1st Place

Program: London, Fall 2010

Andy Alton ponders the mystery of Stonehenge on a field trip with Webster friends during their study abroad experience at Regents American College London.

2nd Place

“Serenity”

Program: Thailand, Spring 2011

This is a photograph from when the Webster University Thailand took a group of students to the tiger temple (aka. Wat Pha Luang Ta Bua) on January 29, 2011. This photo was taken while a student was walking one of the tigers around the temple, and a monk was watching over the interaction.

3rd Place

Program: Geneva, Fall 2010

Montreux, Switzerland

4th Place

“Loch Lomond at Dusk”

Program: Leiden, Spring 2011

Loch Lomond, Scottish highlands, February 13th 2011

“Village Wedding”

Program: Thailand, Spring 2011

I spent 5 weeks living and working with Thailand’s Karen and Hmong (hill tribe) youth. One weekend we were invited to attend a Karen wedding in my friend, P. Fa’s, village. This woman was the mother of the bride. She invited us into her home and let us feast on the traditional wedding food. I like this picture so much because it so accurately portrays the beauty and generosity of the Karen. Her gown, earrings, and headscarf are all completely hand woven on a lap loom and delicately hand embroidered. In the background you can see the stilted hut she lives in. These homes are usually one or two rooms with nothing but mats on the floor for comfort.

Program: London, Fall 2010

The picture I have submitted was taken during the student fees protest in London. It was one of the most amazing experiences I had while abroad and really immersed me in the political youth culture while I was there. It was something unexpected that made the news all around the world.

“Getting soaked in Chiang Mai during Thailand's water festival, Songkran”

Program: Thailand, Spring 2011

April 14, 2011

The picture I have attached was taken in Chiang Mai during Songkran, the Thai New Year/ Water festival. I was taking pictures through a plastic bag and got this one right before I got drenched with ice cold water. I felt like this picture captured the moment perfectly because it's hard to remember what the city looked like at this time. Every time you turn a different direction you get splashed with water, which is what Songkran is all about!

“Elderly Couple Looking Out Their Window”

Program: London, Spring 2011

“The sphinx at the Belvedere serenades me with her sweet words!”

Program: Vienna, Fall 2010

"Getting a tattoo in Koh Chang"

Program: Thailand, Spring 2011

This image is of a friend getting a hand-poked tattoo by Mr. Blue, an artist on Lonely Beach, Koh Chang, Thailand. We both went up to this island to get tattoos. The tattoo she is getting took two and a half hours to complete. These Sak Yant tattoos are protective Buddhist tattoos done in the Cambodian Khmer script. (5/13/11)

Program: Thailand, Spring 2011

In this picture I am performing in the city of Udon Thani for Thailand's Son kran New Years Festival. This was during their Son kran break.

The festival only had FAMOUS Thailand artists perform. I was the only International "White" performer. All other performers were from Thailand. I was introduced as a famous Hip Hop artist from America. I performed with another musician from Webster (De Qawn Mobley). He is not in the picture. I have MANY other great pictures from the event if needed. I sent this one because I think it shows the crowd and how they are reacting to my performance.

The festival was VERY professional and appeared on MTV Thailand.

I believe taking advantage of studying abroad is connecting with the culture and people. Well, here is proof of that connection.

I made so many local friends and by the end of the festival I was signing more autographs than I have ever imagined! I met many artists from Thailand who are very famous. Me and DQ were so good that they invited us to DO ANOTHER SHOW at a club. We got paid!! I have pictures of that as well if needed. All pictures were taken by a professional photographer provided.

“The Eiffel Tower Lit Under a French Sky”

Program: Vienna, Spring 2011

This picture was taken under the Eiffel Tower in Paris, one of the cities I made a priority during my semester abroad. This photo captures the landmark under a brilliant and cloudy night sky.

“Feeding a tiger cub at a tiger temple in Thailand”

Program: Thailand, Fall 2010

“La Tour, La Nuit”

Program: London, Fall 2010

“Eschbacher von Eschbach”

Program: Leiden, Spring 2011

During my time abroad, I was able to visit the town of Eschbach in the Pfalz region of Germany. My family name, Eschbacher, originated from this town, and then in 1849, one of my great grandfathers moved from the Pfalz region over to the United States. I will never forget the trip; I got to taste Eschbacher wine, explore the ancient castle and its surrounding vineyards, and experience a bit of my own history!

Program: Leiden, Spring 2011

This photo shows the Karneval Prince and his court performing in a market square in Aachen, Germany.

Program: Geneva, Spring 2011

Powder day at Chamonix’s Les Grands Montets

Program: Thailand, Spring 2011

This picture was taken while a tiger was playing with a ball in the tiger temple. The picture is so important since it was caught by a normal digital camera in a angle where you can see the tiger jumping and slashing at the ball with his paw and at the same time it is in the water so when you watch at the picture you can have a sense of slow motion since the water is in the air. The monks from the temple stated that they’ve never seen this tiger so full of energy as it was in that day. Therefore this picture is really important for me and all my friends that see this picture always ask me if I really took this picture or if I download it from the internet since it is caught in the right moment. After I show them in my camera they believe me and say it is one of the best photographs of animals they ever seen. Also the monks ask me for a copy of this picture so they can post it in their website and in their wall of pictures in the temple; unfortunately I could not go back and give them a copy. This is the best picture I have taken in my life and most meaningful to me.

This picture was taken on a bridge over the River Liffey in Dublin, Ireland at dawn.

Program: Leiden, Spring 2011

The swans on the shores of Loch Lomond loved coming up to us and posing for pictures. As we were about to leave and I had turned my camera off, this one in particular swam over and waited, watching us leave. I saw the potential here for a great photo so I switched my camera back on and proceeded to have a beautiful photo shoot with this swan. The timing and position of his arrival was divine; the twilight sky and golden reflection created the perfect contrast to the blue water and smoky mountains. It was exciting, moving, meditative, and overwhelming all at once.

There is a very large outdoor market in Vienna called Naschmarkt. It is open Monday through Fridays and on Saturdays it turns into an antique market. This photo was taken very early one Saturday morning, in April, while I was browsing the antique market. For the first half of my stay in Vienna, blue skies were a rare occurrence. So, to see the clouds breaking and a deep blue sky emerging was breathtaking for me.

Program: Vienna, Spring 2011