1^st Prize

Li River

by Alex Stoll

Location : Near Yangshuo, China
Program : The Hong Kong University of Science & Tech, Fall 2006
Description : A jovial rafter propels himself along the Li River on his bamboo raft with his bamboo pole, surrounded by the dramatic karst landscape and primordial-looking trees that make up this region of northeast Guangxi, in southwest China. The exotic terrain is formed by the dissolving of regions of limestone, leaving peaks jutting out of the ground as if they'd burst through. The Li River runs right through this landscape; this stretch sees an unrelenting traffic of bamboo rafts, which must be periodically dismounted and pushed over dams, such as the one visible in the background. Farmers and their water buffalo lazily patrol the adjacent farmlands.

Runner Up

The Girls

by Nancy O'Connor

Location : Village in Rif Mountains, Morocco
Program : IES Granada, Fall 2006
Description : I took this picture in the Rif Mountains, in the northern part of Morocco. We had lunch with a Berber family who were so inviting and welcoming, even though we were only visiting for the day. These girls were giggling and looking at us, the foreigners, through the window of the family's house. In the corner of the picture is a reflection of a friend from my study abroad program looking at the girls through the window.

Honorable Mentions

Chilean Pride

by Monisa Chakraborty

Location : Santiago, Chile
Program : IES Santiago 2006
Description : A group of us attended the Super Classico soccer match between two of Santiago's biggest soccer rivals, La U de Chile and Colo-Colo. The passion in the stadium was truly exhilarating. This shot of the crowd really demonstrates the amount of energy in the stands. From early in the morning fans paraded around town chanting with joy and anticipation, waving their teams' banners. Once we reached the stadium I was surprised to see it filled with military police, ready for anything, standing guard with riot shields and whips. The same police who normally gave me directions with a smile on their face chased us out of the stadium on horseback, flailing their whips. I had never experienced such confusion and terror at the same moment.

Portrait of the Uffizi

by Danielle Mouledoux

Location : Uffizi Gallery, Florence, Italy
Program : Florence University of the Arts, Study Abroad Italy Fall 2006
Description : The wait to enter the Uffizi galleries in Florence will often stretch for hours. As such, there is a multitude of vendors and performers more than happy to lighten the wallets of the waiting tourists—some much more legitimate than others. This talented artist gives his audience a taste of art while they wait, and is good enough at what he does to make the portrait more flattering than the subject.

As Time Goes By

by Jackson Wu

Location : London, England
Program : University of Bristol, Year 2005-2006
Description : On our way to the Temple Church in London, the famed Knights Templar Church in London, my mother and I passed through the middle Temple, one of the four Inns of Court where legal educations were once held. These Victorian styled buildings were erected after the bombings of WWII. That day a slight drizzle hovered around, giving the place much serenity and a timeless feel. The two people in the middle of the picture, either lawyers or lovers, conversed softly while taking shelter under the tree, while a nun rushed to her destination and disappeared behind the branches.

Moroccan Leather Dyes

by Kristin Bresnahan

Location : Fez, Morocco
Program : Universidad de Sevilla, API Spring 2005
Description : This photograph was taken at marketplace leather cooperative in Fez. Here, workers dye the leather before sending it to be shaped and cut in another on-site location. The leather pieces are dipped into large vats of dye over and over again until the desired color is achieved. On a hot spring day, the smell produced by the raw leather and dyes causes both workers and customers to hold mint leaves to their noses.