“A Good Day's Catch”
Location: Vietnam
Date: March 2025
Photographer: John Butterfield
Affiliation: Alumni
Home Country: United States
Category: People
2025 International Photography Exhibition

“This photograph was taken near Nha Trang, a coastal resort city in southern Vietnam. I traveled with a guide by motor bike about 30 minutes north of the city to an area that was formerly a thriving commercial fishing center. When we arrived in the late afternoon, there were only a few locals fishing, and my prospects for a photograph didn't look promising. Then two fishermen pulled their small basket boats to shore and began unloading their gear and catch for the day. One ran passed me and buried his bait in the sand. My guide approached him and asked if I could take his picture. He beamed with pride. I took several shots of him with his boat and fish. This photograph was my final one. The diffused light created a special glow on his wrinkled, bronzed face that showed the effects of the sun and wind from his life at sea. But it's his eyes and subtle smile that for me covey the satisfaction he felt of a good catch and the joy he derives from his life as a fisherman.”

“Absorbed in his art”
Location: Kolkata, India 
Date: July 2025
Photographer: Anuvab Sarkar
Affiliation: Graduate Student
Home Country: India
Category: Arts & Culture
2025 International Photography Exhibition

“While walking through the streets of Kumortuli, Kolkata, I came across a man crafting the idol of Goddess Kali. As he painted her hands, he seemed lost in thought, deeply absorbed in his art. In that moment, it felt as though his work was not just creation, but a spiritual communion with the divine.”

“An Uncomfortable Perspective”
Location: Hyderabad, Telangana, India
Date: January 2025
Photographer: S. Snehil Pulluri
Affiliation: Graduate Student
Home Country: India
Category: Places
2025 International Photography Exhibition

“A glance up at the Charminar, a historic landmark in Hyderbad, India, through the shops and tents that surround it. At the base of the Minnar (pillar) shown in the photo rests an illegal Hindu temple construction. The Charminar is a site that is surely the product of Mughal and Islamic colonialism but has meaningful history nonetheless. This photo and its intersecting, yet imperfect lines represents the complicated colonial past of India and the divisiveness of its people that continues on.”

“Budapest Parliament Building”
Location: Budapest, Hungary
Date: November 2024
Photographer: Richard Smith
Affiliation: Alumni
Home Country: United States
Category: Places
2025 International Photography Exhibition

“Located in Budapest on the east bank of the Danube, this building known as "House of the Nation" in Hungarian, was designed by Hungarian architect Imre Steindl, and opened in 1902. His design was chosen due to its strong resemblance to the Palace of Westminster in London, and the desire of the 19th century politicians to reflect their commitment to Western Europe. Its construction includes 40 million bricks, half a million precious stones and 40kg of gold. I was taken by the beauty of this building and the reflections in the water. The photograph was taken during the departure of a Danube river cruise at sunset.”

"Cat Nap in Katmandu"
Location: Katmandu, Nepal
Date: July 2014
Photographer: Ryan Staples
Affiliation: Staff
Home Country: United States
Category: People
2025 International Photography Exhibition

“Two men and a dog rest beneath a Hindu temple in Kathmandu. I found the similar positions of man and beast both amusing and endearing.”

“Circumambulate”
Location: Lasa, China
Date: July 2025
Photographer: Jiazheng Zhu
Affiliation: Undergraduate Student
Home Country: China
Category: Arts & Culture
2025 International Photography Exhibition

“Many pilgrims circumambulate the Jokhang Temple, their steps weaving through the flow of time. However, the devotion within their hearts remains steadfast.”

“Coastal Palette”
Location: Pucusana, Peru
Date: December 2024
Photographer: Zimeng Guo
Affiliation: Undergraduate Student
Home Country: China
Category: Arts & Culture
2025 International Photography Exhibition

“This photograph captures the vibrant essence of a small Peruvian fishing village as a colorful fishing boat heads towards a hillside of brightly painted houses. I took this picture to record the quiet joy of the fishermen as they returned home at dusk. The image is meaningful as it serves as a powerful reminder of how a culture can be beautifully expressed through color and tradition.”

