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Travel Photographer of the Year 2024
WINNER – Piper Mackay, USA
Judges’ comments
“So many images today are over-saturated, over-processed and even AI-generated. A ‘less is more’ approach is often far more effective. It is therefore refreshing to judge images which demonstrate good camera craft and in-camera creativity – shot full-frame, or close to it, and with very little retouching. This year’s overall winner’s images are a good example. They were made with a camera converted to infrared (IR) – a technique is not as straight forward as it sounds. The detail and atmosphere captured is both eye-catching and highly engaging.”
Chris Coe
American-born Piper Mackay lives in Kenya and has been exploring Africa’s wilds since 2004, capturing her journey through photography. Initially inspired by the untamed beauty, she began with vibrant color imagery. As technology evolved, she transitioned to a sophisticated monochromatic style, revisiting the wild places she first encountered to create powerful, evocative images.
Her work has been featured at prestigious institutions such as the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History in Washington, D.C., The Museum of History and Industry in Seattle, and The Art Wolfe Gallery. Her photographs are part of private collections worldwide.
Mackay’s work has appeared in notable publications including National Geographic Traveler, Outdoor Photographer, and Nature Photographer. Her images have also been featured in National Geographic and Travel Africa. She has won several prestigious awards, including the African Wildlife Category at Nature’s Best and a highly commended portfolio in the 2020 Travel Photographer of the Year.
Young Travel Photographer of the Year 2024
WINNER – Raymond Zhang, China (age 14)
Judges’ comments
“Raymond has created an impressive collection of images that vividly showcase the hard work and camaraderie involved in running a steam train. Each image tells a unique story, from the sweat and focus of the engineers to the warm, inviting glow of the locomotive’s interior. They convey a sense of timeless dedication and the bond shared by those who work tirelessly behind the scenes.”
Angie Nicholson
14-year-old Raymond Zhang started taking photos when he received his first camera as a birthday gift from his father. Enjoying the view of the world through the lens, Raymond began taking photographs of his surroundings. When he was 10 years old he took shots of birds in Shanghai, which sparked a new interest. When he learned that many bird habitats had been destroyed for economic development, he began to use his camera to reflect something deeper,
and raise awareness, whether that is of the plight of birds or, as in his winning portfolio, the lives of train drivers working at a coal mine.
Winner – Young TPOTY (14yrs & under)
WINNER – Leonardo Murray, Australia (age 12)
Judges’ comments
“Beautiful landscapes capturing the majesty of the Namib Desert. For someone so young to see and capture the near abstract shapes and rhythms in this set shows a sense of image perception that is remarkable. At 12 years old, these show a good creative eye and use of light balancing the natural light and in-camera technique.”
Jeremy Hoare
Leonardo is a student from Kiama Public school in Australia. He shot his winning images on a trip around Namibia with his father, who is a professional photographer.
Winner – Young TPOTY (15 to 18 years)
WINNER – Maksymilian Paczkowski, Poland (age 17)
Judges’ comments
“A great eye for an image and use of colour in putting together a portfolio more skillfully than most older photographers manage. It’s great to see Maksymillian’s work and he has a bright future. This type of bird images aren’t easy to do.”
The Judging Panel
Maksymilian Paczkowski is a 17-year-old photographer from Poland with a passion for capturing the beauty of animals and nature. When not behind the lens, he’s a high school student. In his photography, he loves experimenting with light to create art. But photography, to him, is more than just the interplay of light and shadow. It’s about the story behind each shot, the effort and patience it takes to capture a fleeting moment, and freezing the past.
Runners-up – Young TPOTY (14 yrs & under)
Jamie Smart, UK (age 9)
Runner-up – Young TPOTY (15 to18 yrs)
Vlad Paulet, Romania (age 18)
Highly Commended – Young TPOTY (14 yrs & under)
Sachin Prakash, UK (age 14)
Highly Commended – Young TPOTY (15 to 18 yrs)
Zheng Zhiyu, China (age 16)
Portfolios
Faces, People, Cultures
WINNER – Maricruz Sainz de Aja, Mexico
Judges’ comments
“What wonderfully intriguing images! Papua New Guinea is much visited and photographed but usually the pictures are full of colour. These are subtle and delicate, but powerful.”
