2023 International Photography Exhibition
Source: https://oia.osu.edu/all/2023-international-photography-exhibition Parent: https://oia.osu.edu/2023-international-photography-exhibition
Garden of Kings
"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.
Stranger in a strange land
“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.”
Himalayan Masks
“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.”
Strangers
“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."
Hometown moon
“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.”
Tea Ceremony
"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.”
Land of Volcanoes
"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.”
The Early Bird
“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.”
A Lock Made by COVID
“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.”
Le Chat
“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.”
The Blackness of the Black Sea
“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.”
Ancient Escalator
“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.”
Pathos
"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."
The final stream power night
“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.”
At Noon
"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.”
Metal Worker
“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.”
The Little Explorer
“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.”
Azure Umbrella
"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.”
Mulafossur Waterfall
“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.”
The Otter
“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.”
Beyond the Gate
“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.”
No Fear
“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."
The Ugandan Centenarian Mzee
“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."
Buenos Aires Protest
"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.”
No Fishing Today
"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!”
Traditional Farming
“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.”
CBD buildings in Beijing
“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.”
Omo Valley Man
"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.
Udaipur Women
“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."
Cadini Di Misurina
“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.”
Painters
“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.”
Untitled
\ "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.”
Canvas of Tea
“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.”
Reflection of Joy
“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.”
Cobalt
"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.”
Rolling Through Røkland
“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.”
Dream
"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.”
Shanghai in the Rain
“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.”
Field Trip to the Museum
“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.”
Sorrento Family Farm
“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.”