International experience as a snapshot

Almost 200 pictures - not so easy to choose! The submissions to the “My stay abroad” photo competition overwhelmed the jury. The pictures came from students and employees who have taken part in a stay abroad in the last two years. The 20 best photos were selected by the jury and shown as part of the International Days on Friday, May 9, 2025, at the International Fair - five of them were awarded prizes.

The aim of the competition was to capture special moments of the exchange in pictures: Encounters, moods and impressions from all over the world. The jury, consisting of Gabi Zachmann, Markus Breig, Felix Espert and Tu-Mai Pham-Huu, had the difficult task of making a selection from the numerous entries.

The main prize, a voucher for Deutsche Bahn worth 100 euros, went to Parham Galahroudi. The jury was impressed by the composition of his picture: the tiny human stands in the center, surrounded by mighty rock formations - the picture highlights the contrast between infinity and transience. “The great amazement leaves the viewer impressed,” said the jury.

Lea Chen and Annika Nassal were delighted with the two second places. They each received a voucher for the travel bookshop. Lea Chen's picture impressed the jury with its pictorial elements: a cloudy sky, a huge city panorama and the little person, gazing in amazement, standing small on the mighty boulder - a picture that reminded the jury of Caspar David Friedrich's painting “Wanderer above the Sea of Fog”.

Annika Nassal's photo impressed with its symmetry. The image has perfectly captured the symmetry through reflections and the symmetrical architecture on the right and left, and the edges have also been carefully selected.

Third place went to uckmv and Tim10ig. They each received a voucher for a CEWE photo book. The picture by uckmv impressed the jury with its cinematic light, the lighting effect is perfectly placed: a radiant hut whose light leads out onto the path and literally lures the viewer inside. In contrast, the power of the heavenly light above. All this makes the night-time scene a nocturnal celebration.

Tim10ig's picture impressed the jury with its warm and unusual colors and the horizontal arrangement of the picture plane. The jury was impressed by the people, trapped on a small artificial surface, degraded to a silhouette in a central yet astonishing position and praised the photographer for taking the trouble to change the position in order to place the group in the middle.

During the presentation, the jury took to the stage to announce the winners and present them with their prizes in person.

Many thanks to all the participants who shared their memories and perspectives with us - and to all the visitors to the award ceremony who made this moment so special.