Chris Coe
Now based in Miami, Maricruz is originally from Mexico. She focuses on on travel, documentary and wildlife photography, her work driven by a deep respect for the diverse cultures, nature, people and wildlife. Through her photography, she aims to capture the beauty, resilience and complexity of the world around us, particularly the unique and often overlooked moments that define different communities. “It is an honor to be able to share these moments, and I feel privileged to have my work recognized in some international forums. Photography is a tool for connection and storytelling, and each photograph is a reflection of the world’s complexity and the emotions that bind us. I am committed to preserving these stories and contributing to a global interest about culture, nature, and humanity.“
Runner-up – Trevor Cole, Ireland
Highly Commended – Ignacio Palacios, Spain/Australia
Commended – Ignacio Palacios, Spain/Australia
Best Single Image in a Portfolio – Faces, People, Cultures
WINNER – Partha Pratim Roy, India
Judges’ comments
“You can feel the power in this image. A dynamic moment beautifully captured.”
The Judging Panel
An avid and self-taught photographer who is an I.T. engineer by profession but a photographer by passion, Partha is a Singapore-based photographer, originally from Uttarpara, a small town in West Bengal, India. His passion and hobby in photography gradually made him a photographer, and he always liked to spend his free time with his camera and photography. As a photographer, Partha can subliminally communicate emotions and feelings randomly hidden in life’s compositions. His work communicates emotions hidden within life’s natural compositions, making him an artistic poet and storyteller who uses photographs as his vehicle.
Partha’s work spans travel and wildlife photography, but he started with landscape and cityscape photography. Over time, he learned that creativity and an understanding of art’s true aesthetics are what allow a photographer to transcend boundaries. Throughout his career, Partha has garnered numerous prestigious photography awards, both internationally and locally. He holds multiple FIAP, PSA, GPU, and IAAP medals and distinctions, including the esteemed AFIAP honor. Partha continues to explore photography as a medium to capture the beauty of life, nature, and moments frozen in time.
SPECIAL MENTION – (clockwise from top left) Javier Herranz Casellas, Spain; Jurica Galic, Croatia; Chiara Felmini, Italy; Happy Mukerjee, India; Matt Jacob, UK
Planet Earth – Landscapes, Climate & Water
WINNER – Roie Galitz, Israel
Judges’ comments
“Perfectly captures the landscape, climate, water theme with different perspectives on an environment which is facing some of the biggest threats to its future existence.”
The Judging Panel
Roie Galitz is a professional wildlife photographer, environmentalist, and explorer whose work brings attention to the fragile beauty of our planet. With over two decades of experience, Roie has traveled to the most remote corners of the Earth, capturing breathtaking images of wildlife in their natural habitats. His photography not only showcases nature’s wonders but also serves as a powerful tool to inspire conservation and raise awareness about the impact of climate change.
As a Greenpeace Ambassador, Roie is taking part in campaigns to save fragile eco-systems. He is also serving on the board of several conservation NGOs. Galitz is also a Nikon Europe Ambassador, Gitzo and Lowepro Ambassador, and Sandisk Professional Ambassador.
Runner-up – Ignacio Palacios, Spain/Australia
Highly Commended – Takahiro Gamou, Japan
Commended – Mauro Tronto, Italy
Best Single Image in a Portfolio – Planet Earth – Landscapes, Climate & Water
WINNER – Alain Schroeder, Belgium
Judges’ comments
“This image captures some of the human impact of flooding. The young girl’s hands, reaching up as if to acknowledge our gaze, create an emotional bridge between her world and ours. It’s a poignant reminder of the personal stories woven into the wider narrative of climate and natural disasters.”
Angie Nicholson
SPECIAL MENTION – (clockwise from top left) Mauro Tronto, Italy; Stephan Fürnrohr, Germany; Henrique Murta, Brazil; Yan Li, China; Sabine Weise, Germany; Guillaume Petermann, France; Alexey Kharitonov, Israel
Travel in Monochrome
WINNER – Aleš Krivec, Slovenia
Judges’ comments
“Strong shadows and highlights make for atmospheric, moody shots. The monochrome medium makes them all the more punchy yet subtle, without the distraction of colour.”
The Judging Panel
Aleš is a web designer and developer who focuses on developing WordPress themes. In his spare time, he spends much time photographing nature and vast landscapes. Most of his images are from his home country, Slovenia, but he also likes to explore the mighty mountains of the Dolomites, as in his winning portfolio.
