The art of noticing

As we observe the world, many small moments in our lives often go unnoticed. Photography is a practice that highlights this ability, inviting us to recognize and appreciate the moments that might otherwise slip by, preserving them for eternity. This skill of capturing fleeting instances was embraced by the emerging photographers at UMD, who used their cameras to document their identities, interests, and experiences. Through the act of noticing, they shared their unique perspectives with the world.

Within // Without | A word from the juror Gina Cholick 

“While reviewing the students' work, I was struck by how they used photography to process both their personal experiences and those of the world around them. The theme "within/without" emerged naturally. Students explored deeply personal subjects such as processing a traumatic injury, navigating relationships with religion, grieving the loss of a loved one, confronting loneliness, and grappling with obsessive thought patterns. At the same time, they raised profound questions about our impact on the natural world, capturing images of the human figure within landscapes and macro photographs of insects—reminders of the delicate, interconnected systems that sustain our environment.”