A Chinese Photographer Wins the Global Grand Prize of the National Geographic Photo Contest

Thomas Chu Photo

Good news for all of you who follow Thomas: my photo won the Global Grand Prize and First Place in the Cities category of the 2019 National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest!

Three years ago, attracted by Greenland's unique character, I began a long-term photography project there.

With 1-2 months of exploration each year, I've trekked to many uninhabited Arctic areas and photographed some little-known natural landscapes. At the same time, I've gradually been drawn to the local culture, and began observing and recording the local people's way of life, as well as the changes to Greenland's landscapes and culture under globalization.

Last March, I went to northern Greenland again at the coldest time of year, wanting to see what winter there is really like.

The grand prize photo came from this year's trip. When I got the notification, I was truly happy and surprised.

In the National Geographic magazine feature article this weekend, I'll also share more stories behind these photos with everyone.

First, let's take a look at which works won in this year's National Geographic photo contest. (The first-place winner in the People category should also be a photographer from China. Congratulations to all the winners.)

Grand Prize Winner of the Year

First Place, Cities Category

"Winter in the Arctic" (《北极的冬天》)

Photographer: WEIMIN CHU

(Thomas Chu Photo)

Upernavik is a village built on a narrow island in northwestern Greenland. In the past, the locals painted their houses in different colors to distinguish the buildings' functions and even the owners' occupations. For example, commercial buildings were red, and fishermen's houses were blue. In the cold winter, when the sea and land are covered in white ice and snow, these houses become the only color on the more than 2 million square kilometers of Arctic land.

On a small hillside, I found this angle with its charming structure, colors, and layers, so I set up a telephoto lens there, raised the ISO, and captured the locals' street activities — including this scene of a family of three walking along the road. The deep blue tones as night fell made this icy land feel even colder, and only the warm lights in the houses and the cozy family warmed my heart.

Second Place, Cities Category

"The Age of Aviation" (《航空时代》)

Photographer: JASSEN TODOROV

San Francisco International Airport (SFO) has four runways. This is a rare scene I shot at the landing end of runway 28. I'd always dreamed of recording the dynamic moments of this busy airport from the air. After applying, I finally got permission to fly directly over the airport. It was a windy day, with winds at the airport of 35-45 miles per hour. The intense turbulence made me, controlling the plane while busily shooting, completely flustered. This aerial shoot was challenging, but it was also so exciting that completing this plan kept me awake for days.

Third Place, Cities Category

"Streets of Dhaka" (《达卡街头》)

Photographer: SANDIPANI CHATTOPADHYAY

During the Islamic "Bishwa Ijtema," people pray on the streets of Dhaka, Bangladesh. "Bishwa Ijtema" is one of the major religious gatherings held in Dhaka every year, drawing millions of followers. The dedicated prayer grounds are no longer enough to hold so many people, so many come to Dhaka's main streets to pray. During this time, all ground traffic and pedestrians pause to wait for the ceremony to end.

First Place, Nature Category

"Gentle Eyes" (《温柔的眼睛》)

Photographer: TAMARA BLAZQUEZ HAIK

In Spain's Monfragüe National Park, I saw a beautiful griffon vulture flying with outstretched wings. People often say vultures bring bad omens, but in its eyes, I saw an unexpected gentleness. Vultures are an important part of the ecosystem, feeding on dead animal carcasses. Watching these noble and majestic kings of the sky fly, we should feel humble and in awe of them.

Second Place, Nature Category

"Wall of Water" (《水墙》)

Photographer: DANNY SEPKOWSKI

What happens before a wave breaks? This question haunted me and became my shooting theme last year. That day, I decided to shoot the sunset on the east coast of Oahu, Hawaii. Every morning, more than 100 photographers shoot the sunrise at this beach, but at sunset, I had it all to myself. The wave textures raised by the west wind and the subtle colors of the sunset created a wonderful "chemical reaction" in my 100mm lens. I nervously watched my viewfinder and pressed the shutter at the instant the wave was about to shatter.

Third Place, Nature Category

"Dusky Dolphins" (《暗色斑纹海豚》)

Photographer: SCOTT PORTELLI

Dusky dolphins often gather together, crossing New Zealand's Kaikoura canyon in search of food. They glide quickly through the sea with ease, surfacing only to breathe. Dusky dolphins are fast enough to keep pace with speedboats. I had to wait patiently on the bow to capture the instant the dolphins broke the surface. Their elegant, streamlined bodies seem tailor-made for speed and maneuverability.

First Place, People Category

"Showtime" (《开演时间》)

Photographer: HUAIFENG LI

Actors prepare for an evening theater performance in Licheng County, China. I spent a whole day following and documenting these actors from makeup to the stage. I'm a freelance photographer, and the "Yaodong Life" series is one of my long-term projects. On China's Loess Plateau, local residents carve caves into the loess layer, creating a unique cave living space called "yaodong." The thermal insulation of yaodong has helped locals survive one cold winter after another.

Second Place, People Category

"Daily Morning Exercise" (《每日晨练》)

Photographer: YOSHIKI FUJIWARA

This photo was taken at the Choi Hung Estate in Hong Kong. When I visited in the afternoon, the place was full of young people taking photos and playing basketball. But when I returned at sunrise, it had become a quiet place, with only a few local residents doing morning exercise. When I saw an old man practicing tai chi in the sunlight, I felt a unique and sacred atmosphere.

Third Place, People Category

"Horses" (《马》)

Photographer: JOSÉ ANTONIO ZAMORA

At the annual San Antón festival in Spain, locals hold an animal purification ceremony called Las Luminarias. In the province of Ávila, this ritual, which dates back to the 18th century, has horses and riders leap over bonfires. I'm very interested in photographing these folk events.

About the contest:

The annual National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest, organized by the National Geographic Society, honors photographers who showcase the world through travel and exploration. By 2019, it had completed 31 years.

2018 National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest winning work

Photographer: REIKO TAKAHASHI

This year's contest had three categories — Nature, Cities, and People — with first, second, and third place works selected in each. Winning works must submit original files and shooting process for review; staging, harming animals, and post-processing beyond the allowed limits are not permitted by the contest rules.

Finally, the jury will select one Grand Prize winner from the three category winners based on criteria such as originality, visual appeal, and compositional quality. The Grand Prize winner will receive a total of $10,000 in prize money and a repost on National Geographic's Instagram account with over 100 million followers.

2017 National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest winning work

Photographer: SERGIO TAPIRO VELASCO

Final words:

Ever since I fell in love with geographical exploration, stepping onto this world stage has always been a goal that felt very distant, yet one I've kept working toward.

Of course, luck plays a huge role in winning awards. I can't become complacent over one stroke of luck. In the future, I'll continue exploring and experimenting, presenting more original works to everyone.

Finally, I'd like to thank the equipment partners who supported my long-term photography project — Haida, Dell, Fotopro, Sony, and others — as well as the platforms that collaborated deeply on content: Photography Notes, Tuchong, Zcool, Fengniao, Mepai, and more.

Of course, most importantly, I want to thank the AdventureX teammates, friends, and fans for their long-term support!

Thanks for following Thomas's official account