The 2020 Travel Photographer of the Year awards (TPOTY) are now open, and entries can be made online through winvaults.com or submitted as prints.
At a time when travel is so restricted, we’re inviting amateur and professional photographers from all countries and of all ages to look through their archives of travel images to submit into the 18th edition of this global contest. Entries close on November 2nd, so, depending on when travel restrictions are lifted, there may also be time for you to shoot new material before the closing date.
And, in recognition of the financial problems so many are facing with the impact of the COVID-19 situation, entry fees have been discounted by 50% for May and June. In addition, entry fees will be discounted by 30% for July, by 20% for August and 10% for September.
2020 awards’ categories and prizes
The range of categories reflects the diversity of travel photography. The Overall Winner (the Travel Photographer of the Year 2020) will be the entrant who submits the best eight images across the portfolio categories ‘Landscapes & Earth Elements’, ‘Nature, Sealife, Wildlife’, ‘People of the World’ and ‘Travel Folio’, and there is a special award for photographers aged 18 and under – Young Travel Photographer of the Year – which is divided into two age groups. There are also three One Shot single image categories – ‘Colours of Life’, ‘Islands’ and ‘Solitude’ and a Smart Shot category, ‘iTravelled’, for images shot on a mobile phone or tablet.
Thanks to our lovely sponsors, prizes include cash bursaries, the latest Fujifilm X-T4 camera and lens, a Chris Weston – Life Changing Photography – International workshop, clothing from Páramo, Photo Iconic photo tuition, Genesis Imaging giclée exhibition prints and membership of the Royal Photographic Society. Further prizes will be announced in due course. In addition, the winning photographers will see their work showcased at TPOTY exhibitions in London and elsewhere in 2021 and featured in a Travel Photographer of the Year book. View the categories and prizes here.
Early entry discounts – and an important safety message
Entry fees start at £8 for iTravelled but, in recognition of the financial impact COVID-19 is having on so many people, entrants submitting their images before 30th June will receive a 50% discount on all fees when they use code EARLY_BIRD at the competition checkout. Entry to Young TPOTY is free of charge.
In addition, we want to stress that, in these extraordinary times, entrants should not make unnecessary journeys or break any lockdown that may be in force in their country of residence in order to take photographs to submit. We have always allowed entrants to submit images from their archives – i.e. contemporary photography shot in recent years – and have always said that ‘travel starts when you leave your home’ and never has this been more important than in 2020. Your safety and the safety of those around you is so much more important than anything else.
Header image © Trevor Cole
Our sponsors and partners
It would not be possible to run Travel Photographer of the Year without the support of our sponsors and partners, and we are hugely grateful for their involvement each year. Click the logo to learn more about each of Travel Photographer of the Year’s sponsor and partners.
