Photo Contest 2025: Winning Photographs from the Exhibition

From November 5 to 24, 2025, VSE hosted an exhibition of student photographs organized by the International Office as part of the 2025 Photo Contest. Visitors could explore images captured by students who took part in study abroad stays or internships during the 2024/25 academic year.

The exhibition also featured a student vote for the best photograph. The winner was “In Awe” by Caroline Grace Cianci, a student of the Faculty of International Relations (FMV), who studied at Singapore Management University in Spring 2025. Congratulations!

On November 24, the jury announced its selection of the best photographs and presented the International Office Award. The jury was represented by Doc. Ing. Stanislav Horný, CSc. A full overview of the awarded photos can be found below.

This year’s Photo Contest attracted 130 students, who submitted a total of 350 photographs from their international experiences. Forty-two photos by 36 authors advanced to the second round and formed the November exhibition.

 

Winning photographs according to the audience:

  • Caroline Grace Cianci (FIR) – „In Awe“ (Singapore, Singapore Management University, SS 2025)

 

Winning photographs according to the expert jury and special prizes:

  • 1st place:  Jakub Kocián (FIS) – „Reflections of Order“ (Canada, Queen’s University, SS 2025)
  • Author’s comment: The photograph reveals an urban scene where geometry and light quietly cooperate. Warm lamplight ripples through the water, mirroring the rigid structure above while softening its edges. The symmetry feels intentional yet organic — a fleeting balance between human design and natural stillness.Expert jury evaluation: When a talented photographer looks at the work of a great architect with a creative eye… A photo that is technically and compositionally flawless! The reflection of lights in the water is fantastic. And the “blue windows at the top” are the cherry on the cake.

 
  • 2nd place:  Veronika Slámová (FE) – „Kantun Chi Cenote in Mexico“ (Canada, Laval Université, SS 2025)

Author’s comment: This photo was taken in a desperate attempt not to drown while keeping the camera steady enough to capture both the underwater world of the cenote and the surface above. It cost me quite a bit of water in my lungs and new bruises as a bonus.

Expert jury evaluation: Once again, a photo that is technically and compositionally flawless! The sharpness across the entire depth of the scene is perfectly achieved through a large depth of field. The colors make the photo truly picturesque. Excellent “temperature contrast” between the cool blue water and the warm yellow rocks!

 
 

  • 3rd place: Martin Králík (FIR) – „Photobomb: Llama Edition“ (Chile, CzechTrade Chile, SS 2025)

Author’s comment: I was trying to take the perfect angle of Machu Picchu but this llama photobombed my landscape.

Expert jury evaluation: In photography, this is called “content contrast.” Most amateurs capture either one or the other (in this case, the past or the present). The author managed to capture that contrast brilliantly. Composition-wise, it’s also well done—the mountain and the llama are positioned at the intersections of the golden ratio.
Special Award of the International Office for the Best Photograph from an Academic Setting:: 

  • Int. Office Prize:  Alžběta Bujdošová (FFA) – „Welcome to the RSM“ (Netherlands – Rotterdam School of Management (RSM), FS 2024) 

Author’s comment: The university campus was full of surprises. Modern indoors or sustainable practices on campus coffees? What made the university unique was in actually the mix of international and local students.

 
 

 

We would like to thank all the students who sent us their photographs to the Photo Contest 2025 and congratulations to all winners!