Reynisfjara, the iconic black sand beach in Iceland, features dramatic basalt sea stacks framed by azure waters and rugged cliffs.

Through Our Lens: Community Travel Photo Competition

Akasha Loucks

Akasha Loucks

Updated:
3 min read

At some point on our travels, we’ve all probably felt that familiar urge: standing before an iconic landmark and reaching for a camera simply because everyone else is doing the same.

But there’s a delicate balance between living in the moment and capturing it.

Do we really take the time to stop and be present to witness the way the afternoon light hits the courtyard of Alhambra, or are we focused on how it’ll look to our followers?

Personally, I’m team take-the-photo, but don’t whisk me away before allowing me to pause and soak in the magic of the moment afterward. 

In fact, taking a picture is often how I absorb the experience. Especially when it comes to landscape or street photography. I’m by no means an expert, but thinking about what’s in front of me and how to snap it helps me notice its nuance. Light, patterns, texture, shadow, emotion... 

The camera becomes my tool for mindfulness. Even in the quiet in-between of waiting for “the perfect shot,” I find myself soaking in the sounds and smells of a place far more deeply than I could have if I had simply admired it and walked on by.

It turns out that most of you seem to feel the same way. We asked our Facebook community for their best travel shots, and we were truly blown away! 

And since the adage “a picture says a thousand words” definitely rings true. I’ll quit my word count here and let your lenses speak for themselves… 

A leopard rests stealthily amid dense foliage in Yala National Park, Sri Lanka.
A man stands on a rocky shore with the bustling beach of Scilla, Italy, and its surrounding hills in the background.

📸 Lynda in Scilla, Italy

Serene landscape of Maligne Lake in Jasper National Park, Canada, with majestic mountains at sunset.
A stunning sunset view over white-washed buildings in Santorini, Greece.
A silhouette of a giraffe at sunset in a Savannah-like setting, likely in a wildlife park in Africa.

📸 Stephen in Hluhluwe–iMfolozi Park, South Africa

A golden sunset illuminates the limestone karsts of Ha Long Bay, Vietnam, with reflections shimmering on the calm waters.
A luxurious picnic is set up on the sand dunes overlooking the Atlantic Ocean at Sandwich Harbour in Namibia.

📸 Andy in Nambia

A patterned sea creature.
Château de Duingt sits on the scenic edge of Lake Annecy in France, framed by snow-capped mountains.

📸 Gillian in Annecy, France

A white car stands on the vast, dried plain of the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah, surrounded by distant mountainous terrain.
A herd of elephants traverses the savanna at sunset in the Serengeti National Park.

📸Tammy in Kenya

Now it's your turn!

All these fantastic pics reminded us that it's about time we ran another competition, and this time you don't need to share any tales of misfortune.

Send us your best travel snapshot and the story behind it for a chance to win up to £/$/€500 towards flights (or an upgrade on a flight you've already booked).

Click the button below, sign into Jack's Members Lounge, hit 'Contribute' in the top right corner, and select 'Share a travel story'. The rest is up to you!

Our team will pick a shortlist of their faves, and then we'll let you, the community, vote for the winner!
 
Entry closes on July 20th, 2026. Click here to read the terms & conditions.

Akasha Loucks

With journeys spanning more than 30 countries and ten years, Akasha's best memories live in the pages of her passport. She always consults her tarot (and her cats) before any big trip. Currently based in Ireland, when she isn't travelling, she’s probably drawing in a café somewhere.

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