Photo Contest – 2013

Thanks to the talented globetrotting BU community, we could not have been happier with our inaugural global photo contest. We received over 420 photos representing all corners of the globe and submitted by more than 150 faculty, staff, and students in 13 schools/colleges and a handful of administrative offices.

It was a delight to review each photo and read the stories behind them. So many were engaging, interesting, thoughtful, and playful. But with so many quality photos, it was a challenge to choose the winners. Fortunately we were joined by Peter Southwick, associate professor of journalism and director of the photojournalism program, who lent his 30 years of experience as a photojournalist to our judging committee.

After much discussion and debate, we whittled down the field to the top 15 overall and the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place prize-winning photos among them. For larger views, click each photo. Enjoy!

First Place: Tru Hoang (ENG’15)—Reminiscence

Berlin Wall, Germany while studying abroad with BU in Dresden

Judges’ Commentary: Global engagement means reflecting on the past to better understand and appreciate the present. Tru Hoang elegantly captures the sensitivity of the historical lessons represented by the Berlin Wall and reminds us to engage intellectually, emotionally, and tangibly.

Second Place: Lee Veitch (CAS’13)—Laughter

Huangcun, Anhui Province, China while studying abroad with BU in Shanghai

Judges’ Commentary: Global engagement means finding common ground. As Lee Veitch described to us, no matter how old you are or what culture you come from, laughter truly is contagious. So much so that we couldn’t help but smile wide when looking at this photo. It captures a carefree moment filled with energy and excitement, begging us to jump into their spontaneous tickle fight.

Third Place: Daniel Ranalli (MET professor)—Monk Crossing the Mekong River

Luang Prabang, Laos while traveling through Burma (Myanmar), Cambodia, and Laos to research a book on the ruins in Pagan, Burma and some of the more remote ruins of Angkor Wat in Cambodia.

Judges’ Commentary: Global engagement means finding the bright spots in our journeys. For Daniel Ranalli, the Mekong River was a like a lifeline running through his travels in Southeast Asia. As every adventurer knows, travel can often be chaotic and filled with uncertainty; but sometimes it can be dull. In Professor Ranalli’s photo, the brightly dressed monk captures our attention amid a monochromatic palate and reminds us to appreciate the highlights that punctuate our travels.

Runners-Up (in alpha order)