale is. The glow from the windows suggests warmth yet feels haunting. I pull away and the moment comes with me.”

“Shanghai in the Rain”
Location: Shanghai, China
Date: January 2019
Photographer: Brian Cruickshank
Affiliation: Alumni
Home Country: United States
Category: Places
Award: 1st Place
2023 International Photography Exhibition

“A man with an umbrella walks atop a Shanghai escalator. I was initially attracted to the intersecting lines and the high contrast between those lines and the bright sky. This photograph also required some patience, as I waited for something interesting (umbrella man) to enter the frame.”

“Sorrento Family Farm”
Location: Sorrento, Italy
Date: March 2023
Photographer: Aaron James
Affiliation: Staff
Home Country: United States
Category: Arts & Culture
Award: 3rd Place
2023 International Photography Exhibition

“In the middle of Sorrento was this very old family farm. They still make limoncello, olive oil, wine, cheese and meat like they have done for generations. This was my favorite picture from the visit.”

“Stranger in a strange land”
Location: Potanin Glacier, Altai Mountains, Bayan-Ulgii, Mongolia
Date: August 2020
Photographer: Batzaya Batsaikhan
Affiliation: Graduate Student
Home Country: Mongolia
Category: Places
Award: Honorable Mention
2023 International Photography Exhibition

“The Potanin Glacier is the longest glacier in Mongolia, it stretches about 14 kilometres and located through in the Altai Tavan Bogd mountain in Altai Mountains. I was on my way to climb Malchin Peak (13,287 ft) and the whole environment, combined with the constant rain, snow, and sun, really felt like I was on a different planet.”

“Strangers”
Location: Stockholm, Sweden
Date: January 2022
Photographer: Ellie Armstrong @ellie.armstr0ng
Affiliation: Alumni
Home Country: United States
Category: People
Award: Honorable Mention
2023 International Photography Exhibition

"Photographed are 'strangers' Randi and Asbjorn from Levanger, Norway. During my time abroad, I was on assignment in Stockholm to ask a stranger on the street to take their photo for my studio. This photo was meaningful to me because I was able to overcome my fear of photographing strangers. The Scandinavian people revealed to be extremely kind people during my time there after breaking through their outward, harder exterior. “Strangers” represents the openness and happiness of the culture found beneath what they display in public."

"Tea Ceremony"
Location: Marrakech, Morocco
Date: January 2022
Photographer: Kate Holland
Affiliation: Alumni
Home Country: United States
Category: Arts & Culture
Award: Honorable Mention
2023 International Photography Exhibition

“Here, a young Moroccan woman prepares tea. She begins low, with teapot spout close to cup and then boldly begins lifting it to greater and greater heights as the steaming mint liquid fills the glass. Respect. By pouring the tea at great heights, you’re instilling more respect upon your guests. More than a relief from the bustling bazaars and warm desert air, Moroccan tea ceremonies are a symbol of a culture rich in hospitality and tradition.”

“The Blackness of the Black Sea”
Location: Batumi, Georgia
Date: August 2017
Photographer: Sergei Raev
Affiliation: Staff
Home Country: Russia
Category: People
Award: Honorable Mention
2023 International Photography Exhibition

“The toponym of the Black Sea is revealed at sunset. The Black Sea waters release all their blackness appearing as an enormous amount of oil, immersing all habitants of the sea into the darkness. Children’s emotions, spontaneous and non-predictable, look especially contrasting against this background revealing the difference between the children’s innocence and wild power hidden in the waters of the Black Sea.”

“The Early Bird”
Location: Annecy, France
Date: July 2023
Photographer: Alexandra Lew
Affiliation: Alumni
Home Country: United States
Category: Places
Award: Honorable Mention
2023 International Photography Exhibition

“This photo depicts someone on their canoe in the early morning on Lake Annecy. I woke up before dawn on this particular day and willed myself to sit on the dock in the hopes of seeing a beautiful sunrise. I was already stunned by the backdrop of the alps and then watched the boat slowly turn to create one of the most peaceful scenes I’ve witnessed.”

