Each year the Study Abroad office hosts an International Photo Contest where students, faculty and staff can submit photographs they have taken while abroad. Sharing their overseas experiences with the UNC Asheville community brings the world to Asheville and helps the larger community better relate to their experiences.
The 2025 Photo Contest is now accepting submissions! All entries must be submitted by January 20th, 2025 at midnight.
Please submit your photos to: https://forms.gle/ynofck1WJEFrqoTb7
The annual International Photo Contest will display the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and Honorable Mention photos for each category in the Blowers Gallery. Contestants and winners will be featured on the Study Abroad website and in publicity materials. Winners will be announced in November during our International Education week.
See Photo Contest winners from previous years on the left.
What’s the point? ↓
We want to encourage serious photography among our UNC Asheville travelers, help them see their new surroundings more deeply and create a photographic record of their experiences. And it’s fun!
Who can take part in this contest? ↓
Participants must be UNC Asheville students, faculty or staff. You may submit photos from vacation travel abroad, UNC Asheville programs abroad, non-UNC Asheville programs abroad, independent study at a foreign university, a foreign internship or paid work experience, international service learning, or a research project abroad leading to a paper at UNC Asheville.
Can I submit photos that were taken in other locations during my international travels? ↓
Yes! For example, a participant in one of UNC Asheville’s programs in France could submit a photo taken in Rome.
How many photos should I submit and what are the categories? ↓
You may submit only one photo per category. The photos need to be categorized by:
- Nature’s Beauty – Landscapes, panoramic views, wildlife, and outdoor activities
- People – Children, adults, families, self-portraits, and group photos
- Reflections – This category will seek photos that visually represent the life-altering experiences of study abroad students, and the positive difference the trip made on their outlook and on them personally. For this category, we ask students to write a brief description of why their photo fits this category and how the event inspired them.
- Cross-Cultural Moments – Cultural events, interaction with host culture, fairs, ceremonies, everyday life, foods, activities, holiday celebrations, local festivals, and other cultural activities. For this category your description must provide a brief explanation of context to help the viewer understand what makes it a cross-cultural moment.
What kind of photos should I submit? ↓
In general, winning photos have been well-composed and well-focused (or deliberately out of focus for artistic effect), and the scenes captured have usually been unambiguously out-of-the-country. Be thoughtful, be creative, have fun. Send us some photos, and see what happens.
Check out our photo tips for a crash course in camera instruction.
What is the prize? ↓
We will display the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and Honorable Mention photos for each category in Blowers Gallery, Ramsey Library. Contestants and winners will be featured on the Study Abroad website and publicity materials.
One student photo in the exhibit will be considered by the Chancellor’s office for a Chancellor’s Purchase Award. The photo that the Chancellor’s office chooses will be purchased by them, and the photographer will receive $250.
If you have further questions, contact ldobson@unca.edu.