"Colors of Routine"
Location: Madrid, Spain
Date: January 2024
Photographer: Murtaza Mohammadi
Affiliation: Staff
Home Country: Afghanistan
Category: People
2025 International Photography Exhibition

"An early afternoon in Madrid, I captured this photo, framed by a street alive with hanging clothes and colorful bottles. This moment is meaningful to me because it reflects the quiet rhythm of daily life set against a backdrop of creativity and culture."

“Community Baker”
Location: Marrakesh, Morocco
Date: September 2019
Photographer: Linda Teufel
Affiliation: Alumni
Home Country: United States
Category: People
2025 International Photography Exhibition

“Women make bread dough at home and then bring it to community ovens. It's a wonderful idea because they are wood or coal fired which makes it taste better and they don't heat up their homes.”

“Dirang Bazaar”
Location: Dirang, West Kameng, India
Date: February 2014
Photographer: Lopa Basu
Affiliation: Alumni
Home Country: India
Category: Places
2025 International Photography Exhibition

“Road view of vibrant street decorations in a small town in Arunachal Pradesh, India. The magic of this place was in women knitting out on the street as they went about their daily chores. Arunachal is a mountainous state in Northeast India that borders Bhutan and China.”

“Dutch Windmill”
Location: Schermerhorn, The Netherlands
Date: September 2024
Photographer: Linda Teufel
Affiliation: Alumni
Home Country: United States
Category: Places
2025 International Photography Exhibition

“In the town of Schermerhorn there is a row of windmills. I stood in front of one windmill that had rotating blades and kept shooting until I got some of that blade in the frame. I also used a slow exposure to get some movement. It's the symbol of the country.”

“Fishing Village In Senja Island”
Location: Senja Island, Norway
Date: March 2025
Photographer: Shin Wong
Affiliation: Alumni
Home Country: United States
Category: Places
2025 International Photography Exhibition

“A colorful village sits along a snowy fjord, with houses painted in red, blue, yellow, and gray standing out against the white winter landscape.”

“Flames of heritage”
Location: Liangzhu, China
Date: June 2025
Photographer: Owen Song
Affiliation: Undergraduate Student
Home Country: China
Category: Arts & Culture
2025 International Photography Exhibition

“Burdened by hardship and meager returns, this ancient art nearly vanished. Yet "Da Tiehua" is more than fire against the dark – bears the soul of a people and the memory of their land. Keeping its flames alive has become a profound and genuine longing.”

“Interwoven”
Location: Valencia, Spain
Date: March 2014
Photographer: Stacy Orbaker
Affiliation: Staff
Home Country: United States
Category: Arts & Culture
2025 International Photography Exhibition

“During the month of March, Valencia Spain is host to "Festival de Fallas." This festival was declared an UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2016. Two years prior, 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.  Each Fallera wears traditional dress of elaborately embroidered silk. This image caught a moment of support offered to a fellow Fallera as they pressed onward to the ofrenda.”

“Juwiring Umbrella Painter”
Location: Mojolaban Artisan's Village, Central Java, Indonesia
Date: July 2024
Photographer: Richard Smith
Affiliation: Alumni
Home Country: United States
Category: Places
2025 International Photography Exhibition

“Jurwiring umbrellas are a traditional craft typical of Klaten, Central Java, Indonesia, and are hand made of paper and wood and are intricately hand painted. Originally, these umbrellas were used for death ceremonies and traditional rituals at the Kasunanan Palace in Surakarta. However, over time, the function of these umbrellas has evolved to become decorative items used in hotels, homes, etc. We met this skilled artisan at the Mojolaban Artisan's Village, Central Java.”

