National Geographic Travel Photographer of the Year contest announces 2019 winner | CNN

<strong>Grand prize, and 1st prize Cities category -- "Greenlandic Winter":</strong> The main prize in the <a href="http://natgeo.com/travelphotocontest" target="_blank" target="_blank">2019 National Geographic Travel Photographer of the Year Contest </a>went to Chu Weimin."Upernavik is a fishing village on a tiny island in west Greenland.," he says. "This photo was taken during my three-month, personal photo project to present life in Greenland."

Grand prize, and 1st prize Cities category -- "Greenlandic Winter": The main prize in the 2019 National Geographic Travel Photographer of the Year Contest went to Chu Weimin."Upernavik is a fishing village on a tiny island in west Greenland.," he says. "This photo was taken during my three-month, personal photo project to present life in Greenland."

Photograph by Chu Weimin/2019 National Geographic Travel Photo Contest

<strong>2nd place Cities category -- "In the age of aviation". </strong>Jassen Todorov was the second prize winner in the <a href="http://natgeo.com/travelphotocontest" target="_blank" target="_blank">2019 National Geographic Travel Photographer of the Year Contest </a>Cities category. "There are four runways at San Francisco's International Airport (SFO)," says the photographer. "This is a rare look at the approach end of runways 28 left and right. I had dreams of documenting the motion at SFO and [arranged] permission to fly directly overhead."

2nd place Cities category -- "In the age of aviation". Jassen Todorov was the second prize winner in the 2019 National Geographic Travel Photographer of the Year Contest Cities category. "There are four runways at San Francisco's International Airport (SFO)," says the photographer. "This is a rare look at the approach end of runways 28 left and right. I had dreams of documenting the motion at SFO and [arranged] permission to fly directly overhead."

Photograph by Jassen Todorov/2019 National Geographic Travel Photo Contest

<strong>3rd place Cities category </strong><strong>-- </strong><strong>"Streets of Dhaka":</strong> Sandipani Chattopadhyay was the third place of this category of the<a href="http://natgeo.com/travelphotocontest" target="_blank" target="_blank"> 2019 National Geographic Travel Photographer of the Year Contest.</a> "People pray on the street in Dhaka, Bangladesh during Ijtema. Bishwa Ijtema is one of the major Islamic religious gatherings which is [observed] annually in Dhaka and millions of Muslims visit [during this time]," explains the photographer.

3rd place Cities category -- "Streets of Dhaka": Sandipani Chattopadhyay was the third place of this category of the 2019 National Geographic Travel Photographer of the Year Contest. "People pray on the street in Dhaka, Bangladesh during Ijtema. Bishwa Ijtema is one of the major Islamic religious gatherings which is [observed] annually in Dhaka and millions of Muslims visit [during this time]," explains the photographer.

Photograph by Sandipani Chattopadhyay/2019 National Geographic Travel Photo Contest

<strong>1st place Nature category -- "Tender Eyes": </strong>The first prize winner in the Cities category of the<a href="http://natgeo.com/travelphotocontest" target="_blank" target="_blank"> 2019 National Geographic Travel Photographer of the Year Contest</a> is Tamara Blazquez Haik. "A gorgeous griffon vulture is seen soaring the skies in Monfragüe National Park in Spain," she explains. "How can anyone say vultures bring bad omens when looking at such tenderness in this griffon vulture's eyes?"

1st place Nature category -- "Tender Eyes": The first prize winner in the Cities category of the 2019 National Geographic Travel Photographer of the Year Contest is Tamara Blazquez Haik. "A gorgeous griffon vulture is seen soaring the skies in Monfragüe National Park in Spain," she explains. "How can anyone say vultures bring bad omens when looking at such tenderness in this griffon vulture's eyes?"

Photograph by Tamara Blazquez Haik/2019 National Geographic Travel Photo Contest

<strong>2nd prize Nature category -- "Dreamcatcher": </strong>The second prize winner in this category of the <a href="http://natgeo.com/travelphotocontest" target="_blank" target="_blank">2019 National Geographic Travel Photographer of the Year Contest</a> is Danny Sepkowski. "What happens before a wave breaks? That question has been my assignment this past year," he says. "On this particular day, I decided to shoot the sunset on the east side of Oahu, Hawaii. About 100 photographers were out in the morning, but I had the evening to myself."

