International Education Day Photo Contest Winners
Grand Prize
Clayton Shilling, Missouri Southern State

This photo was taken in Nuremburg, Germany in February 2012. It was by far one of the coldest days of the year. The temperatures had not reached double digits in over a week. Nuremburg was a brief 40 minute train ride from Ansbach where I lived and I decided to go for the day. The photo was taken from the castle that sits high above the city. Standing there, surveying the whole town and watching the smoke rise out of chimneys was breathtaking. It made me enjoy winter just a little bit, despite my frozen fingers.
Study Abroad Winners

This photo was taken in the town of Cesky Kromlov, Czech Republic. The town has been historically preserved and somehow managed to stay that way throughout the communist rule over the country. On the particular day that this photo was taken a local festival was taking place. This man began cooking his meats earlier that morning and was still cooking them into the afternoon. He just so happened to look right at me while the shutter was open. In my opinion, his eyes clarify his expression and adds the concept of emotion to the image.

This photo was taken in Venice, Italy in March of 2012 during the annual carnival. It is the Patriarchal Cathedral Basilica of Saint Mark, the cathedral church of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Venice. I was standing in line to view the inside of the church when St. Mark’s Clock struck noon and colorful confetti was tossed above from the top of the building. Talk about being in the right place at the right time.

This photo reveals China’s struggle to find a place for its vivid past in its quickly changing present. The Leshan Giant Buddha is the largest stone Buddha in the world, constructed in 713, but its history and beauty is sadly overlooked because of long lines, flashing cameras and vendors.
International Students Winners

Duke University, Durham, NC

When I was in Chicago, I brought my macro lens with me. I didn’t get to use my macro lens in Chicago and it was just a burden. But when I saw this transparent decoration on a window, I found another world hiding inside of the decoration.

This picture was taken at Antelope Canyon when my family took a trip to there. It was very beautiful, so I took a picture.