The 2020 International Photography Exhibition features 40 original photographs taken overseas in 25 different countries by 36 Ohio State students, staff, faculty and alumni. The exhibition includes a diverse selection of images captured in Antarctica, Austria, Bolivia, Cameroon, China, Colombia, Cuba, Denmark, Egypt, England, France, Germany, Iceland, India, Israel, Italy, Laos, Myanmar, Scotland, South Korea, Switzerland, Taiwan, Tanzania, Turkey, and Vietnam.
Abhishek Haldar, an alumnus from India, earned the Best in Show award for his portrait submission “Witness of Time” that he photographed in Darjeeling, India. Haldar’s photographic eye also earned him the First Place award in the Arts & Culture category for his image, “The Holi Festival, India.” The First Place award in the People category was bestowed upon “Striking a Pose,” captured by anthropology professor Mark Mortiz in Cameroon while doing research on herders in 2011. Alumnus Elliot Gilfix won the First Place award in the Places category for his long exposure capture of "Moulin Rouge" in Paris, France.
Best in Show: "Witness of Time" by photographer Abhishek Haldar
The 36 exhibition photographers represent a cross-section of Buckeyes including: 15 undergraduate students, five graduate students, two staff members, two faculty and twelve alumni of Ohio State. Not only are the photographs international, but many of the photographers are as well. 17 photographers are international and hail from eight different countries, including: China, Eritrea, India, Italy, Slovakia, South Korea, Taiwan and Vietnam. China boasts the most photographers with five undergraduate students, one graduate student and one alumnus in the exhibition.
Photographs in the exhibition were first submitted in three categories to the International Photography Competition, an annual contest open to all members of the Ohio State community. Over 275 members of the campus community submitted more than 600 photographs across three categories: People, Places and Arts & Culture. As part of the competition, Ohio State Buckeyes from 28 countries submitted photographs taken in more than 75 countries. The Places category had the most total submissions with 240 photos entered. Over 160 photographs were submitted in the People category and more than 170 images in the Arts & Culture category.
The place winners and best in show photographs were selected by a three-person judging panel of students and staff at Ohio State. The judges honored one selection with the overall Best in Show award and selected first, second, and third place winners in each category. The judges also awarded honorable mention recognition to 30 photographs.
The 40 images selected for the exhibit were entered into an online People’s Choice vote through the Office of International Affairs Facebook page and Instagram feed. More than 5,400 votes were cast and People’s Choice winners were chosen by the public in each category. Alumna Kate Holland won the People’s Choice award in People for her “A Rendezvous” image captured in Antarctica. An international student-athlete from Italy, Matteo Bennati won the People’s Choice in the Places category for his photo “Natural Majesty” that was taken in the Faroe Islands. Taken in Scotland while on an education abroad program, “Highland Cattle” by animal sciences major Maria DiFrancesco captured the People’s Choice selection in Arts & Culture.
Organized annually by the Office of International Affairs, the international photography competition and exhibition has showcased Ohio State’s top international photography for 20 years. Visit International Photography Competition & Exhibition to view the current exhibition or browse past photography exhibitions.
