Scenes from Back Home

Scenes from Back Home celebrates the remarkable diversity of the Cowboy Family by showcasing stunning photographs that capture the essence of the locations, cultures, customs, architecture, and other elements of the places our students proudly call home. From breathtaking landscapes and iconic buildings to vibrant cultural moments, these images provide a window into the beauty and uniqueness of regions around the world where OSU students hail from.

Displayed on an 85-inch digital art screen in the heart of the Edmon Low Library’s third floor—where students come together to study, collaborate, and unwind—this exhibit invites everyone to take a journey through the diverse locations that help shape our Cowboy community. Photos on the screen change every hour and include the location where the photo was taken, along with the student's first name and last initial.

All currently-enrolled Oklahoma State University-Stillwater students are eligible to submit images to be featured in Scenes from Back Home. Submissions must meet the following guidelines:

• Images must be original photographs. Images may not be created with AI tools such as Midjourney, Firefly, or other similar applications.
• Photos must be original works taken by the student who submits them. A student may not submit a photo that was taken by someone else.
• Photos may be taken with a mobile phone, DSLR/Mirrorless, or any other type of camera.
• Photos must be in horizontal/landscape orientation, not vertical/portrait. If using a mobile phone, hold the device sideways when taking the picture.
  • Scenes from Back Home cannot accommodate images taken in vertical/portrait orientation, as the digital display is mounted in horizontal/landscape orientation. Images submitted in vertical/portrait orientation will not be used.
• Images of crowds are allowed, as are images of public performances such as outdoor cultural productions or other events that showcase a location or culture that represents the student's home. Selfies, close-up portraits, and similar types of images are not recommended.
• Image copyright is retained by the student who created the photograph.

All photographs are reviewed and evaluated by Library personnel, and may be rejected for failing to comply with these guidelines.

Submit a Photo

Students are encouraged to take photographs specifically for this project, but may also use existing images they may already have in their personal photo collection. Ideas for photographs include, but are not limited to...

• Iconic views of local scenery such as sunsets, beaches, or seasonal changes (fall foliage, snow-covered prairies, fields of blooming flowers, etc.). Think of unique geographical features—deserts, coastal cliffs, waterfalls, canyons, or other natural wonders that evoke thoughts of your home.
• Lakes, rivers, mountains, plains, hills, forests, wetlands, marshes, fields of crops, or local wildlife habitats that are distinctive to your home.
• Architecture that showcases unique elements of a student's hometown, in addition to historic buildings, modern cityscapes, local monuments, bridges, iconic parks, or residential neighborhoods with distinctive styles (such as row houses, ranch-style homes) that can lend a unique visual perspective of the home.
• Festivals, events, or other large-scale activities that represent a slice of life or unique cultural element of a particular region or location. Consider capturing parades, traditional ceremonies, markets, or food festivals. These could highlight local dances, sports, or even holiday-specific decorations that are specific to a region.
• Everyday scenes that capture daily life. Photos of people gathering in cafes, farmers' markets, or public transport systems can show unique aspects of community life.
• Exterior/Outdoor photographs of restaurants that are specific to a region, such as food trucks, traditional diners, famous venues, historic restaurants, or local hole-in-the-wall favorites.
• Street art, murals, and public art. Urban environments often feature creative works that reflect local culture, history, or community identity.
• Famous landmarks or local hidden gems such as a widely-known site or a personal favorite spot like a secluded park, students can show what makes their home special to them.

See our collection example photos for ideas and inspiration.

Please review the Guidelines listed above prior to submitting an image.

Submit a Photo

All photographs submitted for Scenes from Back Home will be evaluated by Library personnel to ensure adherence to the guidelines listed above, and fit within the overall goals for this project. While we encourage students to be creative and use this as a form of self-expression, the images also must reflect the places, culture, and customs of the locations that OSU students call home. Evaluation criteria include:

• Image quality: The photograph must be in focus, and well-composed. Horizons should be straight, and the scene represented should be clearly and easy to understand for a casual viewer.
• Subject: The main subject of the photograph should represent a student's home. The idea is to showcase locations, cultures, customs, architecture, and other visual representations of a student's home. Selfies, abstract artwork, close-up shots of food, images of an object without any additional context (i.e. location, culture, custom, etc.) do not fit the goals of Scenes from Back Home and will not be accepted.
• Orientation: The photograph must be taken in horizontal, or landscape, orientation. Scenes from Back Home cannot accommodate photos taken in vertical, or portrait, orientation.

If you have questions about Scenes from Back Home or would like more information, email libraryhelp@okstate.edu.

Submit a Photo