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Photo Contest

What's it like to study abroad? See for yourself through eyes (and cameras) of IUI students.

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Each year, the Study Abroad Office holds an annual Photo Contest to showcase students experiences on our programs. Above are our most recent submission winners. Photo categories included Most Picturesque, Cultural Adventure, Students Abroad, and Community Choice. Photographs should reflect the study abroad experience, not simply traveling. Connections back to your academic program that establish meaningful relations with your photos are especially important. 

Please note that uploads should be a minimum of 900x720 megapixels and in jpg, gif, or png files.

Have you thought about the ethics of photography?

• Privacy Concerns Around Photography

  In order to protect their right to privacy, please do not submit photos of children. Due to the ethical and legal concerns about taking and publishing photos of children, IUPUI Study Abroad will not consider submissions featuring children. 

  Before you post photos featuring children, consider if you have consent from the child’s parent or guardian to take, share, and/or post the photo online? Think about how you would feel if a stranger from abroad was taking and sharing photos of your child without your knowledge or consent. See this  article  for more information on the ethics of photographing children.  

  It is also not appropriate to take pictures of medical, mental health, or dental patients. Students in these fields could be removed from their degree program for taking these kinds of photos. Refrain from taking any photos in medical settings. 

• Did You Get Consent?

  If applicable, did the person/people in your photo give consent to be photographed? Are they aware that you are submitting a photo of them to a photo contest?  Review the following article for more information on photographic consent: Street Photography Ethics (When to Shoot or Not). 

• Is the Photo Respectful?

  • Is the photo respectful to the host country? Please avoid submitting photos that stereotype, exploit, disrespect, or make false generalizations about the host country, its people, and/or its culture. 
    
  • Did you reflect on how others would view and interpret your photo? Would anyone find the photo offensive in any way?   
    1. Does the photo portray you as a hero?  
    2. Watch this Girl Get the Perfect Profile Picture  

   

  • Be respectful of religious/memorial/governmental sites. Consider the purpose of the site and its significance to others. Do you know and understand what you are taking a picture of? 
    1. Make sure you know the rules or laws of the site because photography may be prohibited. 
    2. "How to Be Respectful At Germany's Holocaust Memorials: Not Taking Selfies and Other Tips About Being Respectful"  
    3. “You Could Be Fined for Taking Photos of Geisha in This Kyoto District”   
    4. “No pictures allowed at some of the most popular tourist destinations”  
       

• Rules on Photo Enhancement

  You are welcome to make digital enhancements to your photos (ex. cropping, color balance, brightness/contrast, red eye elimination, grayscale, slight focus adjustments, etc.). To preserve the integrity of the photo contest, edits that change the photo itself (ex. Adding/removing/moving aspects of the photo, drastic color changes, filters, dramatic focus adjustments, etc.) are not acceptable. If you are unsure whether an adjustment is acceptable or not, please check with the Study Abroad Office (abroad@iu.edu).

For more information including an ethical photography checklist, check out this  Social Media Guide.

Submit Your Photos Here