“La Dama Viola”
Location: Venice, Italy
Date: January 2012
Photographer: Jynel Casey
Affiliation: Staff
Home Country: United States
Category: Arts & Culture
2025 International Photography Exhibition

“At Venice's Carnival, anyone could step outside their identity‚ even if just for a day. This image captures the timeless elegance of the celebration, where history, art, and personal expression converge in a dazzling display of disguise.”

“La niña y su caballo blanco”
Location: Trinidad, Cuba
Date: March 2024
Photographer: Wendy Pramik
Affiliation: Staff
Home Country: United States
Category: Places
2025 International Photography Exhibition

“In Trinidad, a UNESCO World Heritage city in southeast Cuba, I met a young girl who rides her white horse through her family "home" space where the lines between indoors and outdoors seem to disappear. Our local guide introduced us, and I was struck by the way this moment blended history, tradition, and daily life. The image feels meaningful to me because it captures both the uniqueness of her world and the enduring spirit of Cuban culture.”

"Maintenance at Dusk"
Location: Chillika Lake, Odisha, India
Date: December 2024
Photographer: S. Snehil Pulluri
Affiliation: Graduate Student
Home Country: India
Category: People
2025 International Photography Exhibition

“A fisherman at Chilika Lake, the largest coastal lagoon in India, repaints his boat blue before heading back home for the day. Despite this being taken at sunset, it was still a scorching 85 degrees outside. The fisherman hides in the shade and under the colors of his boat -- like a poetic illustration of the ways occupation can be at once protective and also restrictive in India.”

“Maman”
Location: Bilbao, Spain
Date: January 2024
Photographer: Murtaza Mohammadi
Affiliation: Staff
Home Country: Afghanistan
Category: Arts & Culture
2025 International Photography Exhibition

“Maman, designed by Louise Bourgeois and located in front of the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao. This photo captures the contrast between human scale and monumental art.”

“Nature's Symmetry”
Location: Banff National Park - Alberta, Canada
Date: September 2025
Photographer: Jason Joseph
Affiliation: Staff
Home Country: United States
Category: Places
2025 International Photography Exhibition

“Symmetry is something I strongly resonate with and appreciate for the balance it brings, while at the same time offering contrast between the two sides. Because of wildfire smoke in the area, the refection in this image is slightly clearer than the actual landscape. To me, the refection illustrates what things once were, before the haze altered the appearance.”

“One Step from the Edge”
Location: Xingjiang, China
Date: June 2025
Photographer: Hang Su
Affiliation: Undergraduate Student
Home Country: China
Category: People
2025 International Photography Exhibition

“Portuguese Cistern”
Location: El Jadida, Morocco
Date: November 2014
Photographer: Kelly Hays
Affiliation: Staff
Home Country: United States
Category: Places
2025 International Photography Exhibition

“The Portuguese Cistern in El Jadida, Morocco is a 16th century underground water reservoir built during the Portuguese rule. It integrates elements of both Moroccan and Portuguese architectural styles. I was drawn to the beam of light shining through the oculus, and reflections of the beautiful columns and arches in the water.”

“Pure Joy on Display”
Location: Panama
Date: March 2023
Photographer: Inga Smith
Affiliation: Alumni
Home Country: United States
Category: People
2025 International Photography Exhibition

“On another cruise, we made a stop in Colon. Drawn by jubilant music being played somewhere, I came upon a group of young people performing on the dock. All the dancers clearly loved what they were doing, but I was especially captivated by this young couple that was so beautifully adorned and so reflective of the culture of Panama. I spent a wonderful hour enjoying the varied dances and watching the musicians perform the cheerful music. Could have stayed longer but alas, I had to board the ship and sail away. (As an aside, I loved noting that the young woman has braces on her teeth.)"

