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Now Accepting Submissions for the 18th Annual Carolina Global Photography Competition

June 1, 2017
UNC Global Affairs
A sheep in front of green mountains with a UNC baseball cap on



Now is the time to submit photos to the 18th annual Carolina Global Photography Competition. This amateur competition, which is open to students, faculty, alumni and staff of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, showcases Carolina’s global activity, educational opportunities, research and service work. The competition closes September 15, 2017.

Each photographer may submit up to three photos. Photos may represent any world region and there is no restriction on the period in which the photograph was taken. Entries will be judged on artistic merit and context. Special consideration will be given to images that are distinctive and embrace new perspectives.

Prizes include a GoPro HERO Action Camera, gift certificates to local restaurants and 20×30 poster prints of image submissions.

Grand prizes will be awarded to first, second, and third place winners.

A Chancellor’s Choice will be awarded to a photo the Chancellor finds globally relevant and distinctive.

Regional spotlights will be selected by area studies centers and departmental units housed in the FedEx Global Education Center. Each unit will choose a photo representing their mission, vision, academic focus and/or world area.

Thematic spotlights will be awarded for photos that incorporate the following themes:

  • Learning Moment
    Educational experiences happen both inside and outside of the classroom, during volunteer work, field research and at any moment in our daily lives. Do you have a photograph that demonstrates a particularly illuminating experience?
  • Movement and Motion
    Movement in all forms surrounds us: people commute to work, water trickles down a waterfall, a train speeds along the tracks. Take a picture that captures movement around the world.
  • Global Perspectives within the U.S.
    Across the U.S., there are signs of our interconnected world and multicultural society. This aspect of our country can be experienced in immigrant communities in cities across the country, through Southern cooking traditions influenced by African culture and in the increased diversity of languages in the States. What signs of global influence in the United States do you find intriguing?
  • A New Take on an Old Landmark
    Images of such landmarks as the Eiffel Tower, the Great Wall of China, the Sydney Opera House and the Gateway of India are recognizable around the world. What’s your new perspective on these historical places and how can they be seen through a “different lens”?
  • Nature’s Beauty
    Got that perfect shot of the sunset over the Zuytdorp Cliffs of Australia or a vista of the Bolivian Salt Flats? Submit your best photo that captures the breathtaking awe of nature you experienced during your travels.
  • School Spirit
    Demonstrated Carolina pride while you were abroad? Heels around-the-world pictures are encouraged, whether you found a UNC blue sky in Rome or wore your favorite Carolina t-shirt for your trek up Machu Picchu.
  • Food for All: Local and Global Perspectives
    The University will examine food and food studies as its 2015-2018 university-wide academic theme. “Food for All: Local and Global Perspectives” will challenge all areas of the University to examine wide-ranging topics, including food cultures and nutrition, food security, world hunger, agricultural economics, resource management, sustainable development, climate change and international trade. Submit photos that further explore this topic and embrace the campus-wide theme.

Additional information on submission guidelines and competition rules can be found on the 2017 Carolina Global Photography Competition website.

The Carolina Global Photography Competition is a collaborative effort of the following UNC departments and centers:

African Studies Center
Carolina Asia Center
Carolina Center for the Study of the Middle East and Muslim Civilizations
Center for European Studies
Center for Global Initiatives
Center for Slavic, Eurasian and East European Studies
Curriculum in Global Studies
Global Research Institute and the Food Theme Steering Committee
Institute for the Study of the Americas
International Student and Scholar Services
Study Abroad Office
UNC Global

Competition contact: Ingrid Smith, manager of global events and exhibitions, Ingrid.smith@unc.edu

Media contact: Katie Bowler Young, director of global relations, kby@unc.edu


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