Therese Iknoian’s “Stargazing for Centuries” night photo of a moai on Easter Island earned a 3rd in the 2023 Minimalist Photography Awards, night category, amid hundreds of entries.

The night photo was of a lone moai on Easter Island (Rapa Nui) Chile, seemingly staring up at the Milky Way and stars, one of 3100 entries from 31 countries in several categories in the competition that focus on minimalist composition.

“My trip to Rapa Nui in early 2023 turned not only into a very special exploration of the mystical moai statues, but also offered insights into the culture, and history of this tiny very remote island that were so enlightening,” said Therese. “I truly fell in love with the place, people, and the experience.

“That makes this recognition all the more memorable. Spending hours each night under these very dark skies among the moai was moving. I even named this particular moai after spending so long with him. He’s my buddy Moe.”

Therese, also an award-winning travel writer who runs her own online photo gallery at ThereseIknoian.com, has won numerous photography awards as well as awards for photography essays and writing. She runs HITravelTales.com with her husband Michael Hodgson, also an award-winning photographer and writer. Their blog, HITravelTales.com was named one of the best independent blogs in 2022 by the North American Travel Journalists Association.

Therese and Michael have run HITravelTales.com for about eight years, during which time they have traveled to, photographed, and written about Germany, Morocco, Ukraine, Argentina, Antarctica and of course the United States, among others. Together, they have been to all seven continents, 49 countries, and all 50 states, focusing on immersive travel that connects readers with the culture, food, history, people, and natural wonders of a destination.

Download “18 tips to take amazing travel photos” for free

Members of our Subscriber Club can download 18 tips to take amazing travel photos for free. 

If you are not yet a member of our Subscriber Club use the form below to subscribe to the HI Travel Tales Subscriber Club newsletter. With the newsletter, you’ll start receiving premium stories, photography and tips that do not appear on our website. And you’ll become part of a fun travel community. Once you are a newsletter subscriber, you will be invited to set up a Subscriber Club account granting you full access to our free travel book and recipe library.