“Resting Wooden Boat”
Location: Saiho-ji Moss Temple, Kyoto, Japan
Date: June 2025
Photographer: Keying Chen
Affiliation: Undergraduate Student
Home Country: China
Category: Places
2025 International Photography Exhibition

“This photo captures a small wooden boat resting quietly by the moss-lined shore of a temple pond, with the clear water reflecting the vivid green of the surrounding maple trees. I took this photo because the scene embodies the calm, timeless beauty of Japan's moss temples, where nature and human craft exist in perfect harmony. It is meaningful to me because it reminds me to slow down, appreciate stillness, and find peace in simplicity, much like the philosophy of Zen itself.”

“Rhapsody in Blue”
Location: Old Havana, Cuba
Date: February 2024
Photographer: Wendy Pramik @wendypramik
Affiliation: Staff
Home Country: United States
Category: Arts & Culture
2025 International Photography Exhibition

“In a tenement house in Old Havana, I photographed the Rumba All Stars, an Afro-Cuban music and dance group whose energy filled the room. One dancer, dressed in vibrant blue, moved in rhythm with her bandmates, radiating pride and joy. My high-school Spanish helped bridge the language gap, making the image meaningful not only for its beauty, but for the cultural connection we shared in that moment.”

“Road to Patagonia”
Location: Patagonia Region, Argentina
Date: April 2025
Photographer: Jordan Schoenfeld
Affiliation: Faculty
Home Country: United States
Category: Places
2025 International Photography Exhibition

“This perspective conveys the breathtaking scale and raw beauty of Patagonia's mountains, where the vast landscapes stretch endlessly toward the horizon. The contrast between the winding road and the dramatic natural colors highlights the dialogue between human presence and wilderness. For me, this moment was both exhilarating and humbling.”

“Señora del Cigarro”
Location: Old Havana, Cuba
Date: February 2024
Photographer: Wendy Pramik
Affiliation: Staff
Home Country: United States
Category: People
2025 International Photography Exhibition

“While exploring the narrow alleys of Old Havana, I photographed a woman in her centuries-old, crumbling tenement, where daily life unfolds against a backdrop of vibrant colors and textures. Our local guide introduced us, and I was immediately drawn to her colorful dress, her cigar, her warmth, and the openness in her smile. Her surroundings told as much of the story as her expression. To me, this image captures the spirit of La Habana Vieja‚Äîresilient, full of life, and deeply rooted in history.”

“Shake the sleeping self”
Location: Chile
Date: March 2024
Photographer: Mason Campbell
Affiliation: Staff
Home Country: United States
Category: Places
2025 International Photography Exhibition

“I hitchhiked over 1,000 km to make it to Torres Del Paine National Park. I arrived late at night and went for a walk early in the morning only to be shaken awake by the moment.”

“Sydney Opera House with a Crown”
Location: Sydney, Australia
Date: May 2025
Photographer: Shaoru Cheng
Affiliation: Graduate Student
Home Country: China
Category: Places
2025 International Photography Exhibition

“A luminous sphere of light dances above the iconic sails of the Sydney Opera House. Hundreds of synchronized drones paint the night sky with lines of motion. The reflection on the harbor ties earth and sky into one glowing canvas. This moment celebrates the harmony of technology, art and human wonder.”

“Symmetrical Students”
Location: Kanazawa, Japan
Date: May 2023
Photographer: Nathan Spencer
Affiliation: Alumni
Home Country: United States
Category: People
2025 International Photography Exhibition

“This photo was taken in the 21st Century Art Museum, specifically while viewing a work by James Turrell. The work is essentially an open cut-out in the ceiling, and the puddle covered floor is the result of recent rainfall. I was looking at the work with some friends when a group of Japanese students came and sat directly across from us. I thought it was interesting to see school groups visiting a contemporary art museum, one where a lot of the works on display aren't immediately digestible to an audience. I quickly snapped a photo and I love how perfectly symmetrical it turned out. ”

“Taking Flight”
Location: Galapagos Islands, Ecuador
Date: March 2025
Photographer: Daniel Kelley
Affiliation: Staff
Home Country: United States
Category: Places
2025 International Photography Exhibition

“A pair of male frigatebirds taking flight on the coast of San Cristobal Island, Galapagos, Ecuador. Vegetated volcanic terrain in the background.”

