Yeung’s photo, Walled City #08, which came second in the Cities section of the National Geographic Travel Photographer of the Year contest. Of the photo, Yeung says: The Kowloon Walled City was the densest place on Earth. Hundreds of houses stacked on top of each other enclosed in the centre of the structure. Many didn’t have access to open space. This notorious city was finally demolished in 1990s. However, if you look hard enough, you will notice that the city is not dead. Part of it still exists in many of current high density housing apartments. I hope this series can get people to think about claustrophobic living in Hong Kong from a new perspective. Photo: Andy Yeung/National Geographic Travel Photographer of the Year Contest. For full gallery see http://www.natgeo.com/travelerphotocontest
Update | Hong Kong’s Andy Yeung wins award in global photo contest for drone shot of Whampoa Garden estate - see all the winning shots
Photographer with a big following for his drone photographs takes second prize in Cities section of National Geographic Travel Photographer of the Year contest with image of housing estate he likens to former Kowloon Walled City
Hongkonger Andy Yeung has scooped an award in a National Geographic global photography competition.
Yeung, a keen landscape, architecture and travel photographer with a big following in Hong Kong – especially for his aerial photography – placed second in the “Cities” category of the National Geographic Travel Photographer of the Year competition.
His signature style was evident in his winning image, Walled City #08, an aerial view of the Whampoa Garden housing estate in Hung Hom, Kowloon.
Yeung said: “I drew inspiration from the Kowloon Walled City – once the densest place on Earth – which was demolished nearly three decades ago. Hundreds of houses were stacked on top of each other and there was very little open space,” said Yeung of the image.
“The Kowloon Walled City may be gone, but its legacy remains. It exists in Hong Kong’s modern architecture and stacked apartments, which have been built to accommodate the masses.”
Sergio Tapiro Velasco’s photo “The power of nature” won the Grand Prize and 1st prize in the Nature category of the National Geographic Travel Photographer of the Year contest. Velasco wins a 10-day trip for two to the Galápagos Archipelago with National Geographic Expeditions. Velasco says of the photo: That night, the weather was dry and cold, friction of ash particles generated a big lightning of about 600 metres that connected ash and volcano, and illuminated most of the dark scene. On last part of 2015, this volcano showed a lot of eruptive activity with ash explosions t hat raised 2 - 3 km above the crater. Most of night explosions produced incandescent rock falls and lightning not bigger than 100 metres in average. Photo: Sergio Tapiro Velasco/National Geographic Travel Photographer of the Year
Mexican Sergio Tapiro Velasco’s photograph of an erupting volcano hit by a bolt of lightning won the grand prize.
Velasco’s photo was selected from over 15,000 entries submitted by photographers in more than 30 countries.
The competition was judged by Molly Roberts, senior photography editor at National Geographic; Benjamin Lowy, award-winning adventure and underwater photographer; and Jody MacDonald, award-winning adventure sport and documentary photographer.
This image taken by Tarun Sinha, titled “Crocodiles, at Rio Tarcoles”, came third in the Nature section. Sinha says of the photo: This image was captured in Costa Rica when I was travelling from Monteverde to Playa Hermosa. As you cross over this river, you can stop and peer over the edge of the bridge. Below, reside over 35 gigantic crocodiles, relaxing on the muddy banks of the river. I wanted to capture the stark difference between the crocodiles on land and in the water. In the murky waters, the body contours of these beasts remain hidden, and one can only truly see their girth as they emerge from the river. Photo: Tarun Sinha/2017 National Geographic Travel Photographer of the Year Contest.
This image taken by Misha De-Stroyev won third prize in the Cities section of the contest, and is titled “Henningsvaer Football Field.” De-Stroyev says of the photo: This football field in Henningsvaer in the Lofoten Islands is considered one of the most amazing fields in Europe, and maybe even in the world. The photo was taken during a 10-day sailing trip in Norway in June 2017. We arrived to Henningsvaer after a week of sailing through the cold and rainy weather. Upon our arrival, the weather cleared up. I was really lucky that the conditions were suitable for flying my drone, and I managed to capture this shot from a height of 120 metres. Photo: Misha De-Stroyev/2017 National Geographic Travel Photographer of the Year Contest
This photo, taken by F. Dilek Uyar and titled “Worship”, won first prize in the People section of the contest. The winner says of the photo: This photo was taken in Konya. Willing Dervish in an historical place of Sille Konya Turkey. The “dance” of the Whirling Dervishes is called Sema and is a symbol of the Mevlevi culture. According to Mevlana's teachings, human beings are born twice, once of their mothers and the second time of their own bodies. Photo: F. Dilek Uyar/2017 National Geographic Travel Photographer of the Year Contest
“The quality of submissions in the 2017 Travel Photographer of the Year contest was wonderfully eclectic,” said Roberts. “I was inspired by the variety of locations and creativity of the photographers in their quest to make compelling images.”
