The 2024 Travel Photographer of the Year (TPOTY) competition has once again delivered a striking collection of images that capture the beauty, resilience, and complexity of life around the world. This year’s winners stand as a testament to the power of photography in storytelling, offering glimpses into cultures, landscapes, and wildlife that might otherwise remain unseen.
Piper Mackay: Travel Photographer of the Year
American photographer Piper Mackay, based in Kenya, claimed the top title with a portfolio of monochromatic infrared images that defy the era of oversaturated digital manipulation. TPOTY founder Chris Coe praised Mackay’s mastery of in-camera techniques and her ability to harness minimalism for maximum impact. Her collection focuses on Indigenous women and African wildlife, capturing the raw essence of her subjects with unparalleled depth.
A ‘less is more’ approach is often far more effective. Piper Mackay’s images illustrate this ideal beautifully.
– Says Coe.
Her work is a breath of fresh air in a world inundated with AI-generated visuals and excessive retouching. Each frame speaks volumes about its subject, drawing the viewer into a quiet yet powerful narrative of existence.
Young Talent Shines Bright
Seventeen-year-old Maksymilian Paczkowski of Poland and eighteen-year-old Vlad Paulet of Romania made their mark, proving that the future of travel photography is in talented hands.
Seventeen-year-old Maksymilian Paczkowski of Poland and eighteen-year-old Vlad Paulet of Romania also made their mark, proving that the future of travel photography is in talented hands.
People’s Choice and Single Image Standouts
Italian photographer Mauro De Bettio captured hearts and minds with his People’s Choice Award-winning portrait of a Nigerian man balancing a rescued pangolin on his head. The image highlights the ongoing crisis of wildlife trafficking, reminding viewers of the fragility of Earth’s most endangered creatures.
Meanwhile, Partha Pratim Roy of India seized the Best Single Image in Faces, People, and Cultures, depicting an Indonesian horseman battling the elements on the sands of Mount Bromo. The energy and tension within the frame reflect the resilience of both man and beast.
Landscapes and Wildlife: A Lens on Nature’s Majesty
From the melting glaciers of Svalbard to the elusive Pallas cat of Mongolia, this year’s winners transport us across continents, documenting Earth’s fragile beauty. Israeli photographer Roie Galitz took top honors in the Planet Earth category, while Australian Joshua Holko delivered an unforgettable image of a frost-covered feline in the Steppe region of Eastern Mongolia.
This year’s TPOTY competition underscores the evolving landscape of travel photography, where authenticity, patience, and a keen eye for the human condition remain paramount. As technology advances and the line between reality and digital fabrication blurs, these winning images remind us of photography’s true purpose: to see, to feel, and to connect.
For those inspired to explore the world through their lens, these winners set the gold standard—offering not just breathtaking visuals, but compelling narratives that resonate across cultures and time.