“The Boats of Tam Cốc”
Location: Tam Cốc, Bích Động, Vietnam
Date: August 2025
Photographer: Scarlett Finn @scarlettfinnn
Affiliation: Undergraduate Student
Home Country: Canada
Category: Arts & Culture
2025 International Photography Exhibition

“A sea of traditional green sampan boats fill the dock at Tam Cốc, Vietnam. Each one is paddled by foot, by local women guiding visitors through the local rivers and caves. The boats not only represent local transportation, but are also symbols of local craftsmanship and cultural endurance.”

“The King”
Location: Masai Mara, Kenya
Date: July 2025
Photographer: Dan Hilker
Affiliation: Alumni
Home Country: United States
Category: Places
2025 International Photography Exhibition

“Our guide while on safari was a local Maasai who grew up nearby. He had a keen sense of knowledge of the lions' habits and where to find them. He was so attuned to his "place" that he knew where to find this male lion based on the weather and the movement of the pride of females and cubs we encountered the evening prior. It was inspiring to meet someone who connected so deeply with their place of upbringing. ”

“The Streets of Angkor Thom”
Location: Angkor Thom, Cambodia
Date: November 2015
Photographer: Kelly Hays
Affiliation: Staff
Home Country: United States
Category: People
2025 International Photography Exhibition

“A lone monk draped in orange looks toward the ruins of the Bayon Temple in the center of Angkor Thom as tuk tuks speed by in the background. The monks are part of the ongoing life at the temples, offering blessings and spiritual guidance.”

“Time and Tobacco"
Location: Cuba
Date: March 2024
Photographer: John Butterfield
Affiliation: Alumni
Home Country: United States
Category: Arts & Culture
2025 International Photography Exhibition

“While I was on a tour in Cuba, our group spent a few days in Viñales, which is the heart of the country's tobacco region. We visited an older couple on their small tobacco farm. Their homestead had humble furnishings but was very clean and well organized. While the wife was busy in the kitchen with its wood-fired stove, the husband smoked a cigar and shaped tobacco leaves to roll cigars. When thinking about Cuba, one of the first things that comes to mind for many people is cigars. Tobacco growing and the productions of cigars has been part of the Cuban culture for hundreds of years, starting with the indigenous peoples, and Cubans are proud of this tradition. The texture of the elderly man's hands, the leaf and the cigar tell a story of hard work, craft and time.”

“Under the Old Giant”
Location: Tokyo, Japan
Date: February 2025
Photographer: Juwon An
Affiliation: Undergraduate Student
Home Country: South Korea
Category: Places
2025 International Photography Exhibition

“What remains unshaken even as time passes? I think it's the value that can be gained over time-perhaps that is historicity.

I captured Tokyo Tower, perhaps Tokyo's oldest landmark. We tend to think that as we get older, we get pushed aside by the new generation. When Skytree, a new Tokyo landmark, was built, people assumed Tokyo Tower would be no exception.

But, my first visit to Tokyo was in 2017. Eight years later, I revisited Tokyo Tower, and it still wield its power. It seems like there's more time left for Tokyo Tower. Because it has already become the heritage of old generation.”

“Water and Color”
Location: Alajuela, Costa Rica
Date: May 2015
Photographer: Ryan Staples
Affiliation: Staff
Home Country: United States
Category: Arts & Culture
2025 International Photography Exhibition

“An employee cleans a mural in Alajuela. While walking to breakfast in the central plaza of Alajuela, Costa Rica, I came across this woman rinsing the colorful mural along the side of her buidling. I found the colors especially vibrant as she removed the previous day's dust.”