Travel Photographer Of The Year 2024 Celebrates Stunning Visual Stories

Striking photographs of train drivers working diligently within coal mines and images capturing the bond between humans and wildlife were celebrated at the 2024 Travel Photographer of the Year (TPOTY) Awards. This year’s competition drew over 20,000 entries from photographers hailing from more than 150 countries, making it more competitive than ever.
The overall title was awarded to Piper Mackay, an American photographer living in Kenya, whose portfolio included evocative shots of Rendille girls and traditional tribal women, along with majestic Maasai giraffes spanning the Mara plains. TPOTY founder Chris Coe remarked on Mackay’s approach, praising it for its simplicity and effectiveness: “They are beautifully composed, celebrating both indigenous women and wildlife on the African savanna.” Mackay expressed her gratitude, saying, “I was left speechless. After more than 20 years of photographing across the African continent, this honor means a great deal to me, especially because it reflects both my wildlife and tribal images.”
raymond Zhang, just 14, took home the Young Travel Photographer of the Year 2024 award for his remarkable collection of portraits depicting steam train workers at Sandaoling Coal Mine, located in Xinjiang province. The judges were captivated by the way he highlighted the camaraderie and dedication of the engineers, noting, “Each image tells a unique story, from the sweat and focus of the engineers to the warm, inviting glow of the locomotive’s interior.” Zhang’s ability to showcase the daily realities of these workers has drawn attention and admiration.
Also under the Young TPOTY banner, 12-year-old Leonardo Murray from Australia received accolades for his breathtaking images of the Namib Desert. The judges commended his creative eye, stating, “At 12 years old, these show good image perception and use of light balancing the natural light and in-camera technique.” The competition acknowledged the creative potential of future photographers through these young winners.
The Young TPOTY category for those aged 15-18 was clinched by Maksymilian Paczkowski from Poland, who showcased vivid photographs of birds. The judges expressed confidence in his future, noting, “This type of bird images isn’t easy to do, and it’s great to see his work.” Meanwhile, the runner-up for the same age category, Vlad Paulet, impressed with his photograph of Cuejdel Lake, Romania, reflecting fog and trees.
Maricruz Sainz de Aja from the US won the “Faces, People, Cultures” category for her soft, powerful imagery of the Wauga tribe from Papua New Guinea, which the judges described as “subtle and delicate” compared to the vibrant images often associated with the region.
Another standout was Jenny Stock, who won the “Wildlife, Nature & Underwater” category for her photography of crocodiles basking on the shores of Cuba, reinforcing the wide-ranging success of varying photographic subjects within the TPOTY competition.
For the “Planet Earth – Landscapes, Climate & Water” category, Roie Galitz captured images showcasing environments threatened by the factors of climate change, highlighting the urgency of these issues through his lens.
The Travel in Monochrome competition saw Aleš Krivec from Slovenia awarded for his atmospheric images of the Seiser Alm region within the Dolomites. This category added depth to the visual storytelling at TPOTY.
Among the entries, the “People’s Choice” award went to Mauro de Bettio, based in Indonesia, for his captivating photo of a man balancing a pangolin rescued from the illegal wildlife trade on his head, which garnered 19,895 votes, showcasing the power of imagery to draw attention to pressing conservation issues.
Acclaimed for its inclusive celebration of both adult and young talents, the Travel Photographer of the Year highlights the extraordinary ability of photography to tell poignant stories from around the globe. Every winning image from this year’s competition can be viewed on the TPOTY website.
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