Lara Roussouw from Bloemfontein won first prize with her extraordinary photo Living on the Edge showing a lizard facing the iconic Augrabies Falls in the Northern Cape. The photograph was taken earlier this year, during Roussouw’s first holiday since lock-down, in the Kgalagadi National Park. “I loved the look of the lizard, as if it were appreciating the view of the Augrabies Falls from the viewing deck,” she said. She wins a Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G smart phone plus accessories.

Cynthia Mokgoebo from Polokwane came second with her photo Sharing a Moment showing two grasshoppers on a twig, that she captured during a sunset walk to a nearby lake, winning a Samsung Galaxy S21+ 5G.

Karishma Rajcomar from Durban earned third prize with her photo  The Power of Touch which conveys a sentiment of gratitude as she photographed her 91 year old grandmother’s hand resting over her own. She wins a Samsung Galaxy S21 5G.

“The camera innovations in the Galaxy S21 5G series are designed for those who want to bring their vision to life in epic, new ways. This collaboration is an exciting example of how amateur photographers can harness the power of technology to showcase their unique perspectives on a country that is truly breath-taking. It is inspiring to see the device’s pro-grade camera system in action in the hands of such talented people, “said Dudu Mokholo, Chief Marketing Officer at Samsung.

Entries can be viewed by searching the hashtags #ExploreWithNatGeo #GalaxyS21 and #withGalaxy on Instagram.

This was the first time that National Geographic invited amateur photographers in South Africa to showcase their unique stories and perspectives, enabling unique local stories and experiences to be depicted using the photographic medium. The judging panel included award-winning photographer and National Geographic Explorer Gulshan Khan.

“Visual storytelling has always been integral to National Geographic and it was incredible to receive so many remarkable entries to this competition,” said Evert van der Veer, Vice President, Media Networks, The Walt Disney Company Africa. “The entries captured diverse perspectives, each telling a unique story in a fascinating way” he added.

https://www.natgeotv.com/za/special/national-geographic-2021-south-african-photographic-competition