“The Little Explorer”
Location: Beijing, China
Date: June 2021
Photographer: Zimeng Guo
Affiliation: Undergraduate Student
Home Country: China
Category: People
Award: Honorable Mention
2023 International Photography Exhibition

“While hiking in Olympic Forest Park, I inadvertently caught sight of a young boy briskly advancing through the adjacent woods. The sunlight above him pierced through the treetops, casting its glow upon him, and in that moment, he became the star of the forest. His deep blue shirt and orange shorts echoed the colors of his shoes, evoking a sense of innocence and liveliness that lingered in the mountains.”

“The Otter”
Location: Milan, Italy
Date: May 2022
Photographer: Vaasavi Unnava @luxurytrap.photo
Affiliation: Graduate Student
Home Country: United States
Category: Places
Award: 3rd Place
2023 International Photography Exhibition

“I sometimes was gifted with this sight of my neighbor across the way, while I worked at my desk. The architecture of Italy, and Europe on whole, admits one distilled peeks into the personal lives of others which they were willing to show. I miss and yearn for this now, when neighborhood felt more personal and we were allowed to gently imagine each other.”

“The Ugandan Centenarian Mzee”
Location: Jinja, Uganda
Date: March 2019
Photographer: Bob Ditty @bobditty
Affiliation: Staff
Home Country: United States
Category: People
Award: 1st Place
2023 International Photography Exhibition

"This photo is of a 100-year-old Ugandan Mzee (Luganda for “old man”) and his wife. This photo goes along with a series of photos showcasing the elderly in Uganda, #mzeeseries on Instagram. Uganda is one of the youngest populations in the world with a median age of 15.7. Compare that to the United States with a median age of 38. I wanted to showcase the elderly in one of the world’s youngest populations. To give them a voice to impart wisdom to the younger generations. When he turned 100, we celebrated with cake and soda. He was so touched as he never had a birthday cake until then, his 100th birthday! It was such a wonderful day! He is a Ugandan World War II vet who fought alongside the British, serving in Burma. He is so in love with his wife that when I asked to take a photo of him, he insisted that she would be included.

This photo is personally so special to me on many levels as well. I lived in Uganda, Africa for 9 years. This photo truly showed me the power of story and sharing other’s stories. It solidified in my mind the type of photographer that I wanted to be. I turned to photographing people and connection more because, for me, it gave me so much more fulfillment photographing people compared to landscapes. It really was a “ine in the sand” in my photographer/filmmaker career. Since that point, I’ve been people-focused showing the everyday heroes that are out there."

“The final stream power night”
Location: Sandaoling, Hami, Xinjiang, China
Date: July 2023
Photographer: Hanxuan Qiu
Affiliation: Undergraduate Student
Home Country: China
Category: Places
2023 International Photography Exhibition

“In one of the wildest places in China, which is called Sandaoling, is the home to the world’s last regular steam locomotives, a fire-breathing show was taking place as they ran through the night before retiring at the end of the year.” 

“Traditional farming”
Location: Sangli, India
Date: August 2019
Photographer: Manoj Patil
Affiliation: Visiting Scholar
Home Country: India
Category: Arts & Culture
Award: 2nd Place and People’s Choice
2023 International Photography Exhibition

“In August, as the monsoon arrives, Indian farmers begin sowing seeds. During this time-honored practice, they were singing Marathi songs about seeking divine blessings for a prosperous harvest and the good health of their loyal bullocks. I love capturing the bond between Animals and farmers. Bullocks in India are beloved like family, receiving the same love and care as cherished children.”

“Udaipur Women”
Location: Udaipur, Rajasthan, India
Date: April 2014
Photographer: Ryan Staples
Affiliation: Staff
Home Country: United States
Category: People
Award: 2nd Place
2023 International Photography Exhibition

"On a walk along Lake Pichola, one finds many families, young couples, and seniors enjoying the cool of the evening as the sun sets behind the mountains surrounding Udaipur. The varied and vivid colors of these women’s sarees caught my eye. Though I did not catch theirs, as they were engrossed in conversation."

"Untitled"
Location: Vellayani Kayal, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India
Date: January 2023
Photographer: Harish Moni Prakash @harishm2997
Affiliation: Graduate Student
Home Country: India
Category: People
Award: Honorable Mention
2023 International Photography Exhibition

“The picture shows a farmer washing his cow at the end of a day of work, at a lake with his small boat tied up to a tree nearby. This reminds me of my home in Kerala and where I come from - the hard-working farmers and fishermen who still face economic struggles, and the beautiful evergreen landscape with an abundance of lakes, rivers, and mountains at every turn.”