“A Day with the Dead”
Location: Orizaba, Mexico 
Date: October 2025
Photographer: Nathan Peachman
Affiliation: Alumni
Home Country: United States
Category: Arts & Culture
2026 International Photography Exhibition

“Dia de Muertos (commonly mis-titled as Dia de los Muertos) is a Mexican holiday where families celebrate their loved ones returning home every year. The marigold flowers, native to Mexico, are placed in altars and doors ways across the country. Their strong scent is said to guide the spirits back home. From candles lining the streets at night, to children playing in the streets, Dia de Muertos is an explosion of culture and hospitality. Pictured here is a float that was part of the Orizaba parade. It is a stark contrast to how death is viewed in many cultures across the world and one of the most beautiful times to be in Mexico.”

“A Light of his Own”
Location: Istanbul, Turkiye 
Date: January 2025
Photographer: Qu Zizhuo
Affiliation: Undergraduate Student
Home Country: China
Category: People
2026 International Photography Exhibition

“I took this photograph while walking through Istanbul at night. The city around me was filled with grand architecture and warm lights, but my attention was drawn to a street vendor quietly working beneath the bright lights of his small cart. For a moment, the enormous city seemed to disappear, leaving only him and the small space in which he worked.”

“A Punt's Weathered Bone”
Location: Peggy's Cove, Nova Scotia, Canada 
Date: June 2025
Photographer: Richard Smith
Affiliation: Alumni
Home Country: United States
Category: Places
2026 International Photography Exhibition

“Once she worked the cold Atlantic, through salt, fog, and weather. Now she rests above the tide - still beautiful in her weathered bones.

Taken in Peggy's Cove, Nova Scotia, Canada this once hard working Double-ended Punt served many a fisherman.”

“Above the Clouds of Kilimanjaro”
Location: Mt. Kilimanjaro, Tanzania 
Date: June 2026
Photographer: Shin Wong
Affiliation: Alumni
Home Country: United States
Category: Places
2026 International Photography Exhibition

“Trekking through the unique alpine desert zone of Mount Kilimanjaro, where ancient giant groundsels rise from the rugged landscape beneath Africa's highest peak. This image captures the profound isolation and beauty of high-altitude exploration, right before the final summit push.”

“Andean Watcher”
Location: Cusco, Peru 
Date: June 2026
Photographer: Katherine Gibson
Affiliation: Undergraduate Student
Home Country: United States
Category: Places
2026 International Photography Exhibition

“The subject of this photo is a lone llama overlooking the ruins of Machu Picchu. I took this photo because I thought it did a great job encapsulating the landscape and culture of Peru in one image. The llama in the foreground adds a unique and unexpected element to the famous landscape, while the mountains and ruins show the beauty and history of Machu Picchu. This photo is meaningful to me because it captures a moment from my time in Peru that I will always remember. It reminds me of how beautiful and unique the experience of being able to explore Peru was.”

“Awaiting the Wind in Torres del Paine”
Location: Torres Del Paine National Park, Chile 
Date: January 2025
Photographer: Xiaoming Huang
Affiliation: Alumni
Home Country: United States
Category: Places
2026 International Photography Exhibition

“A summer day in Patagonia. I pulled over at a viewpoint facing the massive peaks of Torres del Paine National Park. The air was wild, windy, and cloudy. Suddenly, a lone guanaco stepped into the frame, pausing in the steppe right between me and the mountains. It felt as if the wind completely stopped. Standing in the shadow of giants, a profound tranquility washed over me. I captured this moment on my phone, and it remains one of the most unforgettable highlights of my journey through Chile.”

“Beyond Borders”
Location: Ladakh, India 
Date: July 2019
Photographer: Arkobrato Gupta
Affiliation: Graduate Student
Home Country: India
Category: Places
2026 International Photography Exhibition

“High in the Himalayas, Pangong Tso stretches between Ladakh and Tibet, surrounded by rugged mountains and a vast blue sky. As a flock of birds takes flight over the shimmering lake, their graceful movement contrasts with the stillness of the barren landscape. This fleeting moment captures the breathtaking beauty of the Himalayas, where nature transcends geographical boundaries and life finds its way through even the most remote wilderness.”

