The past year has seen students ushered into virtual spaces as they continue their studies from all over the world. This makes it easy to forget the diverse physical spaces Queen’s students inhabit. 

While travel is still limited, this year’s submissions to the 13^th annual Queen’s University International Centre Student Photo Contest transport the viewer around the world and share a sense of wonder in the ordinary and extraordinary alike. These photos serve as a reminder of the diverse experiences Queen’s students bring to their studies as they remain dedicated to their education across nations and time zones.

Contest winner Veronica Opreff is a fourth-year Continuing Education student majoring in Language, Literatures, and Cultures. She shared the story behind Mountain Reflection, her winning photo taken while she visited Japan.

“This photo was taken on Christmas Day 2019. As we went throughout the day, my friend and I realized how lucky we were to have an amazing clear view of the iconic Mt. Fuji,” she explains. “We decided to go explore a traditional Japanese village, and as we were walking around and within the different buildings, I came across this window reflection. I knew I had to capture the framing because the image perfectly encompassed the beauty of the mountain within the culture that surrounds it.”

This year’s contest saw close to 80 students submit photos. It served as an opportunity for international and domestic students to highlight their interest in photography. The contest winners are chosen by a panel of local photographers and arts leaders who asses the photographs on aspects such as composition, visual impact, and idea behind the piece.

The contest is part of an enhanced effort by QUIC to engage Queen’s students, wherever they may be, during this unique period.

“To support international students studying remotely in Kingston and around the world, we have doubled our program offerings with an intention to accommodate different time zones,” says QUIC coordinator Hanna Bathurst. “We continue to explore more ways to deliver our programs and services, and we are open to hearing about new innovations from our students. This enhanced use of technologies has taught us how we can be more accessible to students. We can confidently say that some of our virtual activities will remain long after the health and safety restrictions are lifted.”

In addition to the overall contest winner, the QUIC Student Photo Contest highlights winners in four categories:

• Critical Global Issues Category Winner: Jiawei Wen – All You Need Is Love
• People and Culture Category Winner: Ziou Zheng – Have a Rest
• Nature Category Winner: Emily Marriott – Majestic Sheep
• People’s Choice Vote Winner: Rebecca Laskin – Face Amidst the Foliage

The complete 2021 QUIC photo contest gallery is available on Flickr.

Visit the QUIC Facebook page and website to learn more about all of the events and activities underway.