CPOY

This is the kind of thing that can make you feel like shit: seeing what other college photographers (even in Ohio!) are doing. Below are some images from the 63rd annual College Photographer Of the Year contest. Started in 1945, the contest is sponsored by National Geographic, the National Press Photographers Foundation and Nikon, among others. Interestingly, many of the winners (this year, at least) are from Ohio University - and many of the projects take place in Ohio - Travis Dove's 'Skate Rats' in Rutland, OH, Kainaz Amaria's 'Above and Below: Life Along the Northwest Appalachian Coal Belt,' at the Central Appalachian Mine, OH, Jenn Ackerman's 'Circle of Love,' in Creola, OH. 

Check out winning photographs from various categories and from various years at cpoy.org. There are some amazing images. 

Dominic Nahr (Ryerson University)

A young Palestinian boy looks back at the camera as others gather around a grave and hold up green flags during a Hamas funeral, 5th January 2007, Beit Lahia, Gaza Strip.

Peter McCollough (Ohio University)

Joseph Gunthrie circles in the cage with blood smeared across his back after breaking his opponents nose with a knee strike during a cage fight in Birch Run, Mich.

Carl Kiilsgaard (Western Kentucky University)

Claude, Richard and Tammie’s newborn baby, suffers from a lack of blood circulation, which was supposedly caused by Tammie’s cigarette use during pregnancy. Here, Richard and Tammie attempt to warm Claude’s cold arms by blowing hot air on them and pressing on them.

Kainaz Amaria (Ohio University)

Central Appalachian Mining Ohio coal miners shower after their shift underground.