The grand prize winner of this year’s National Geographic Traveller Photography Competition was snapped by Hadriel Torres at the Matavaa O Te Henua Enana arts festival, held on the remote Marquesas Islands. The celebration of local music, dance and crafts showcases the lively traditions of this Pacific archipelago, attracting delegations from all six inhabited islands, as well as tourists.
Here, the haka (a ceremonial dance of powerful gestures and stamping) is performed by the local dance group on the small island of Ua Pou while awaiting the arrival of the neighbouring islands’ canoes. The shot, entered into the ‘People’ category, was selected as the overall competition winner from more than 4,500 entries.
Pat Riddell, editor of National Geographic Traveller (UK), said of the grand prize winner’s photograph: ‘The shot was a clear winner with the judges, capturing the energy and the power of the dance against the backdrop of the stunning location. The immediacy and sense of place is captivating; you can almost feel the stamping of feet and hear the rhythmic chanting. A well deserved winner.’
The winners are: Grand prize winner: Hadriel Torres: Performing the haka, Ua Pou island, Marquesas Islands, French Polynesia
Category winners:
Cities: Jordan Banks: Soho building on Odaiba artificial island, Tokyo, Japan
Landscapes: Annapurna Mellor: Thiksey Monastery, Ladakh, India
People: Hadriel Torres: Performing the haka, Ua Pou island, Marquesas Islands, French Polynesia
Nature: Francesca Page: Spotted eagle ray, near Cocos Island, Costa Rica