2009 Photo Contest

In recognition of International Education Week, the University of Memphis’ Study Abroad Program presented an International Photo Contest exhibit November 16 - 22, 2009. The photos were taken by University of Memphis students while studying abroad during the 2008-2009 academic year.  Each of the thirty contest entries are listed below, along with the descriptions provided by their respective photographers.

First Place Winner: #21 by Patrick Mitchell Czech Republic
	Prague, a prominent city since the late 900s C.E., is known as "The Golden City" and "The City of a Hundred Spires." Today the city's medieval squares are filled with traffic, advertisements, and global retailers. In a city overrun with foreigners, I was left to question the total cost of tourism. See a larger version

Second Place Winner: El Volcan Irazu by Angela Godwin Costa Rica
	This photo was taken very early in the morning at Volcan Irazu National Park. It took about 2 hours to get up to the volcano -- a very long bus ride! Upon enterin ghte National Park and Volcano, the weather was extremely cold compared to the mild, warm climate in the Central Valley of San Jose. While looking at the Volcano, clouds began to roll in and it rained -- freezing rain! It was very cold, but an interesting experience. See a larger version

Third Place Winner: Immaculate by Jaclyn Castillo Switzerland
	This photo was taken during our tour of a Swiss organic farm. I was overwhelmed with the location of the farm and the perfect background drop surrounding it. Unlike the flat plain American farm, the Swiss farmer has the privilege of working in a picture perfect environment. See a larger version

Friendship by Fabricio Benevides Hungary
	We stopped by a farm on a trip to the Hungarian countryside. I was amazed to see how friendly the owners were, although no one could speak a word of English. I was even more impressed to know that this girl saddling the horse had to ride thirty minutes every day to go to school. See a larger version

Reflection of Human Rights by Amy Brown Switzerland
	When entering the Red Cross Museum courtyard, I was taken aback by the majestic grace and haunting beauty these stone figures represented. They are a bound and blindfolded international symbol of human rights violation. These statues are made even more striking with the reflections of the Red Cross Crescent flags upon entrance to the museum. See a larger version

Untitled by Jenny Bryant France
	The sky darkened, but the gradiosity of Versailles inspired; we felt splashy. We immersed ourselves: literally, in the Grand Canal; metaphorically, in French culture. It was spontaneous, possibly prohibited, definitely funky, and the water-depth was unclear, but we jumped! This photo made the trip home. This attitude made the trip. See a larger version

Le Cirque de Culture by Dana Carter France
	I and my fellow classmates had just arrived and were mingling, introducing ourselves while discovering the new culture and shops of a quaint town. In the historical district of Chambery, France, called "Ancienne Ville," a circus of jugglers and acrobats dressed in colorful rags entertained their multicultural audience. Ancienne Ville definitely provided the old town aura I was searching for in my study abroad experience. This picture truly captures the vibrant and antiquated character of Chambery. Just like this upside-down performer, so was my world turned after studying and living in beautiful France. See a larger version

Encounters with Tradition by Mallory Collins India
	At the time the photo was taken, the Indian girls were very interested in their encounter with an American as well as with a camera. Ini the background, girls are playing soccer while wearing traditional clothing. The picture represents a typical interaction between Westerners and Indians while also showing the influence of tradition in modern India See a larger version

This is Our City by Jason Gerhard Italy
	The Statue of Petrarch - Built when Mussolini came through Arezzo as an homage to Petrarch and a unified Italia. Since then, only one side of this statue has been graffitied to express remorse against fascism and a unified Italia. Only in Arrezzo one day and I already saw what is essential Italy - a love of city, and taste of Italy. See a larger version

Greetings from the Native Land by Britnee Gillum Dominican Republic
	The natives greeted us by singing, dancing and serving us drinks. When we arrived at the resot, they were happy and excited to see us. They gave us hugs and wanted us to dance with them. They were happy to know that we were there to help their people. I felt so welcomed by them. See a larger version

Sunset Over Prague Castle by Gian Gozum Czech Republic
	I got separated from my group while in Prague and decided to take advantage of that time by exploring the city. After hours of getting lost in the city, I came across a hill, where I saw this beautiful sunset taking place. This picture really made being alone in a foreign country worthwhile. See a larger version

Maps by Melissa Harris Czech Republic
	I recall the map disintegrating in the rain, leaving my eyes as the compass, my feet the vehicle. History embedding every statue, suddenly it is somehow more real. Etching a unique path and submitting to spontaneity, I decide to follow the statue, respond to the surroundings, ignore nothing, acknowledge everything. See a larger version

The White Heron Castle by Jodi Hilton Japan
	For almost 400 yeaers Himeji Castle has kept watch over Himeji City in Japan. Having been preserved in its original elegance, Himeji Castle stands as a monument to ancient Japanese architechture and design. It is like a perfectly preserved time capsule that provides a glimpse into a time now past. See a larger version

