List of winners of the 2017 Club Tourism Calendar Photo Contest

We are looking for photos of "travel memories" taken during your travels. The winners of the photo contest will receive local specialties from all over Japan.
In addition, the photographs submitted will be published in brochures and on our website, so please apply.
Please download and use the latest Club Tourism calendar.

2017 Club Tourism Calendar Contest
Announcement of the winners

Thank you to everyone who applied to the 2017 Club Tourism Calendar Photo Contest. After rigorous judging from 9,173 entries, eight works were awarded prizes: one Grand Prize, two Excellence Prizes, and five Honorable Mentions. Congratulations! There were many excellent works that unfortunately did not win, making the judging extremely difficult. We would like to express our sincere gratitude to everyone who applied.
*"PN" on this page stands for pen name.

Professor Hiroshi Itami
As a photo editor, he has been a judge for many photography awards and contests. He is also the representative director of the Japan Photo Contest Association.
Advisor to the Japan Photographic Society, a public interest incorporated association; Director of the NPO Photo Culture Club

Professor Akihiko Hirashima
Photographer and editor. Former head of the Mainichi Newspaper Publishing Photography Department and head of the visual editing department.
He has co-authored "Showa 20 Tokyo Map" (Chikuma Shobo) and edited "Miyamoto Tsuneichi Photo and Diary Collection" etc.

Club Tourism Calendar 2017

Of the submitted works, eight winning works have been selected to be featured in the 2017 Club Tourism Calendar.
Please feel free to use it.

Download (PDF) here

Grand Prize
Excellence Award
Honorable Mention

Grand Prize

Lavender field at dawn

Author: PN. Azumino (living in Ibaraki Prefecture)

Just before dawn, when the sunlight cast a crimson hue on the summit of Mt. Fuji, the lavender fields seemed to be waiting for their time in the spotlight. I was so moved by this ever-changing drama of nature that I took pictures with a sigh of emotion.

Comment

There are many photos of Mt. Fuji throughout the four seasons, and most of them are powerful images of the mountain, but it's rare to see a fairy-tale-like image of Mt. Fuji with lavender fields in the background. It's interesting that he chose to photograph Mt. Fuji in Jun.. The color of the lavender matches well with the color of the mountain's surface, which is sure to make Mt. Fuji even more popular. (Professor Itami)

The lavender and Mt. Fuji, a symbol of Japan, blend well together, and the photo conveys the humid atmosphere of a morning. It's not a showy composition, but it's fun to look at. You might be tempted to cut the yellow flowers in the foreground, but in this photo they make a great accent. (Professor Hirashima)

Excellence Award

Large Flower

Author: Akira Kamio (resident of Yamagata Prefecture)

One of the three major fireworks displays in Niigata, the Gion Kashiwazaki Festival - Large Fireworks Display at the Sea is famous for its mid-sea starmines and the simultaneous launch of 100 shakudama fireworks, and recently the simultaneous launch of three-shakudama fireworks (photographed fireworks) has also become popular. We were Image with good weather and were able to create the work we had imagined. This is one of the fireworks displays we would like to recommend.

Comment

Many fireworks photos have a pitch black sky, but this one is elegant because it's not completely dark and the color of the sky remains. The orange of the horizon is vivid and you never get bored of looking at it. The fireworks are displayed across the entire screen, giving it a sense of stability, while the pastel-like colorful fireworks give it a modern and fresh feel. (Professor Itami)

Autumn leaves flow

Author: Yusei Suzumura (resident of Kanagawa Prefecture)

I visited Aomori Prefecture during a three-day weekend during the autumn foliage season. Unfortunately, we were not blessed with good weather during those three days, but Oirase Stream offered beautiful scenery even when it was raining or cloudy. Oirase Stream is beautiful no matter what season it is, but it is especially special during the autumn foliage season.

Comment

It is difficult to capture perspective, which is one of the trickiest aspects of photography, but by using a clever shutter speed, this work manages to capture the autumn leaves clearly while still expressing perspective through the flow of the water. The flow of the water is simply beautiful. (Mr. Hirashima)

*In no particular order

Honorable Mention

Sunrise over the Uyuni Salt Flats in the dry season

Author: Kozue Ishimoto (living in Hokkaido)

The most mystical moment in life. Waiting for sunrise under a starry sky. As the sun rises, the shadows of the salt crystals quietly stretch out. Another side of the Uyuni Salt Flats that you can't experience in the mirror season.

Comment

A masterpiece that captures the mystical Uyuni Salt Flats in the dry season. The best part is that it was shot at sunrise. The lens work is dynamic, and the contrast between the mesh-like salt flats and the distant scenery is exquisite. (Professor Hirashima)

Flying through the harsh winter

Author: PN. Saitamanjiro (living in Saitama Prefecture)

This was my first visit to Tsurui Village. The temperature in the early morning was minus 20 degrees Celsius. I had assumed that there would be no snow or ice at this time of year, but that was not the case. The red-crowned cranes that had been roosting on the unfrozen Yukiri River flapped their wings vigorously to survive.

Comment

The composition of the frost-covered trees and the red-crowned cranes in the background is very moving. The photographer must have carefully chosen this composition when taking the photograph.
(Professor Hirashima)

Miraculous Evening Scenery

Author: PN. Kurohei (living Tokyo)

The Great Ocean Road, known as the "world's most beautiful coastal road," is home to a group of strangely shaped rocks known as the "12 Apostles." When I stood at the "12 Apostles" in the evening, the wind from the Antarctic Ocean opened cracks in the clouds, revealing a miraculous, spectacular view of the sunset.

Comment

The time of day you chose is perfect. Even a slight difference in time can make the scenery change dramatically. This work beautifully captures the moment when the sun dyes the landscape red just before it sinks completely. (Mr. Itami)

Otaru Snow Light Path

Author: PN. Yumepirika (living in Hokkaido)

Feb. 11, 2016. I was taking pictures of the Otaru Canal at dusk during the Otaru Snow Light Path, a winter event held in Otaru, Hokkaido during the coldest time of the year. I was taking pictures from a bridge, and it was so cold that my hands and feet were numb, but it was worth it to wait for the right moment to take a picture, as I was able to take some beautiful pictures of the city lights.

Comment

The afterglow of the sky still remained, creating a world with depth. It was wonderful that you chose this time of day. There seemed to be no wind, and the city lights were clearly reflected on the water, which created a great feeling.
(Professor Itami)

Setouchi sparkling in the setting sun

Author: Yutaka Imada (resident of Hyogo Prefecture)

Last year, I missed out on taking photos of the cherry blossoms at sunset on Mt. Shiude because of the cloudy skies. This year, I was lucky enough to see clear blue skies just before sunset, and the sun just before it set painted the cherry blossoms in full bloom at the top of the mountain pink. The islands and sea below were shrouded in mist and were bathed in the color of the afterglow. I was so engrossed in taking photos of this beautiful scene.

Comment

Mount Shiude in Kagawa Prefecture is a popular spot for cherry blossoms, but the spring haze is also nice. It would be better if it was sunny, but when it's sunny, the paleness is gone and the sky becomes harsh. The artist must have aimed for this time of day when the sky is tinted with gas.
(Professor Hirashima)

You can see the submitted works here

List of winners of the 2017 Club Tourism Calendar Photo Contest