A photograph of Bajamar in La Laguna, Tenerife, taken by Milagros N. De Román, clinched fifth prize, with a value of 100 euros, in the ‘Mi Rincón Favorito’ (My Favourite Corner) competition. This nationwide Instagram photography contest aims to promote culture and tourism and received an impressive submission of over 3,000 images from across Spain. The winners were determined by a panel of professional tourism experts from various regions, photography professionals, and an internal committee from the event organizers. The awards were officially announced on World Tourism Day, September 27, 2023.
Milagros N. De Román, the photographer behind the image capturing La Laguna’s charm, described Bajamar as “a place with a unique allure within La Laguna municipality. It’s not just because of its proximity to the sea, the breeze that carries the scent of salt and seaweed, but also for its stunning sunsets that bid farewell to the day with a special light.”
The photographer also recommended the experience of “taking a refreshing swim in the pools and then watching the sun dip below the horizon during a peaceful stroll, or simply sitting by the sea, listening to the waves as the sun vanishes and the sky transforms in color; it’s one of those enriching experiences that nourishes the soul without a price tag.”
Kenneth Cabrera received the runner-up prize of 50 euros for his photograph of the Maspalomas dunes beneath the Milky Way.
The top five winners in the competition were as follows: 1st Luarca-Valdés (Asturias), 2nd Madrid, 3rd Cangas de Morrazo (Pontevedra), 4th Sant Antoni de Portmany (Balearic Islands), and 5th La Laguna (Tenerife). Due to the high caliber of entries, the competition also acknowledged 10 runners-up and extended 10 special mentions.
Promotion of tourism through photography
‘Mi Rincón Favorito’ is a national photography and tourism promotion contest on Instagram, showcasing participants’ images of their most cherished places. The competition, which has awarded a total of 5,000 euros in prizes this edition, with 2,000 designated for the national awards and an additional 3,000 distributed among various local competitions that are part of the initiative.
In this edition, several municipalities hosted local competitions with their own juries, entry calls, and prizes, including Cambrils (Tarragona), Gorbeia (Álava and Vizcaya), La Laguna (Tenerife), L’Hospitalet de Llobregat (Barcelona), La Muela (Zaragoza), Luarca-Valdés (Asturias), Santurtzi (Vizcaya), and Sant Antoni de Portmany (Ibiza). Participants had the chance to compete for prizes both in their respective local events and the national competition.
Samuel Rodríguez, the head of the ‘Mi Rincón Favorito’ contest, expressed, “Spain boasts an abundance of special places, making the selection process challenging. Narrowing down the choices by Autonomous Communities was already a demanding task, given the participation of over 3,000 photographers.”
“Yet, the true challenge lies in deciding where to go on my next journey, as the competition has introduced me to so many wonderful destinations. That’s precisely the goal of ‘Mi Rincón Favorito’: to reveal lesser-known gems as potential options for people’s future getaways or vacations.”
Rodríguez further stated, “The competition’s organizers are extremely pleased with the positive response and participation in this edition. We will soon announce the rules for the next edition, which will run from late 2023 through most of 2024. We encourage everyone to share their favorite places through the contest, allowing others to discover the treasures we can enjoy across the country.”