Runner-up – Linda Wride, UK
Highly Commended – Jakub Rybicki, Poland
Commended – Tom Bourdon, UK
Best Single Image in a Portfolio – Travel in Monochrome
WINNER – Linda Wride, UK
Judges’ comments
“This shot oozes atmosphere and sucks you into the potter’s world. Absolutely exquisite!”
Chris Coe
SPECIAL MENTION – (clockwise from top left) Shyjith Onden Cheriyath, India; Piper Mackay, USA; Vicky Fry, UK; Thibault Gerbaldi, France
Wildlife, Nature & Underwater
WINNER – Jenny Stock, UK
Judges’ comments
“We are left wondering what an earth this photographer was thinking! There isn’t a lens long enough that would tempt most of us into the water with these Cuban crocodiles. The detail is phenomenal, graphic, beautiful and hypnotic.”
The Judging Panel
Jenny is a highly-trained Shooting Producer/Director with extensive professional experience gained over twenty years in the television industry. Her specialism is shooting observational documentaries, wildlife programming and format entertainment. She has excellent underwater photography skills and was awarded British Underwater Photographer of the year 2024 – she has a passion for photographing and filming animals and wildlife.
In her personal work as an award-winning wildlife photographer, Jenny has honed her technical skills in visual story-telling. Using a variety of cameras, and her own unique creative methods she has achieved awards in high-profile competitions, including European Wildlife Photographer of the Year, Underwater Photographer of the Year, and Wildlife Photographer of the Year. Her animal images have also featured in National Geographic, on the BBC, in UNESCO advertising, in magazines and on billboards (to name just a few locations). To gain this portfolio she has travelled the world solo, organised location schedules with local people, negotiated budgets and solved problems when they arose. Not to mention swam with sharks and crocodiles in the wild!
Runner-up – Pascal Beaudenon, France
Highly Commended – Scott Portelli, Australia
Commended – Panagiotis Dalagiorgos, Greece
Best Single Image in a Portfolio – Wildlife, Nature & Underwater
WINNER – Joshua Holko, Australia
Judges’ comments
“The hoarfrost on the fur and whiskers drives home the harshness and fragility of these enigmatic cats and the environment which they call home.”
The Judging Panel
SPECIAL MENTION – (clockwise from top left) Scott Portelli, Australia; Doron Talmi, Israel; Mostahfiz Gani, UK; Scott Portelli, Australia; Jia Chen, Canada
One Shot – Single Image Categories
Cities, Towns, Streets
WINNER – Matthew DeSantis, USA
Judges’ comments
“A street view with a difference from right in the heart of the action, captured in the perfect moment. What a fabulous action shot. Matthew has pressed the shutter release at the perfect moment, revealing a little of the every day life in Bhutan.”
Angie Nicholson
Matt is one of Bhutan’s longest residing non-natives, with a relationship to Bhutan that dates back to his youth. He is the founder of MyBhutan, Bhutan’s boutique luxury travel designer and outfitter, and a technology company, Beyul Labs, that provides Bhutan’s first online payments platform. He also created Sangwa Camp — featured in TIME’s 2024 World’s Greatest Places — a collection of hidden luxury tented camps, privately arranged in the deepest and most secluded regions of Bhutan. Matt and his team found, fund, and develop various nonprofit projects. These have included a historic national preservation initiative to document, digitize, and archive Bhutan’s tangible cultural art and religious history, a multi-district community forest afforestation project, the introduction of baseball and its recognition as a national sport, and the founding of The Explorers Club Bhutan Chapter, which Matt chairs.
Unrelated to his work, Matt serves as the U.S. State Department Warden of Bhutan. An avid explorer himself, Matt has surveyed some of the least explored regions of the Himalayas. His expeditions have reached beyond Bhutan as well. In 2019, Matt was part of the paleontology expedition team honored with the Citation of Merit from the Explorers Club for their work in the Gobi Desert.
Runner up – Shyjith Onden Cheriyath, India
Highly Commended – Dinos Michail, Greece (right)
Joint Commended – Tuan Nguyen Tan, Vietnam (top); Alain Schroeder, Belgium (bottom)
Escape
WINNER – Ngar Shun Victor Wong, Hong Kong
Judges’ comments
“It’s easy to dismiss this image at first glance but when you suddenly spot the figure to the left of the church it take on a whole new dimension, defining perspective, scale and atmosphere.”
