Jason Hioe — 2nd Place, Travel
An interview with Jason Hioe
GLPA 2025 Winner Interview
Jason Hioe — 2nd Place, Travel
Holy Journey
We’re pleased to feature Jason Hioe, 2nd Place in Travel at the Global Lens Photography Awards 2025.
His photograph Holy Journey captures the grandeur of the Melasti Ceremony in Bali with both visual force and cultural sensitivity.
Through scale, movement, and devotion, the image reveals a ritual that is not only beautiful to witness, but deeply sacred in meaning.
“Holy Journey” captures an extraordinary sense of movement and ritual. What first drew you to this moment within the Melasti Ceremony?
What first drew me to this specific moment were the participants carrying pratima (sacred statues or shrines) and umbul-umbul (traditional flags).
The image balances scale and intimacy at the same time. How did you decide on the composition as people descended toward Melasti Beach?
I decided on this composition because it feels very dramatic and creates a strong sense of journey and narrative as people descend toward the water.
What did you want viewers outside Bali to understand or feel about this ceremony through your photograph?
Through photographs of the Melasti ceremony, my aim is to show the deep devotion of the Balinese people. It is not only something for tourism, but a sacred act of faith, heritage, and culture.
In a scene with so many people and so much visual activity, what was the biggest challenge in keeping the image clear and powerful?
Ceremonies often begin at sunrise, so I must quickly adapt to the high contrast and wait for the right moment when many people are going down to the beach.
Travel photography often risks becoming purely descriptive. How do you make sure an image like this carries emotion as well as information?
I focus on human interest and the interaction between people, their environment, and their culture.
You also received an Honorable Mention in Black & White. Does working in monochrome influence how you see color scenes like this one?
Yes.
Was there one small detail within the procession that stayed with you after making the photograph?
Yes.
What does this GLPA recognition mean to you, and what kind of places or stories are you most excited to photograph next?
It means a lot to me. I’m so happy. Thank you very much. Actually, I still take photos of Melasti in Bali, and most likely I want to photograph other cultural ceremonies in Indonesia as well.
