“At the end of my five months in Sevilla, Spain, I decided it was time to explore some of the tourist attractions that I had not yet visited. This structure, the Metropol Parasol or Las Setas de Encarnación, overlooks the whole city and was the perfect place to visit to after a long day of wandering the city on foot.”

“This flag originally was a simple wall decoration dedicated to bringing a piece of the University of Michigan abroad with me during my semester in Leiden, Netherlands. What it became was the centerpiece of arguably the best photo I took during my time in Europe. I brought my Michigan flag with me on my spring break snowboarding trip with the intent to photograph it and represent the Michigan Snowboard Club in the French Alps. Upon reaching the top of one of the back peaks on the mountain and looking out across the valley toward Lac de Serre-Ponçon, I immediately stopped for a photo with the flag, and couldn’t be happier with the result.”

“I found myself sitting in the cliff dwellings of Cappadocia, Turkey, one of the most ancient cities in the world. As I looked across the ledge, I saw fellow students from all over the world simply watching the sun set over the innumerable fairy chimneys. I knew it was an opportunity to capture a moment that would never come again.”

“The Tel Aviv gay pride parade is huge, attracting more than 100,000 people. Tel Aviv is a modern, young, liberal, and secular city. A gay pride parade this size would never be tolerated in Jerusalem, let alone in Beirut or Dubai, which are considered somewhat progressive. I took this photo to highlight the diversity that is Israel. This thriving, democratic country is much more than the only Jewish state in the world, and its largest city, Tel Aviv, is the epitome of tolerance and acceptance. Rainbow flags and flamboyant shades of pink are juxtaposed with Hebrew, a Semitic language from biblical times. The dichotomy between new and old, modern and ancient, diverse and traditional, helps to explain Israel’s place in the region today.”

“I took this photo the first morning I arrived in Cusco, Peru, with my friend Leslie (pictured). It was only about 9 a.m., but we wanted to explore the city. We ended up at a table in a beautiful cafe that was overlooking Plaza de Armas, which is the main square of the city.”

Here, Katherine Lanski captures the thrilling finale to the Tour de France as racers speed through the Paris streets in a blur of vibrant color.

“I took this photo at an old monastery in the low mountains of northeast Turkey, outside the city of Trabzon. That morning we hiked up the mountainside in a springtime drizzle, the snowcapped peaks of the mountains around us feeding into muddy rivers that made their way down steep ravines. It was dreary but uniquely invigorating to be in such an ancient, secluded place. All I could think about was trying to capture the feel of the place as best I could. A picture can only capture so much, but being up there was a feeling I will never forget.”

“New Zealand is full of natural wonders that could exhaust lifetimes exploring. Mount Ngauruhoe (better known as Mount Doom from the Lord of the Rings) is one of these wonders. It silently begged us to find adventure on its slopes. Here we are nearing the summit where the view and feelings of accomplishment and awe are our invaluable rewards.”

“I took this photo at the Cao Đài temple in southern Vietnam during one of its afternoon services. We were able to access an insider perspective of the colorful Cao Đài religion by observing their service. The intricate architecture created a breathtaking backdrop for meditation.”

As a group of dancers and musicians traveled through the streets of Havana, Cuba, Tracy Ko captured this image of a local woman, whose costume dazzles the eye with brilliant color.