“Bolivian Rain Storm”
Location: Bolivia 
Date: June 2025
Photographer: Carol Shurlow
Affiliation: Staff
Home Country: United States
Category: Places
2026 International Photography Exhibition

“I was participating on a photography tour to Chile and Bolivia. As we were traveling through Bolivia along the road the group watched the storm approach. I took the photo because of the rain and the lighting on the foreground flora.”

“Buckeyes in Bali”
Location: Lempuyang Temple, Bali, Indonesia 
Date: June 2026
Photographer: Ella Laws
Affiliation: Undergraduate Student
Home Country: United States
Category: Places
2026 International Photography Exhibition

“This photo was taken during my teaching internship in Bali, Indonesia. My friend Autumn and I both embarked on the experience of a lifetime when we traveled across the world to study the educational experiences of students globally. During our 6-week internship we traveled to all parts of the island which offered us the opportunity to learn more about the Balinese people, their culture, and the places most important to them. This includes the Lempuyang Temple which is one of the oldest and most important Hindu temples In Bali. ”

“Cat Nap”
Location: Santa Cruz La Laguna, Guatemala 
Date: August 2026
Photographer: Emily Nothnagle
Affiliation: Graduate Student
Home Country: United States
Category: Places
2026 International Photography Exhibition

“In a lovely shop overlooking Lake Atitlán, the shopkeeper's cat sleeps on the job. ”

“Children at Miroir d'Eau”
Location: Bordeaux, France 
Date: April 2014
Photographer: Robert Coulter
Affiliation: Alumni
Home Country: United States
Category: People
2026 International Photography Exhibition

“At Bordeaux's Miroir d'Eua, the water cycles between mist/fog and a 2cm thick, 3450 square meter reflecting pool where children play, creating fun and excitement as well as relaxation for all.  Capturing the whole scene accurately is a challenge due to the erratic movement of the children and the fog, but I was fortunate to have perfect sun, clouds and time of day for soft light and good reflections that I could capture with low ISO, moderate shutter speed and a great f stop for my lens and required depth of field.”

“Climate change is real and near”
Location: Katla ice cave, Iceland 
Date: May 2024
Photographer: Nikhil Tambe
Affiliation: Alumni
Home Country: India
Category: Places
2026 International Photography Exhibition

“Nowhere is climate change as starkly noticeable each day as much as anywhere than in Iceland. Formations of lava have been created new land but the same place is also witness to melting glaciers. The Katla ice cave is a reminder of these melting glaciers and the unusually beautiful vantage that it has created with the black lava soil in the foreground and the window opening into the faraway horizon with blue skies representing the rest of the planet was too much to not miss.”

“Cruising the Canal”
Location: Venice, Italy 
Date: September 2022
Photographer: Janae DuLaney
Affiliation: Staff
Home Country: United States
Category: Places
2026 International Photography Exhibition

“Enjoying a gondola ride down the Venetian canals with family and friends. My family and I take international trips every few years, this one being special because we got to meet up with our dear Italian friend and enjoy a ride down the canals with her. She lived here in the states some years ago and had to go back so it was a treat to reconnect with her in her country.”

“Custodians Of The Desert”
Location: Rann of Kutch, Gujarat, India
Date: August 2016
Photographer: Lopa Basu
Affiliation: Alumni
Home Country: India
Category: People
2026 International Photography Exhibition

“A young Raika herder guiding his Kankrej herd through the dust of Kutch. I took this photograph walking alongside the nomadic pastoralists of Gujarat. For centuries, the Raika / Rabari have navigated the arid stretches of Kutch, their lives rhythmically bound to their livestock. In a rapidly developing world, they remain the guardians of India's oldest indigenous cattle breeds. Their vibrant turbans and traditional white cotton top are deeply symbolic of their community identity."

