Instagram contest inspires students to capture the beauty of FIU, Miami

Posted by × 06/16/2017 at 12:48 pm

By Joel Delgado ’12, MS ’17

Last month, the FIU social media team launched the #FIUview Instagram Photo Challenge, giving students a chance to win a $50 FIU Bookstore gift card by tagging their best campus or Miami photos with the hashtag #FIUview.

In response, almost 200 photos were submitted and five finalists were selected in categories that included Rep Your FIU, That’s So Miami, Favorite Spot, Campus Critters and Inspiration.

Elizabeth Soza, a senior double majoring in journalism and photography, won the contest with her amazing photo of a sail boat along the Miami shoreline at night.  The entry garnered more than 1,200 likes on Instagram in the That’s So Miami category.

“I never win contests so it’s fun to finally win something,” Soza said. “As a budding photographer, the contest was a good way to challenge myself to go out and photograph with a theme or idea in mind.”

Below are the five finalists from the contest:

CATEGORY 1: REP YOUR FIU

No matter where we go, we’re proud Panthers. Senior psychology student Courtney Greenidge reps FIU gear in Fitchburg, MA .

We love our Panthers who show their #pantherpride on & off campus! IG photo challenge Rep your FIU category: @courtneyordie

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CATEGORY 2: THAT’S SO MIAMI (OVERALL WINNER)

Shipwrecked? Elizabeth Soza’s winning shot, which features the Miami skyline in the background, perfectly captures the Magic City’s beauty and uniqueness.

Goodnight Panthers! This weather has us wanting this kind of view. Category 2: That’s so Miami @eliso31

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CATEGORY 3: FAVORITE SPOT

The kissing bridge is one of our favorite spots, too! Architecture graduate student Susel Zayas took this photo of the bridge, a popular spot where many students stop and watch turtles frolicking.

If you look closely you can see our favorite turtles to the left & right! Category 3: Favorite spot 🐢💦 @_sussy

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CATEGORY 4: CAMPUS CRITTERS

Luis Garcia Falcon, a sophomore environmental science major, was walking around the Nature Preserve when he stumbled upon this zebra longwing caterpillar. Fun fact: the zebra longwing is Florida’s state butterfly.

CATEGORY 5: INSPIRATION

There is no shortage of inspiration in the Green library. Graduate student Dakshnamoorthy Parivallal took this photo from the stacks.

“Libraries are the thin line between civilization and barbarism.” Category 5: Inspiration 📚 @dakshinphotography

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