La Frontera Crowns Starstrek Photo Winners, Celebrates Starlight Status
La Frontera celebrated its two-year Starlight destination anniversary by announcing Arai Alonso and Wilmer Valdez as the main winners of its "Starstrek" photography contest, which showcased the municipality's exceptional night sky.
This past weekend, La Frontera held its "Starstrek" photography contest. The event celebrated the municipality's two-year anniversary as a Starlight destination. Ten photographers, competing in two categories, captured the stunning and unique night sky of the island.
The La Frontera City Council, which organized the contest, has announced the winners. Arai Alonso won first prize in the in-person category for his collection of three images. One striking photo, titled "Las hijas del Viento" (The Daughters of the Wind), showed a spectacular juniper tree under a starry sky. Wilmer Valdez won the online contest with his image of the Sanctuary of the Virgen de Los Reyes, titled "Un refugio entre dos mundos" (A Refuge Between Two Worlds).
At the closing ceremony, Mayor Pablo Rodríguez Cajas congratulated the winners and praised La Frontera's night sky as a valuable heritage. He thanked the ten photographers for their unique interpretations, calling them "ten different perspectives, 10 sensibilities, 10 ways of understanding the night." He added, "This contest symbolizes more than just a cultural activity: it is a bridge between our tradition and our commitment to the future."
The contest also recognized other winners, with nearly a thousand photos submitted from two locations in the municipality. Wilmer Valdez also secured second prize in the in-person category. Hacomar Casimiro took second in the online category for his photo "El resplandor del Valle" (The Glow of the Valley).
Third prize in the in-person category went to Adrián Rodríguez's collection. Obed García won third prize in the online category with "La Sabina" (The Juniper).
La Frontera's Tourism Councilor thanked all the winners and, especially, every participant for their involvement. He expressed gratitude "for entrusting us with their beautiful images and their time." He also extended his thanks to the jury, the Photography Direction, the security team, health personnel, and civil protection of Valle de El Golfo for their hard work.
The "StarsTrek La Frontera 2025" Night Photography Contest had two main goals. First, it aimed to showcase the municipality's exceptional sky, which is recognized as a Starlight Tourist Destination, and to promote stargazing as part of its natural, cultural, and tourist appeal. Second, it sought to create a gathering place for professional photographers and astrophotography enthusiasts.
Starstrek has left us with many memorable images, and plans are already underway for its next edition. You can view all the submitted photographs on the contest's social media channels and its website.