“Dancing in town”
Location: Hefang Street, Hangzhou, China 
Date: July 2026
Photographer: Jiayi Chen
Affiliation: Undergraduate Student
Home Country: China
Category: Arts & Culture
2026 International Photography Exhibition

“The subject was a lady dancing in traditional costumes. I took this photo because I was attracted when I walk pass the street. The dancer doing the traditional dance blends perfectly with the old town setting. I think the scene can demonstrate the charm of traditional culture and art within a modern historic block.”

“Fire Dance”
Location: Bali, Indonesia 
Date: July 2026
Photographer: Justine Franklin
Affiliation: Alumni
Home Country: United States
Category: Arts & Culture
2026 International Photography Exhibition

“In southern Bali, Uluwatu Temple temple hosts a fire dance. The actors perform a Hindu story of Prince Rama attempting to save his wife Sita after she was stolen by the demon king Rahwana. An ally comes in the form of the monkey king, Hanoman. While infiltrating the demon king's castle, Hanoman is captured and imperiled by a ring of fire. But Hanoman escapes his bindings and begins kicking the fire back at his captors, leading to Rama ultimately defeating the demon king and rescuing Sita. It was an amazing play and I still don't know how the actor managed to safely kick the fire across the stage!”

“Havana, Suspended”
Location: Havana, Cuba 
Date: March 2024
Photographer: John Butterfield
Affiliation: Alumni
Home Country: United States
Category: Places
2026 International Photography Exhibition

“This photograph was taken during a tour in Cuba in 2024, when two ballerinas from the Ballet Nacional de Cuba joined us at a weathered colonial building in Havana - its stone balustrade, timeworn shutters and wrought-iron window grille standing as backdrop and stage at once. The eye goes first to the dancer in mid-leap, her white tulle skirt caught in motion, one leg extended along the length of the railing as if she might clear it entirely. But it's the second dancer - seated quietly in purple, watching - who holds the photograph together. Her stillness is its own kind of performance and counterbalances the energy at the top of the frame: Is she waiting her turn, critiquing the line of the jump or simply lost in the moment? The building's faded grandeur gives both ballerinas a stage that feels theatrical rather than accidental - as if Havana itself were watching, too.”

“I CAN FLY”
Location: Bali, Indonesia 
Date: April 2026
Photographer: Divyesh Desai
Affiliation: Alumni
Home Country: India
Category: People
2026 International Photography Exhibition

“This photograph was captured to seize a moment of pure freedom, adventure, and the striking contrast between humanity and nature. It captures the thrilling sensation of soaring above the world.

This image holds a deep personal significance as a representation of letting go, taking a leap of faith, and finding balance.”

“Lanterns Light”
Location: Kyoto, Japan 
Date: August 2020
Photographer: Daniel Watson
Affiliation: Alumni
Home Country: United States
Category: Arts & Culture
2026 International Photography Exhibition

“Captured essence of this ancient city.”

“Mahishasura in the Making”
Location: Kumortuli, India 
Date: July 2025
Photographer: Anuvab Sarkar
Affiliation: Graduate Student
Home Country: India
Category: Arts & Culture
2026 International Photography Exhibition

“I took this photo in Kumortuli, Kolkata while artisans were preparing idols for Durga Puja. The unfinished clay figure of Mahishasur fascinated me because it reveals the human craftsmanship behind a familiar mythological story before it becomes part of the celebration.”

“Mumbai: Resilient by the Sea”
Location: Mumbai, India 
Date: December 2019
Photographer: Sharvari Karandikar
Affiliation: Faculty
Home Country: India
Category: Arts & Culture
2026 International Photography Exhibition

“On November 26, 2008, the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel stood at the center of a tragic terrorist attack. In the heavy days that followed, my social work colleagues and I provided counseling and support to grieving families. Returning a decade later to stand before the Gateway of India and the Taj Palace Hotel, I felt immense awe‚ quiet salute to Mumbai's unbreakable resilience.”

