2011 Photo Competition Runners Up

Posted by on 19 July 2011 | 0 Comments

Top 10 (not listed in order)

Claudia Conley:

Photo 2 & 3: I was the Mascot for my Athletics club. It was the funniest day. The weather was about 32degrees I and I was dressed head to toe in a massive giant rabbit costumes, sweating like a pig. I actually nearly fainted at the end of the day from sunstroke! Our club came second in the competition and as I went up to get the trophy I was told that I had to do a victory dance on the podium. MC Hammer's "Can't Touch This" played over the speakers and I whipped out the running man and the worm - while still in costume!

Photo 6: This is a photo of my sister and my Australian friend Estelle who lives in Nice. We went to London together with my mum and this photo was taken outside the national theatre in London next to the London eye. I had the best time in London. It was so great to see my family; they really lifted me up and gave me lots of courage and love for the next 5 months :)

Photo 8: At Le tour de France. It has been my dream to watch the Tour de France in real life since I've been young. I watch it every year on the telly with my family and so it was insane to watch it in the flesh.

Photo 9: Taken just after a 15km fun run, 7km downhill and then 8km uphill. The man wearing the Aussie t-shirt is a French man who lived in Australia for a year, he is a friend of my family's and I caught up with him last week when I went to Lille to watch my Australian friends compete in the World Youth Athletics Championships.

June Deng

Photo 1: On my last day, I took this photo as a memorial. During 10 months, I was fully emerged in the country's history, culture and people. I love every second of it/

Photo 2: With my host dad and host sister on one of our short trips.

Photo 5: During these 10 months, I met a lot lovely people who welcomed me with generous hospitality. They are who make this world beautiful. With one of my best friends, Clarisse and her grandmother.

Verity Hubert

Photo 5: Trying on masks for carnival. Something I’ve learnt is that this exchange is the best way to get a clean slate and try being who you are – no pre-dispositions. Only then can you discover who you want to be. The exchange experience makes you face the real you – gives you a new perception of who you really want to be.

Photo 7: For me one of my biggest issues was comparing myself to other exchange students. And for me, there was another person who had done exceedingly well with the language, when I found myself struggling, I really doubted myself. I learnt I needed to find my own shoes and be comfortable with myself; otherwise I wouldn’t be able to enjoy myself.

Amy Austin

Photo 1: Seino - JUMPU! The greatest thing about being in Japan is getting to play with the adorable kids on my host family's beautiful farm. It's a dream come true!

Cecile Kampden

Photo 1: Asakadai, Japan: About 3 weeks into my stay in Japan, I still really hadn't sorted out my feelings for the exchange. Then barely two days after the 'Ohanami' (flower viewing) festival, when the Sakura trees had started to shed their pale pink flowers, did this happen. As dense as snow, the leaves were swept by a strong wind and it rained with petals. This was truly a shifting point in my exchange, going from uncertainty to stunned by the simple beauty of trees.

Photo 2: Imperial Gardens, Chiyoda, Tokyo, Japan: I think by the time I stepped on the plane heading back to Sydney, I had taken over 7000 photos during my 10 month stay in Japan. This picture was an unlikely favourite of mine simply for the cliché old vs. new theme I thought it presented. I really do admire the way the Japanese seem to keep a very controlled balance between the past and the future, never really placing one above the other. They're a very old fashioned people and yet very on top of everything new and modern, just like the beautiful Imperial Gardens right in the Centre of Tokyo.

Photo 3: Kinshicho, Tokyo, Japan: Living with my 3rd host family was an interesting experience. Every afternoon when walking home from the train station, I would pass the same group of kids playing in the mist-sprayers outside the mall under my apartment building. Cheeky little things always giggled and ran away when I got close to them. I finally managed to get a shot of them while playing. I regret not learning their names.

Photo 9: Kamakura. Japan: Buying well-wishes and charms from the local temple is a typical practice in Japan, especially around public holidays and festivals. Funnily enough, you don't necessarily get a good charm when you buy one; chances are you might get a really bad one. If so, the Japanese people hang them on strings tied between poles or in trees for the wind to carry away the bad luck. 

Abe Leslie

Photo 1: This is me for a big French family dinner with a big block of gruyere. One thing I will definitely miss will be the cheese, in my host family we would eat a block like that a night!!

Photo 2: With my French sister Juliette (left) and cousin, Eloïse (right) making a feast for a big French Family reunion. The food is amazing; I am 7 kilos heavier to prove it!! But I regret nothing; this has been the best experience of my life.

Photo 3: My French host sister Juliette and I have a baguette sword fight, just the average family dinner in France!!

Kasumi Borczyk

Photo 1: Here's a photo of my host sister and I 'hanging out' in the city center. I really loved moments like these when i was able to experience life as a local in such a beautiful city!

Photo 2: My host family drove me around the streets of Paris at night, it was amazing!

Photo 4: My host family took me to the famous village of Saint Emilion. It was amazing to be able to visit such old monuments and learn about the countries culture.

Congratulations to the winners and to everyone who participated. Click here to view the top 3 winning photo entries.