The Judging Panel
Ngar is a private practicing Ear, Nose & Throat surgeon in Hong Kong. He embarked on his photography journey in 2017 with a passion for capturing the world through his lens. Nature and landscape photography quickly became favourites, as he finds deep inspiration in the serene beauty of the natural world. This fascination led him to delve into night astrophotography, and more recently he has chosen to explore the stories woven into human cultures. “Each photograph I take becomes a narrative, a glimpse into the lives and traditions of people from different backgrounds, capturing the essence of their journeys. Through my lens, I aim to celebrate both the beauty of nature and the richness of human experience, creating a body of work that resonates with viewers on multiple levels.“
Runner up – Ignacio Palacios, Spain/Australia
Highly Commended – Matt Jacob, UK (left)
Commended – Marsel van Oosten, Netherlands (right)
Festivals & Celebrations
WINNER – Jo Kearney, UK
Judges’ comments
“No matter how many times you look at this image you cannot help but smile. It is joyous, colourful and uplifting.“
Chris Coe
Jo Kearney is a video journalist/photographer working for broadcasters such as the BBC and Al Jazeera and the international press agency Associated Press. She has worked all over the world covering news, features and making documentaries.
Jo has exhibited her photos internationally and won the International Portrait Photographer environmental category in 2023 and Food Photographer of the Year “Politics of Food” category in 2024; she has been shortlisted in Travel Photographer of the Year 3 times and runner-up for the Royal Photographic Society’s Joan Wakelin Bursary competition. She recently achieved her Associate distinction with the Royal Photographic Society.
Runner up – Tittu Shaji Thomas, India
Highly Commended – Athanasios Maloukos, Greece (left)
Commended – Yan Li, China (right)
Women in World Culture
WINNER – Erhan Coral, Turkey
Judges’ comments
“A undoubtedly beautiful and simple image, but when you engage with the woman’s expression it becomes mesmerising and I find myself transported from a busy place into the thoughts of the subject as I’m taken to a place of memories for loved ones on the Day of the Dead.”
Chris Coe
Erhan considers himself a lifelong student of photography. What started as a simple curiosity quickly grew into a way to connect with the world around him. He’s always been fascinated by the interplay of light, shadow, and emotion, and photography gives him a way to explore these elements while telling stories.
He’s particularly drawn to documenting everyday life, those quiet, often overlooked moments that reveal so much about who we are. He believes every place and person has a unique story to tell, and he feels privileged to capture even a small part of it.
For Ethan, photography is a quiet, ongoing journey, and he’s grateful for every step along the way.
Runner up – Jo Kearney, UK
Highly Commended – Priska Seisenbacher, Austria (left);
Commended – Partha Pratim Roy, India (right)
Rising Talent Award
WINNERS
This category is designed to identify up-and-coming photographers who are showing potential to become even better and who may, with time and guidance, carve themselves a career in photography, or further develop a fledgling career. TPOTY will be helping them over the next year.
The top three photographers in this section will also have their work reviewed and receive guidance from top New York photographers’ agent and TPOTY judge, Frank Meo.
People’s Choice
WINNER – Mauro de Bettio, Italy
The People’s Choice public vote is your chance to be a judge. The online vote is open to everyone. The winner – depicting an endangered pangolin, rescued from the illegal wildlife trade in Nigeria, with its devoted protector, was chosen by you and this year we received:
19,895 votes
Mauro De Bettio is an internationally recognized photographer and storyteller whose work captures the heart and soul of some of the most remote and complex corners of the world. Driven by passion and guided by an unwavering commitment to telling the stories of those who often go unheard, Mauro’s journey has taken him to places of breathtaking beauty, raw reality, and intense emotion.
Among his most significant works are his powerful documentation of acid attack survivors in Bangladesh, the brutal reality inside Manila’s prisons, the stark contrasts of life in Afghanistan, the dreams of ballerinas in Africa’s largest slum, the struggles of sex workers in Asia’s biggest slum.
This is the only category in which the TPOTY judges do not select the winner. Instead, some 200 finalist images appeared on the TPOTY website and were voted for by the general public.
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