Winners: National Geographic Traveler 2012 Photo ContestAugust
20, 2012 AUTO 1
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Photo and caption by Cedric Houin This image was shot in the
Kyrgyz lands of the Wakhan Corridor. The intimacy of this everyday
life moment, shot inside of a family yurt, is in total contrast
with the harsh environment these nomadic tribes live in. On the
right we notice a television and a sound console. These tribes live
weeks away from any village by foot. In spite of being located at
an altitude of 4,300 meters in one of the most remote areas of
Afghanistan they are equipped with solar panels, satellite dishes
and cellphones. Ancestral ways of living, with touches of
modernity. National Geographic contributing photographer Alexandra
Avakian, one of this years judges, shares her thoughts on the first
place winner: The light and texture captured in this portrait are
painterly, and the predominance of red is rich. The content of the
photo is striking because the photographer captured both the nomads
traditional way of life and some of their modern accoutermentsthe
viewer gets the visual satisfaction of something that goes against
clich. Triangle shapes tend to add dynamism to photos. In this
picture they appear in several places, including the main subjects
knee, elbow, and white scarf. Ive slept in the guest yurt of Kyrgyz
nomads in remote mountains while on assignment for Elle magazine;
the location is hard to reach and off the beaten path for most
travelers, and therefore of educational as well as aesthetic value.
Keywords Afghanistan Location: Wakhan Corridor Afghanistan August
20, 2012 3
August 20, 2012 4
Photo and caption by Vo Anh Kiet Hmong children play with their
balloons on a foggy day in Moc Chau, Son La province, Vietnam;
photographed January 2012. National Geographic contributing
photographer Alexandra Avakian, one of this years judges, shares
her thoughts on the second place winner: This picture is like a
dream, and its timeless not only because its black and white and
theres no sense of modernity, but also because it depicts an
activity that children everywhere on the planet do with balloons.
The fog and soft background make it feel like a memory. Its every
bit as good as the photographs in the seminal black-and-white photo
book, "The Family of Man." Sometimes the best scenes to shoot are
not in the obvious places for travelers but can be found anywhere
from a far-flung locationsuch as this remote Hmong villageto just
the around the corner from a big event. Keywords Balloon Location:
Moc Chau, Son La province, Vietnam August 20, 2012 5
August 20, 2012 6
Photo and caption by Andrea Guarneri During the Easter holy
celebration called Misteri in Trapani, the devotees carry the
scenes of Christs passion on their shoulders all night long. When
the day comes they take a break. National Geographic contributing
photographer Alexandra Avakian, one of this years judges, shares
her thoughts on the third place winner: The light on the icon of
Jesus is as critical to the success of this picture as the varied
expressions on the mens faces after an exhausting night carrying
statues depicting the Passion of Christ. Recognizing when and how
to balance different kinds of light in the same photo is something
that can make the difference between a muddy and uninteresting
picture and one thats good, aesthetic, and full of content. This
picture was taken at the port in the tuna- fishing town of Trapani,
Sicilya land known for its religious processions. The photographer
was working at dawn to take this shot, often a necessity in any
coverage of a place and/or event. Keywords devotee Easter holy
celebration Italy Location: Trapani, Sicily, Italy August 20, 2012
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MERIT WINNER: LOST IN TIME - ANANCIENT FOREST Photo and caption
by Ken Thorne Near the city of Morondava, on the West coast of
Madagascar lies an ancient forest of Baobab trees. Unique to
Madagascar, the endemic species is sacred to the Malagasy people,
and rightly so. Walking amongst these giants is like nothing else
on this planet. Some of the trees here are over a thousand years
old. It is a spiritual place, almost magical. Keywords Baobabs,
trees, Madagascar, giant, forest, trunk, Malagasy, child, Africa,
Avenue Location: Avenue du Baobab, August 20, 2012 8 Morandava,
Madagascar.
MERIT WINNER: OLD MEN WITH DJELLABA Photo and caption by
SauKhiang Chau The Last Supper Of Da Vinci? No, They are just some
old men of Chefchaouen with djellaba, sitting and talking each
other. Keywords Chefchaouen, Morocco Location: Chefchaouen,
MoroccoAugust 20, 2012 9
MERIT WINNER: SWIMMING IN THE RAINPhoto and caption by Camila
MassuMy sister in the south of Chile. We are sitting at home next
to the fireplace in our southern lake house when it suddenlybegan
to pour uncontrollably. Had to rush into the lake to take this
snapshot! (Photo and caption by CamilaMassu/National Geographic
Traveler Photo Contest) #KeywordsChileAugust 20, 2012 Lake Swimming
Rain Portrait spontaneous moment 10Location:
Lago,Caburgua,Chile
MERIT WINNER: THE VILLAGEOF GSADALURPhoto and caption by Ken
BowerThe village of Gsadalur and theisland of Mykines in
thebackground.Until a tunnel was built in 2004, the16 residents
living in Gsadalur hadto take a strenuous hike orhorseback over the
steep 400 metermountain in order to make it to theother villages.It
was a rare sunny day in the FaroeIslands and I had to wait until
theclouds rolled in to provide somesofter light. I decided to go
with along exposure (1 minute 10 seconds)to illustrate the force of
the windand a serene sea among the isolatedislands.Keywords Faroe
Islands landscapeseascapeLocation: Gsadalur, Faroe Islands August
20, 2012 11
MERIT WINNER: LOOKING INTO ANOTHER WORLD Photo and caption by
Fred An This is the great Japanese maple tree in the Portland
Japanese Gardens. I tried to bring a different perspective of this
frequently photographed tree. Keywordsjapanese maple fall autumn
colors red portland gardens oregon Location: Portland, ORAugust 20,
2012 12
MERIT WINNER: BAGAN BLISSPhoto and caption by Peter DeMarcoMore
than 2,000 Buddhist temples and pagodas fill theplains of Bagan.
Once the capital of the Pagan Empire,farmers now raise their
livestock within the centuries oldcomplex. The best way to see
Bagan, apart from a ride on ahot air balloon, is by bicycle. Its
easy to get off the beatenpath and live out your wildest Indiana
Jones fantasy.KeywordsBagan, Myanmar, Burma, temple, sunset,
goats,dust, travel, balloonLocation: Bagan, Myanmar (Burma) August
20, 2012 13
MERIT WINNER: UNDERWATER SURF Photo and caption by Lucia Griggi
Taken at Cloud Break at an outer reef in Fiji, a surfer duck dives
his board to clear the rolling waves of the raw ocean.
KeywordsSurf, Man, Underwater, Wave, Ocean Location: Cloudbreak,
Fiji, Pacific Ocean.August 20, 2012 14
VIEWERS CHOICE WINNER: HUSET Photo and caption by Michelle
Schantz A lonely cabin is illuminated under the Northern Lights in
Finnmark, Norway. Keywords northern lights, aurora borealis,
norway, travel, night, stars, solar, cabin, snow, winter, arctic
Location: Finnmark, NorwayBin tp
:http://my.opera.com/bachkienhttp://chieuquetoi.blogspot.com August
20, 2012 15