2nd prize Nature category -- "Dreamcatcher": The second prize winner in this category of the 2019 National Geographic Travel Photographer of the Year Contest is Danny Sepkowski. "What happens before a wave breaks? That question has been my assignment this past year," he says. "On this particular day, I decided to shoot the sunset on the east side of Oahu, Hawaii. About 100 photographers were out in the morning, but I had the evening to myself."

Photograph by Danny Sepkowski/2019 National Geographic Travel Photo Contest

<strong>3rd prize Nature category -- "Dusky": </strong>The third prize winner in this category of the<a href="http://natgeo.com/travelphotocontest" target="_blank" target="_blank"> 2019 National Geographic Travel Photographer of the Year Contest </a>is Scott Portelli. "Dusky dolphins often travel together in great numbers in the deep canyons of the Kaikoura, New Zealand in search of food," he says of his photograph. "They glide through the ocean effortlessly, coming up only to breathe."

3rd prize Nature category -- "Dusky": The third prize winner in this category of the 2019 National Geographic Travel Photographer of the Year Contest is Scott Portelli. "Dusky dolphins often travel together in great numbers in the deep canyons of the Kaikoura, New Zealand in search of food," he says of his photograph. "They glide through the ocean effortlessly, coming up only to breathe."

Photograph by Scott Portelli/2019 National Geographic Travel Photo Contest

<strong>Nature honorable mention -- "King of the Alps": </strong>The honorable mention in this category of the <a href="http://natgeo.com/travelphotocontest" target="_blank" target="_blank">2019 National Geographic Travel Photographer of the Year Contest</a> goes to Jonas Schäfer. "A herd of ibexes in Switzerland's Bernese Oberland cross a ridge above Lake Brienz," says the photographer. "Their powerful and impressive horns show who the king of the Alps are."

Nature honorable mention -- "King of the Alps": The honorable mention in this category of the 2019 National Geographic Travel Photographer of the Year Contest goes to Jonas Schäfer. "A herd of ibexes in Switzerland's Bernese Oberland cross a ridge above Lake Brienz," says the photographer. "Their powerful and impressive horns show who the king of the Alps are."

Photograph by Jonas Schäfer/2019 National Geographic Travel Photo Contest

<strong>1st prize People category -- "Showtime": </strong>Huaifeng Li's depiction of actors preparing for an evening opera performance in Licheng County, China was the winner of this category of the <a href="http://natgeo.com/travelphotocontest" target="_blank" target="_blank">2019 National Geographic Travel Photographer of the Year Contest.</a> "I spent the whole day with these actors from make-up to [stage]," says the photographer.

1st prize People category -- "Showtime": Huaifeng Li's depiction of actors preparing for an evening opera performance in Licheng County, China was the winner of this category of the 2019 National Geographic Travel Photographer of the Year Contest. "I spent the whole day with these actors from make-up to [stage]," says the photographer.

Photograph by Huaifeng Li/2019 National Geographic Travel Photo Contest

<strong>2nd prize People category -- "Daily Routine": </strong>The second prize winner in this category of the<a href="http://natgeo.com/travelphotocontest" target="_blank" target="_blank"> 2019 National Geographic Travel Photographer of the Year Contes</a><a href="http://natgeo.com/travelphotocontest" target="_blank" target="_blank">t</a> went to Yoshiki Fujiwara. "This photo was taken at a public park at Choi Hung House in Hong Kong," explains the photographer. "When I visited during the afternoon, it was very crowded with many young people taking pictures and playing basketball. But when I visited at sunrise, it was quiet and a different place."

2nd prize People category -- "Daily Routine": The second prize winner in this category of the 2019 National Geographic Travel Photographer of the Year Contes t went to Yoshiki Fujiwara. "This photo was taken at a public park at Choi Hung House in Hong Kong," explains the photographer. "When I visited during the afternoon, it was very crowded with many young people taking pictures and playing basketball. But when I visited at sunrise, it was quiet and a different place."