“Pagoda Amidst The Clouds”
Location: Ninh Binh, Vietnam 
Date: July 2026
Photographer: Benny Nguyen
Affiliation: Undergraduate Student
Home Country: Vietnam
Category: Places
2026 International Photography Exhibition

“I took this photo while going on an in country tour with my roommate and his family when they came and visited me in Vietnam. The contrast of a plain moss-covered pagoda amidst the boundless sky really put me in awe. This scenic picture is one of the best I've ever taken and will be forever memorable to me!”

“Pillar of Inori”
Location: Fushimi-Inari, Japan 
Date: November 2017
Photographer: Tommy Paris
Affiliation: Graduate Student
Home Country: United States
Category: Arts & Culture
2026 International Photography Exhibition

“Focusing on one Ema while blurring the rest, to me, gives weight to the vast amount of prayers that are added every day. When overwhelmed with seemingly never ending objectives or goals, it's important to remember that each one is important and valuable, accomplishing one at a time, enables growth and discipline. ”

“Sagrada Familia”
Location: Sagrada Familia, Barcelona, Spain 
Date: January 2022
Photographer: Robert Coulter
Affiliation: Alumni
Home Country: United States
Category: Arts & Culture
2026 International Photography Exhibition

“During my time inside the Sagrada Familia it was full of tourists, so the best shots were straight up. This view of Antoni Gaudi and Barcelona's Sagrada Familia was taken in the afternoon‚ "warm side" light, so noted because the west side stained glass windows are all done in the warm colors while the east side's are the cool colors, greens, blues and violets. Morning interior shots of this extraordinary basilica are very different from this. Like some other famous architects, Antoni Gaudi's work displays a deep understanding of the relationship between nature and the mathematics of architecture.”

“Sandboarding in the Atacama Desert”
Location: Atacama Desert, Chile
Date: March 2025
Photographer: Carol Shurlow
Affiliation: Staff
Home Country: United States
Category: People
2026 International Photography Exhibition

“I was hiking on a photography tour in the Atacama Desert and came across people sandboarding. Looked like a lot of fun and not expecting to see."

“Spirit of Jasper”
Location: Jasper, Alberta, Canada 
Date: July 2026
Photographer: Laura Simerlink
Affiliation: Alumni
Home Country: United States
Category: Places
2026 International Photography Exhibition

“Spirit Island on Maligne Lake is called "The Hall of Gods" because the surrounding mountains are reminiscent of a grand natural cathedral.”

“Spirited Away”
Location: Nakanojo- Shima, Japan 
Date: November 2025
Photographer: Carter Burke
Affiliation: Undergraduate Student
Home Country: United States
Category: Places
2026 International Photography Exhibition

“The ryokan in this photograph is often cited as one of the real-world inspirations behind the bathhouse in Hayao Miyazaki's Spirited Away, which made seeing it in person feel even more surreal. This photograph is meaningful to me because it captures one of those rare moments when traveling starts feeling like a thin place between earth and something much greater.”

“Still in Motion”
Location: Kyoto, Japan
Date: April 2026
Photographer: Neal Zhang
Affiliation: Undergraduate Student
Home Country: China
Category: People
2026 International Photography Exhibition

“During the final days of cherry blossom season in Kyoto, I watched a maiko perform at Hyatt Regency Kyoto. I took this photograph while she was dancing, not only to preserve a moment from my trip, but also because it made me think about how local traditions continue to live in modern Japan. What stayed with me was that the performance did not feel like something preserved only in the past. Through movement, dress, and practice, tradition was still being performed in the present."

“Stories of Pushkar”
Location: Pushkar, Rajasthan, India 
Date: November 2015
Photographer: Abishek Haldar
Affiliation: Alumni
Home Country: India
Category: People
2026 International Photography Exhibition

“I photographed this elderly woman in Pushkar, Rajasthan. Against the vibrant colours of her traditional attire, it was her expression and the weathered face that caught my attention - a portrait that seemed to carry many untold stories.”

