Announcing our Spring 2021 Photo Contest Winners!
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- In the hustle and bustle of an ever-growing city like Dhaka (my hometown), one feels disconnected from the natural world. This is why every weekend the citizens of Dhaka head to the groves of Kash-phools (Kans grass flowers) just outside the city borders. This flower is a symbol of change and running through the exquisite shade of green and white, you feel like you have transformed into a bird. You believe you can fly, touch the sky, and reconnect with mother nature! Photo taken in Dhaka, Bangladesh
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- The two little boys at the center of the picture are my brothers. People said twin has a special connection and a particularly intense bond between them. May all of us find ourselves buddies who will always be there for us and give love unconditionally. Especially, may each individual of us can also be the best friend of our souls by accepting and loving all pieces that make us different and special. Photo taken in Vung Tau City, Vietnam.
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- This photo was taken at Johnson City, Tennessee’s first ever Pride parade. The event was marred by the presence of protestors from hate groups; a massive police presence was in attendance in response to threats to the safety of the event. Despite the opposition, beautiful moments of connection like this one bloomed all around me. Photo taken in Johnson City, Tennessee.
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- This picture was taken during a Correfoc (Fire-Run) at night in the Gothic Quarter of Spain. Thousands of people flood these tight alleyways throughout the year to watch parades of people dressed as devils shoot fireworks into the street. I ran around eagerly with my camera, running and dancing with strangers during this exhilarating display of light. At first I stood at a distance, somewhat afraid of the heat and loud pops coming from these fireworks. But after watching a group of toddlers fearlessly run directly under them, I chose to join in on the fun. The chaos and energy was exhilarating, and I’m reminded of that excitement every time I put on the jacket I had on that night, for it still has singes and burn marks from the stray sparks. Photo taken in Gothic Corner in Barcelona, Spain.
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- A walk of a mother and her daughter on a normal Sunday evening. Even now, either in a quiet town or a busy city somewhere in the world, the most precious and extraordinary love emerges from the lens of the most serene and ordinary moment. Photo taken in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.
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- This photo was taken off the side of the bridge spanning over Henley Street. This bridge provides an easy means of connecting two sides of the street to one another, allowing for access without harm. Looking through the holes in the bridge side, you can see the lights of the cars driving along Henley Street. Additionally, all the holes are separate but connected to one another. All of these factors lead me to an overwhelming feeling of connection. The cars and the bridge represent a literal connection, establishing the ability to move amongst different locations. Additionally, the bridge itself connects the campus part of Knoxville to the downtown portion, Connecting two separate groups of people. However, the main facet of the photo- the holes in the side of the bridge – to me, symbolize a connection of a community. Everyone is their own separate person, yet they are part of a whole, connected to one another, just as how each hole is connected into a pattern via the surrounding metal. Photo taken in Knoxville, Tennessee.
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- This is a traditional Korean grave where my grandparents rest in a rural town in Korea. The thought of seeking beyond the small state lines of Tennessee and my comfort was daunting. However, my mom had not been to Korea in 20 years and she wanted to see her family and say her goodbyes. All my fears subsided in the welcoming arms and hearts of relatives I never even met. The connection I had with the grandparents I never met, cousins I never talked to, and aunts I’ve never seen allowed me to open up and just love. Photo taken in South Korea.
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- My parents – who have connected me to everything beautiful in life by always believing in me. Photo taken in Bay of Bengal, India.
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- Hi, hope your day is great! My name is Peibo Li, a junior at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, majoring in Neuroscience and Microbiology. I am an English equestrian member at UTK Equestrian Team, and I am also the photographer for the team. My team traveled to MTSU for our first horse show since the start of the pandemic, everyone was extremely excited. And my teammate Chloe was holding one of our horses, and I thought it was needed to capture that moment. Equestrian show jumping is not only a beautiful sport, but also an extremely dangerous sport. Everyone was also nervous for the first show in a while, I did read that from Chloe’s face. But we as athletes still decide to step out of our comfort zone and challenge ourselves, I think this courage that overcomes the discomfort is a very important part of Olympics’ culture. Photo taken in Murfreesboro, Tennessee.
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- The Earth spins at about 1,000 miles per hour, right? Whether it’s love, culture, money, religion, education, change, fame, a dream…it’s in our nature to chase something, care for something. Along the way we create and find connections with those who chase the same entities as we do. As our world spins, we have no choice but to spin with this blur of events. Some feel this blur by freely flowing through it while others use a more rigid and structured approach to flow through it – neither is right nor wrong. Photo taken in Knoxville, Tennessee.
Have you ever felt a sense of connection with the world around you, or have you ever seen it? Connection is versatile. It is shown through everything, whether it be through family, a bridge, or even the wires connected to your computer. There are so many ways to view connection; you can witness how people connect in a culture you are unfamiliar with, you can feel connected to a culture you’ve always known, etc. Despite differences in cultures, languages, and beliefs…the world is connected in infinite ways. You have been connected to someone or something in every aspect of your life. So, what does connection look like to you?
The Spring 2021 International Photo Contest is a platform for current students to submit photos that they believe best represents a moment of “connection.” This contest is held each semester, and prize are awarded to the winners, which are voted on by a panel of judges. The top 10 entries are displayed in the International House Community Room for the duration of the semester, and the top three photographers receive a gift card. Photo submissions will follow the theme of “connection” through submission of a picture that depicts a moment of connection.
Check back in soon for information about the Fall 2021 Photo Contest!