"Lantern" by photographer Anya Zhang
"Lantern"
Location: Nanchang County, Jiangxi Province, China
Date: January 2019
Photographer: Anya Zhang
Ohio State Affiliation: Academy Student
Home Country: United States
Category: Arts & Culture
Award: Honorable Mention
2022 International Photography Exhibition
Description: "Whenever the Lunar New Year approaches, light and lantern attractions spring up from every corner, so it was absolutely necessary to visit at least one. In this photo, my sister looks up into the glow of a flower-shaped lantern, while the rest of the lanterns shine brilliantly behind her. While she was trying to see inside the chassis of the flower lantern, I noticed the vibrant mixture of lights and colors. Despite the cold of that night, the plethora of lanterns and lights gave the night a dreamy and euphoric quality. Because lanterns are such a vital part of Chinese festivals and artisan culture, whenever I look at this photo, I am reminded of China’s history of crafting and the lantern’s symbolization of the coming year."