“TeamLabs Tokyo”
Location: Tokyo, Japan 
Date: May 2025
Photographer: Alessandro Duarte
Affiliation: Undergraduate Student
Home Country: United States
Category: Arts & Culture
2026 International Photography Exhibition

“A visual art exhibit in Tokyo, Japan. My favorite trip I've ever been on, I was filled with pure wonder and amazement the entire time I spent in the country. My time in the exhibit was among the most engaging moments I had in Japan, and I couldn't leave without taking some pictures.”

“The Angst of Exile”
Location: Renk, South Sudan 
Date: May 2026
Photographer: Bob (John) Ditty
Affiliation: Staff
Home Country: United States
Category: People
2026 International Photography Exhibition

“I travelled to Renk, South Sudan to document the stories of Sudanese refugees forced from their homes by the ongoing war in Sudan and into South Sudan.

This image remains one of my favorites. It shows a woman waiting outside the outdoor clinic in an overcrowded refugee camp, the weight of everything she has endured written clearly on her face. Like so many others here, she left behind everything she knew. What stays with me is the quiet intensity of her expression. The strain, the endurance, and the long road that brought her to this moment.”

“The Craftsman”
Location: Dazhao Wuliang Temple, Hohhot, Inner Mongolia, China 
Date: July 2026
Photographer: Sutong Li
Affiliation: Undergraduate Student
Home Country: China
Category: People
2026 International Photography Exhibition

“This photo shows a craftsman carefully repainting the colorful details of a traditional building at Dazhao Wuliang Temple. I took this photo because his concentration and patience caught my attention. It is meaningful to me because his careful work helps preserve traditional Chinese architecture and culture for future generations.”

“The Day I Found Peace”
Location: Skardu, Pakistan 
Date: October 2021
Photographer: Mah Rukh Raja
Affiliation: Graduate Student
Home Country: Pakistan
Category: Places
2026 International Photography Exhibition

“This photograph was taken on a work trip, where I was the interior design lead for an upcoming luxury resort for Pakistan Air Force. I took this picture from my project site. I had recently suffered a huge personal loss - the biggest and the toughest one of my life. And on this day, here I was, finishing up what was possibly the most important project of my career.  As I stood in front of this beautiful, magnificent landscape that brought together the open sky and water, and everything in between, I thought: "The God who made THIS and let ME witness it, will make it ok." At this point in time, I was at my lowest and highest at the same time. And for one glorious moment, I felt at peace. And I took it all in.”

“The Moran”
Location: Maasai Mara, Kenya 
Date: May 2024
Photographer: Richard Smith
Affiliation: Alumni
Home Country: United States
Category: People
2026 International Photography Exhibition

“This photograph of a proud Moran was taken in a manyatta (Maasai village) in the Maasai Mara, Kenya. Traditionally, Maasai men pass through age-set stages and the Moran period is associated with warrior hood, community protection, discipline, and responsibility.”

“Varayoc of Pisac”
Location: Pisac Market, Cusco, Peru 
Date: July 2015
Photographer: Pablo Chignolli
Affiliation: Alumni
Home Country: India
Category: People
Award: Honorable Mention
2026 International Photography Exhibition

“Taken on a bustling Sunday outside the market church in Pisac, Peru, this portrait captures the respected leader of a visiting group of Andean villagers. He holds a silver-adorned staff of office (Quechua: Varayoq; Spanish: bastón con plata), a profound symbol of hierarchy and community governance born from a blend of Spanish colonial law and the traditional authority structures of the Inca Empire. He is clad in an intricately woven chullo, ceremonial montera (hat), and vibrant poncho to attend a local baptism. As someone originally from Peru with maternal roots tied to the peasants of the Cajamarca Andes, my lifelong love for Andean culture has drawn me back to Cusco five times. When I saw this group, I felt instantly overwhelmed with respect and pride for my homeland. Surrounded by a protective guard of men, this leader felt unapproachable, yet his presence was magnetic. I captured this image because I knew I was witnessing a rare, deeply authentic piece of living Inca culture - marking the first and only time I had ever seen a community leader of such profound importance. 