Memorial by Kaylah Holland Poland
	My study abroad was titled, "Genocide in German History," but our trip mainly focused on the Holocaust. This photograph was taken in Krakow, Poland at Auschwitz 2--Birkenau, one of the German's main concentration camps during the Holocaust. I titled this photograph "Memorial" because that is how I think of Auschwitz and that is how it is actually used now. This concentration camp was a death camp for hundres of thousands of people. Today this concentration camp is a museum to honor those that lost their lives during the Holocaust. This aspect is shwon in the photograph by the beautiful flowers that had been placed by a family member to pay tribute to their family who had suffered at the hands of the German Nazis. This train track brought millions of people into this camp on an almost daily basis. If the people survived the train ride it was in this location that the train stopped and if they were not chosen to go immediately to the gas chambers they were sent to either the women's camp on the left or the men's camp on the right. The visual oxymoron of the gloomy day with the dull train tracks and the bright, hope-giving presence of the flowers was an image that I had to capture to remember my experiences that day. See a larger version

Sugar Cane Oxen by Gordon Johnson Costa Rica
	We took an excursion to La Paz waterfall garden in Costa Rica. Before going to see the waterfalls, we happened to run into a local sugar cane farmer. He offered to give us a ride on his oxen and we couldn't pass it up. See a larger version

A Game of Chess by Carroll Keith Switzerland
	Throughout Europe, the town squares are thehearbeat of the community. People gather to socialize and in geneva, Switzerland, play a game of chess; a came played for thousands of years, spread throughout the world by merchants engaging those they met in a friendly match. See a larger version

America and Africa by Ronald Little Ghana
	The photo is designed to show Amercians and Africans. You can seem some kids trying to immitate me in this pose. Also notice the child with her school book and the many styles as well. Also the school in the background, with no roads and different levels of poverty. See a larger version

The Coffin by Stephanie Maddox Poland
	How can you pay homage ot over one million individuals' death? This humble tribute caught my eye. As if it were the coffin of the innocent lives that we taken, someone laid thse beautiful flowers as the foot of the railroad tracks that brought them to their tragic death. See a larger version

Turkey Rescue by Sara Mashburn Denmark
	10 family-less American study abroad students gathered to try and recreate Thanksgiving while abroad. Our American sized turkey in the Scandinavian sized oven was a mixture destined to fail, as our pan proved to us -- breaking in the oven, getting all of the juices in the oven, and smoking out the whole flat. However, this Thanksiving dinner will forever be my favorite! See a larger version

Daddy's Little Girl by Katherine Miller China
	Walking through the marketplace, this father stopped to explain something his daughter pointed out, even though she might not have understood, it made me smile to see a patient, supportive and loving father taking time out for his child, a concept that should be universal among parents everywhere. See a larger version

Berlinerdom by Daniel Pelletier Germany
	The size and magnificent architechture of the Berlin Cathedral was both shocking and awe inspiring. Germany, in my mind, was always a country steeped in history but to witness many of its wonders in person is something I will never forget. See a larger version

All We Need Is Love by Emily Pilkington England
	I took this photo at Abbey Road in London where The Beatles famously walked. People from all over the world come to cross the famous walkway. This message, "all we need is love," was written on a nearby gatepost and really spoke to me as a symbol that people from all different cultures and backgrounds have many o the same ideals. The message is still as strong today as when The Beatles sang it decades ago. See a larger version

Under a Genevea Sky by Adam Queen Switzerland
	This photo signifies the beauty that is the city of Genevea. It is european architecture set against the bare blue sky. While walking through Genevea, you cannot help but be caught up in the elegance of the buildings, the freshness of the air, and the majestic nature encompasses the city. I learned that even though the world is such a big place, somehow we share a connection with every part of it. See a larger version

House in Szentendre Village by Ago-Erik Riet Hungary
	The village of Szentendre near Budapest is a Hungarian idyll. Walking past this house, I had a surprise when I reached the other side. It symbolizes the glorious past of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, the Golden Era of the early 20th century, the rainbow-colored history of the world wars and the difficult socialist era. See a larger version

Castle of Caerphily by Audrey Stimpson Wales
	I took this photo while visiting Caerphily Castle in Wales. I attempted to capture the beautiful essence of the old ruins of Caerphily. I wanted the photo to invoke a feeling of awe much like the castle invoked awe for me. See a larger version

High on Life by Jennafer Stonecipher Costa Rica
	This was taken at Tayutic valley, which specializes in coffee and macademia nut exports. After chewing on sugar cane and listening to the music floating up the moutain, my firend Jennifer and I were brave enough to climb and jump off these anicent spheres. We felt on top of the world. See a larger version

Overwhelming City by Silu Wang Japan
	This photo is of a market street in Nikko, Japan. The photo is important to me because it shows how overwhelming and busy a Japanese city could be. There are many food and game advertisements as well as the city tower in the center. We were visitng Nikko to see the tower. This place was so different to me: a landscape of color and detail I've never seen in my whole life. It was amazing to me. this pictures shows my overall iimpression of a city in Japan. See a larger version

Cobblestone Feet by Jervette Ward-Ellis Germany
	During a daytrip to Regensburg Germany, I observed beautiful churches, architecture, and people. However, the quaint roads were my favorite sites. I wanted to be like the cute European women walking the cobblestones in beautiful shoes. The reality was that my feet were already hurting in my "American" shoes. Sigh! See a larger version

The Crossing by Virginia Wise Hungary
	Studying abroad means crossing a number of personal boundaires. Whether by corssing into a new country futher away then you've ever been, crossing a language boundary and entering a fresh, unique culture, or corssing a bridge connecting the Buda and Pest sides of Hungary's capital, one's experiences are full of new frontiers. See a larger version

A Special at the Alhambra by Edward Yarbrough Spain
	See a larger version