Photograph by Yoshiki Fujiwara/2019 National Geographic Travel Photo Contest

<strong>3rd prize People category -- "Horses": </strong>The third prize winner in this category of the<a href="http://natgeo.com/travelphotocontest" target="_blank" target="_blank"> 2019 National Geographic Travel Photographer of the Year Contest </a>is José Antonio Zamora. "Every year on the feast of Saint Anthony the ceremony of the purification of animals, called Las Luminarias, is celebrated in Spain. In the province of Avila, horses and horsemen jump over bonfires in the ritual that has been maintained since the 18th century," he says of his image.

3rd prize People category -- "Horses": The third prize winner in this category of the 2019 National Geographic Travel Photographer of the Year Contest is José Antonio Zamora. "Every year on the feast of Saint Anthony the ceremony of the purification of animals, called Las Luminarias, is celebrated in Spain. In the province of Avila, horses and horsemen jump over bonfires in the ritual that has been maintained since the 18th century," he says of his image.

Photograph by José Antonio Zamora/2019 National Geographic Travel Photo Contest

<strong>People honorable mention -- "Mood":</strong> The honorable mention in this category of the <a href="http://natgeo.com/travelphotocontest" target="_blank" target="_blank">2019 National Geographic Travel Photographer of the Year Contest</a> was Navin Vatsa. "I captured this layered moment during sunrise along the banks of the Yamuna River in Delhi, India," says the photographer. "This boy was thinking silently, and visitors were enjoying the loud musical chirping of thousands of seagulls."

People honorable mention -- "Mood": The honorable mention in this category of the 2019 National Geographic Travel Photographer of the Year Contest was Navin Vatsa. "I captured this layered moment during sunrise along the banks of the Yamuna River in Delhi, India," says the photographer. "This boy was thinking silently, and visitors were enjoying the loud musical chirping of thousands of seagulls."

Photograph by Navin Vatsa/2019 National Geographic Travel Photo Contest

2019 National Geographic Travel Photographer of the Year winners

CNN —

A snowy fishing village in Greenland, a vulture soaring through the sky in Spain, and a trio of actors gearing up for an opera performance in China all make up the award winners in the 2019 National Geographic Travel Photographer of the Year awards.

Judged by a panel of expert photographers and National Geographic staff, the annual contest received thousands of entries in three different categories: Nature, Cities and People.

Weimin Chu was named Grand Prize winner and also took first place in the Cities category for his stunning image “Greenlandic Winter,” which showcases the colorful fishing village of Upernavik, in northwestern Greenland, covered in snow.

Stiff competition

"Showtime" by Huaifeng Li won the 1st prize in the People category of the 2019 National Geographic Travel Photographer of the Year Contest.

Photograph by Huaifeng Li/2019 National Geographic Travel Photo Contest

As for the People category, Huaifeng Li took first place with a beautiful photograph, entitled “Showtime,” of a group of actors getting ready for an opera performance in Licheng County in China’s Shanxi Province.

The freelance photographer says he spent all day with the performers in order to capture the shot.

Meanwhile, Tamara Blazquez Haik scored first place in the Nature category for her image, named “Tender Eyes,” depicting a griffon vulture circling the skies in Monfragüe National Park in Spain.

“How can anyone say vultures bring bad omens when looking at such tenderness in this griffon vulture’s eyes?” she says of her image.

There were nine winners in total, three in each category, as well as two honorable mentions.

Eclectic selection

Tamara Blazquez Haik's image "Tender Eyes" was the first prize winner in the Cities category of the the 2019 National Geographic Travel Photographer of the Year Contest.

Photograph by Tamara Blazquez Haik/2019 National Geographic Travel Photo Contest

Chu’s “Greenlandic Winter” was taken during a three-month visit to Greenland, the world’s largest island, earlier this year.

“I love the contrast and mood of this scene,” Chu says of the stand out image.

“Historically, Greenlandic buildings were painted different colors to indicate different functions, from red storefronts to blue fishermen’s homes – a useful distinction when the landscape is blanketed in snow.

“I was busy taking continuous pictures at that time, trying to capture the best moment.”

The freelance photographer received a $7,500 prize as well as a post on National Geographic Travel’s Instagram account, @natgeotravel, while Blazquez Haik and Li will receive $2,500 respectively.