America Through Our Eyes, a photo contest hosted every fall by the Office of International Services (OIS) showcased the work of 35 international students with 71 unique photo entries. These photos tell a story of discovery and experience while offering the Wolfpack community a view into each student’s perspective.

Mara Mathews, a university library technician in the user experience department, talks about the display of the photographers’ pieces on the common wall of Hunt library.

“The contest itself is actually run by the Office of International Services and the content that they gather,” Matthews said. “Which means the entries that they receive, not only the entries in general but also the people who place first, second and third, all of those are handed over to us once they’ve gathered them and made judgements about them.

“Then we display them on one of our visualization walls digitally, like a virtual exhibit,” Matthews said. “It’s displayed on the commons’ walls and we’ve been doing this for four years, so this makes the fourth year running that we’ve partnered with them.”

One of the library’s overall goals, in order to support the university at large, is to support the efforts of what already exists here on campus, according to Mathews. As the international student photo contest already existed and had high quality content, it seemed like a natural fit for the library’s partnership with OIS. At America Through Our Eyes, each student’s submission got to shine, with some of the participants even getting to see their work on the commons’ wall while passing by.

“A few people, after they found out that they were up and they were live during the initial featured spot, they came by the desk and they were like ‘oh my god,’” Matthews said. “They had taken pictures from the fourth floor because you can see the visualization wall behind them, so you can kind of get that in the picture too. People get really excited about being appreciated for their perspective or their artistic output.”

Hunt library is always looking to partner with existing efforts on campus and display more work from NC State students in the library.

The images take viewers on trip all over the United States — from Alaska to right here on NC State’s campus. These photos carry both stories and memories with them. Kartik Haria, first place winner of the photo contest and a graduate student studying computer engineering, recalls the story behind his winning photo of a child playing among misty water fountains.

“During the summer, I had planned a three-city solo trip to meet friends and relatives,” Haria said. “Boston was one of the three cities. I was exploring Boston downtown and saw this place right at the center of a busy street with water fountain. The water from the fountains along with the mist particles gave a brilliant visual. Since Boston experiences a warm climate only for four months, the children frolicked amidst the fountains. There were tall buildings around, but I am someone who loves to capture emotions. So, clicking the children around was an obvious choice. The water, mist and playfulness of the child gave a good frame to capture.”

The photo contest provided a platform for photographers to express their experiences in the U.S. through many different lenses. A beautiful variety of points of view grows the contest into something unique each year.

“I got to see beautiful shots from all other participants, and all of them were different experiences,” Haria said. “It reminded me of some experiences I have already had, and also, I have added a few to my to-do list.”

We have a diverse community on campus, but it isn’t one typically seen by all, according to Mathews. This photo contest offered an opportunity to have these students’ voices heard, and their perspectives expressed through visual art.

Haria has been taking photos for the last three and a half years, and it remains one of his favorite ways to relax from the hectic life of a graduate student. This pure love of photography is what led him to participate in American Through Our Eyes.

“For me, this competition was about me expressing my experience of staying here in the U.S. via my photography,” Haria said. “Sometimes, rather most of the times, for me, pictures speak volumes in a moment — something words might take longer or forever [to express]. America is a beautiful country, and one should experience all aspects of it — mountains, beaches, deserts, rivers, national parks, snow lands, night skies, etc.”