News & Events

Il Pleut Partout by Sarah Pan, First Place, Global Seminar category -- This photograph was taken on a rushed morning as our class was walking along a small street in Avignon, France. While quaint shops and decorative roads describe the atmosphere of this city (where the famous Festival d'Avignon is held each year), this one sight was particularly mesmerizing. As we crossed one road, we all looked up to an overcast of colorful umbrellas, collectively floating for no apparent reason. And while it was as visually enchanting as it appears, it more importantly captured the spirit of the festival for all of us – as tourists, students, and novices to the artistic scene.

Walking on Water by Shannon Oscher, Second Place, Global Seminar category -- On the outskirts of the tiny island of Cat Ba, there are fishing villages that float entirely on the water. This part of Vietnam is extremely difficult to get to - but often cited as one of the most beautiful parts of the world. The entire island is sustained by the produce of small fishing nooks like this, hidden in the karsts.

Sunset in Hue by Sunny Qin Place, Third Place, Global Seminar category -- Hue is one of the cities that I loved most in Vietnam. The old town provided us an escape from the modern city life in Hanoi. This river runs across the old town, busy with boats coming and leaving. During sunset time, the river reflected the 5pm soft sunlight, while the boat and the fist net casted shadow in the glamourous sunset scene. This photo not only captured the sunset in the old town Hue but also included the traditional elements in Vietnam: boats and fish nets.

Bubbles in Prague by Zoe Tu, First Place, "A Window on Eurasia" category -- This photograph was taken in Prague, Czech Republic this past summer. I had an internship in southern France, but had the chance to travel a bit afterwards. Prague was one of my favorite cities that I visited. The architecture was so beautiful, and there were so many different sights to see. Like many European cities, Prague has lots of narrow alleyways that suddenly open up into large squares where people can congregate. I took this photograph with my iPhone in the Old Town Square, a very busy part of the city. It was near dusk and there was a woman with a bucket of bubble solution and a sort of bubble wand, just waving it around and making these beautiful iridescent bubbles. Children and adults alike were playing with them, and framed against the castle-like architecture surrounding the square, it looked like a scene from a fairytale.

Cesky Krumlov by Sofia Hiltner, Second Place, "A Window on Eurasia" category -- I loved this small city in the South Bohemian Region of the Czech Republic. A river weaves through this small city and is often used for rafting.

The City of Hills by Anna Wolcke, Third Place, "A Window on Eurasia" category -- My picture shows one of many moments of surprise during my travels throughout Bulgaria. It depicts the city Plovdiv, which is known as “the city of the seven hills.” After climbing up one of these hills, I was struck by the threefold contrast between the grey skyscrapers in the periphery of the city, the neglected but once admirable historic district at the foot of the hill, and the bright colors of the hills themselves. To my complete astonishment, the hill was covered by graffiti, something not able to be seen in its entirety from the bottom. This picture, to me, reflects my realization that Bulgaria is a country full of small wonders ready to be explored, if one just takes the time to do so.