International Photo Contest 2017/2018

We are pleased to announce the winner of the fourth annual International Photo Contest at the Alberta School of Business.

GRAND PRIZE WINNER

Håkon's entry "Above the Fog" was chosen from among the 10 finalists by a selection panel of faculty, staff and student representatives of the School of Business and the online student vote. As the grand prize winner, Håkon will receive a $300 prize and have his photo prominently displayed on the 3rd floor of the Alberta School of Business. His entry and accompanying abstract clearly conveyed the idea of going outside one's comfort zone that comes with international/intercultural experience and demonstrates how travelling can open us up to new things.

RUNNER UP

RUNNER UP

All the entries selected as finalists were outstanding in their own right and represented a wide variety of perspectives and experiences. Some showcased personal adventures in breathtaking settings, others depicted a sense of venturing out into the unknown, and still others portrayed the character and culture of local people in a meaningful way. For this reason, they are all very difficult to compare to one another. All these entries were worthy in their own way and deserve recognition and appreciation.

Thank you to everyone for making the 2017/2018 Alberta School of Business International Photo Contest a great success!

2017/2018 Finalists

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Strolling down Whyte Ave isn't quite the same
Aimee Van Dam, MBA 2018
Monte Carlo, Monaco

Traveling abroad has expanded my outlook on life; this was my first time overseas and will definitely not be my last. My broadened perspective has deepened my understanding on what is important in life. I have learned to appreciate every moment as it comes and to not sweat the small things. As Ferris Bueller once said: "Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it!"

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pause (Runner-up)
Brenna Androschuk, BCom 2019
Iceland

This summer I explored the beautiful landscape of Iceland and the hidden gems it has hiding such as this chair mounted on a rock over looking the Icelandic fields and mountains. I like to remove myself from reality for a while when I travel and immerse myself in the moment. This stoop was perfect to do that; pause that moment, enjoy where I was and ignore any stresses in my life.

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Brighton Station
Derek Eng, MD/MBA 2020
Brighton, England

Travelling via rail provides great insight into a new destination. It is akin to getting a non-verbal history lesson in fast-forward as the train passes both newly developed and aging infrastructure whose architectural style time stamps these buildings to a specific era. It gives a sense of how and where people migrated over time.

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Giraffe at sunset in the Serengeti National Park (Runner-up)
Garrett Rokosh, BCom 2018
Serengeti National Park, Tanzania

I think that Delta Airlines commercial said it well - "the ones who truly change the world, are the ones who can't wait to get out in it." Traveling is uncomfortable because things are different than they are at home and everything that we've learned is challenged. Those who experience that challenge can't help but have their perspective broadened, impacting every decision they make in their life. Travellers have a better grasp of how big the world is and what the important problems are.

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Above the Fog (Grand Prize Winner)
Haakon Ruud, MBA Exchange 2018
Seoraksan, South Korea

Even though I had lived in Norway my entire life, I never had any interest in hiking. This changed when I met Natalie during my exchange in Korea, we had almost nothing in common, but her unbridled enthusiasm for walking up a large grey rock persuaded me to go with her. I had no expectations, so I was absolutely blown away (figuratively) by the view when we reached the peak. Going on exchange is one of the best decisions I ever made, as it resulted my now favorite pastime, hiking up a large grey rock.

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Freedom
Hana Lee, BCom 2018
San Francisco, USA

Whenever I have a break from school, I have tried to travel as much as I can, as often as possible. Some people might tell me that I should've looked for a job and built my career, but I believe that wandering our wonderful world gives us the valuable experience for our future. Exploring the new food and culture and meeting and seeing new people will enrich our life... I am ready to go on my next adventure.

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Ancient Construction Techniques
KunQian, BCom 2020
Nanjing, China

I took this long exposure photo at Ming Xiaoling Mausoleum in the past summer. This Mausoleum was built 600 years ago, however the architecture is still in great condition due to the great ancient construction techniques. All the stars at the night move in a circular motion centered at Northern Star, which looks like "star trails" in the long exposure photo. I was shocked on how accurate the architecture faces the north direction, as the northern star is right above the architecture.

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A View Like No Other
Mathilda Lambert, BCom 2018
Lagos, Portugal

This summer, I was fortunate to be able to end my internship early to travel to a country I had dreamed of visiting for a long time: Portugal. I was quickly fascinated by its orange rooftops, mosaic tile murals, bright sunsets and warm water. I came home from this trip feeling enriched with new sights and inspired by the Portuguese way of life, which is so different than mine. Travelling has pushed me outside of my comfort zone, allowed me to escape my routine, encouraged me to try different things, and made me feel free. I am already looking forward to my next adventure!

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A Moment in Time
Melanie M. Liu, BCom 2019
Arashiyama, Japan

I truly believe that self-discovery happens outside of one's comfort zone. To travel is to see the world from a lens that may be very different from your own or the one that you are used to. For me, travel has served as an oasis from the everyday hustle, into places where I am uncomfortable and foreign. However, it is exactly through these experiences that I have learned what I value and the kind of person I want to be. I have learned to develop empathy for people from different walks of life, and most important I have learned that every single person is living in their own frame of life - each unique and worthwhile.

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Lovely Shanghai
Tammy Tran, BCom 2019
Shanghai, China

This summer I went to teach English in Nanjing, China. It was a three-hour train from Shanghai, so my roommates and I decided to take a weekend trip and explore the city. There, we visited M50 Creative Park, an entire neighbourhood of displays, galleries, and cafes. This picture was taken in front of one of many murals that lined the route towards the center of the art district. Not knowing any Mandarin, I had trouble navigating through China, but the park felt like home. It made me realize that a picture is worth a thousand words, in many languages.

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