The Traveler Wins An Award For Travel Photography

Published Date

September 26, 2023

A 10-year-old boy is dwarfed by the Trump border wall in Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument in southwestern Arizona/Jennifer Bain

The National Parks Traveler has been honored by the Canadian chapter of the Society of American Travel Writers (SATW) for a photo of a child visiting the Trump border wall in Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument.

The photo was published Dec. 18 in a story headlined “The Challenges (And Rewards) Of Visiting Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument” and shows writer Jennifer Bain’s 10-year-old son dwarfed by the wall in the Arizona park.

The 7th annual awards drew more than 190 entries from professional travel writers, photographers and editors, digital storytellers, podcasters, social media experts and videographers.

Bain, the Traveler's Canada editor, won first place in the "Photography: People" category.

“Our judges were incredibly impressed with the quality of these submissions, which remind us of the incredible service that travel writers provide to readers — to inspire curiosity, to teach, and in some cases, to shift the dominant narrative,” SATW’s Canadian chair Carolyn Ray said in a news release.

Organ Pipe Cactus, a gorgeous green desert with 31 species of cacti, is also home to a 30-mile stretch of America’s steel border wall as well as warning signs about smuggling and illegal immigration.

Judge Stephen Jackson made these comments about Bain's photo: "The strong graphical elements are amplified by the rust-colored structure set against the clear blue desert sky. The young boy standing in the foreground gives the sense of the scale — how barren and remote the environment is. The image communicates so many things on so many levels, suggesting how onerous this journey is for those attempting it."

Founded in 1955, SATW has more than 1,000 members.

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