This image represents the intersection of my personal identity, family heritage, and academic journey. After leaving Peru at age 23, I went on to study Latin American Cultural Studies with a focus on the Andes and Amazon at The Ohio State University. To me, this photograph is much more than a documentary snapshot; it is a visual culmination of my heritage and my studies. Seeing this leader brought me almost to tears, and looking at his portrait today serves as an enduring anchor of my immense pride in being Peruvian.”

“The lone farmer”
Location: Las Brujas, Canelones, Uruguay 
Date: May 2024
Photographer: Marcelo Dapino
Affiliation: Faculty
Home Country: United States
Category: Arts & Culture
2026 International Photography Exhibition

“Farmer Sebastian "Tato" Fernandez pauses mid-labor while adjusting his agricultural machinery. Tato largely works alone now that his daughters have grown and moved to the city. Small farms like his, with roughly 100 acres of fertile land, remain an important component of Uruguay's economy. I took this photograph while visiting Canelones, Uruguay, wanting to document a candid glimpse into everyday rural life. Tato's traditional boina (beret) serves as an enduring symbol of the gaucho identity and the quiet ruggedness, pride, and resiliency of the Uruguayan countryside.”

“To ride or not to ride”
Location: Torres del Paine, Chile 
Date: December 2023
Photographer: Micah Unzueta
Affiliation: Alumni
Home Country: United States
Category: Places
2026 International Photography Exhibition

“The decision to ride the catamaran is more than financial, it's epistemological. What is missed when we travel the fastest route from point A to point B? What is the experimental cost of increasingly high speed transportation? Heeding the words of Robert Frost, I took the primitive trial, walking 15+ km. perchance I encounter a wild puma.”

“Twaalf Apostels at Dusk”
Location: Cape Town, South Africa 
Date: May 2026
Photographer: Jack Swartley
Affiliation: Undergraduate Student
Home Country: United States
Category: Places
2026 International Photography Exhibition

“The Twelve Apostles at golden hour, seen from above Camps Bay. We hiked up as a group one evening and stayed for hours, nobody in a hurry to leave. I turned away from the water at some point and this is what was behind us, the whole range lit up while everyone else was still watching the sun. There were twelve of us on that trip, strangers when we landed, sitting for an entire evening under a mountain range called the Twelve Apostles. I don't think any of us said the obvious thing out loud.”

“We Are the Visitors”
Location: Tarangire National Park, Tanzania 
Date: September 2026
Photographer: Nerea Lopetegui
Affiliation: Faculty
Home Country: Spain
Category: Places
2026 International Photography Exhibition

“Two giraffes, a few zebras, and the Tarangire at sunset. It was one of those moments that made everything else feel very far away.

In the Tarangire, there is a deep respect for nature and wildlife. There is a quiet understanding that we are the visitors. The animals are not there for us; we are lucky to share their world for a moment.

In a world that can feel so full of noise, chaos, and uncertainty, being surrounded by this much beauty felt almost necessary. Nature has a way of reminding us to slow down. To observe.

Perhaps animals can teach us more than we realize: to live in the present, to coexist without needing to control, and to move through the world with a little more respect.

What a privilege it is to live in a beautiful world. And what a responsibility it is to protect it.”

“Where Curiosity Lives”
Location: Tandi, Landak Regency, West Kalimantan, Indonesia 
Date: February 2019
Photographer: Kunto Nurcahyoko
Affiliation: Graduate Student
Home Country: Indonesia
Category: People
2026 International Photography Exhibition

“This photo shows elementary school students in Tandi, a remote community in West Borneo, Indonesia. I took it in 2019 while participating in a community service program focused on education. I wanted to capture the students' joy and enthusiasm for learning despite the limited educational resources available in their community. This photo is meaningful to me because it reminds me of the children I met and the experiences we shared. In Tandi, access to education comes with many challenges, yet these students continue to show up with curiosity, determination, and bright smiles. For me, this photo is a reminder that the desire to learn can thrive even where opportunities are limited.”