Travel Award Editors’ Picks of August 2026

“My favorite thing is to go where I’ve never been.” – Diane Arbus

Following our Travel Award, judged by acclaimed photographer Daniel Kordan, our editorial team is delighted to feature a selection of exceptional entries that, while missing the final cut, deeply impressed us with their creativity, artistry, and skill.

Silhouetted camels winding their way beneath the dramatic mountain shadows of Nubra Valley in Ladakh. A lone figure in a conical hat seated amidst sweeping cascades of vibrant blue fishing nets in Vietnam; an oyster farmer tending to his drying trays framed naturally beneath the wooden beams of a coastal shelter in Hong Kong. A Hindu sadhu offering silent prayers while drifting along the sacred waters of the Ganges at sunrise in Varanasi; these remarkable images embody the beauty and diversity of our world and are, without question, thoroughly deserving of the spotlight.

Congratulations to all the featured artists!

“Silk Road Shadows” - Nubra Valley, Ladakh
The Great Silk Road was a network of Asian trade routes active from the second century BCE until the mid-15th century. Spanning over 6,400 km on land, it played a central role in facilitating economic, cultural, political, and religious interactions between the Eastern and Western worlds. © Barry Crosthwaite
“Dolma of the Brokpa” - Ladakh, India
Dolma, a Brokpa woman from Ladakh’s “Aryan Valley” wearing her traditional ceremonial clothes. The Brokpa are a Dardic-speaking community living in the lower Indus Valley of Ladakh. Traditional Brokpa dress reflects cultural identity and a close relationship with the natural and spiritual world, with elements of the attire carrying protective and symbolic associations. © August Henley Ashmun
“First Light” - Masai Mara National Reserve, Kenya
Three topi crossing the plain as the sun breaks. Sunrise is one of the best times of day to catch a moment like this. © Bryce Way
“Mending Nets” - Vietnam, January 2025
In Vietnam, traditional fishing net weaving and repair are still associated with craft villages and local fishing economies. In some villages, nets are stretched across large frames or gathered in colourful piles, while makers knot, inspect and repair them by hand. The visual language is striking: bright blue, green and turquoise nets ripple like fabric, turning a practical craft into a powerful image of coastal culture. © Marie Kent
“Cliffs of Moher” - Cliffs of Moher, Ireland
The Cliffs of Moher in County Clare, Ireland, are famous for rising a sheer 214 meters (702 feet) straight up from the Atlantic Ocean along a dramatic 14-kilometer (9-mile) stretch. © Ryszard Lomnicki
“Between Earth and Sky” - Bagan, Myanmar
At first light in Bagan, Myanmar, a traditional palm climber ascends towering toddy palms to collect sap using methods passed down through generations. Framed against the silhouette of an ancient temple and photographed using only natural light, this image captures a timeless moment where tradition, landscape, and history remain beautifully intertwined. © Giovanna Aryafara
“Sri Lankan Family in Pettah” - Colombo, Sri Lanka
A Sri Lankan Family in Pettah on the steps of their house in the city suburb of Pettah in Colombo, Sri Lanka. The Pettah neighborhood is famous for the Pettah Market, a series of open-air bazaars and markets. It is Sri Lanka’s busiest commercial area, where most of the shops, textiles, buildings, and many other business organizations are centered. © Asanka Brendon Ratnayake
“Before Us” - Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, Colombia
Some places still feel untouched, not because no one lives there, but because people have learned to belong to the landscape rather than transform it. In Colombia’s Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, the Kogi still live in close relationship with the forests and mountains that sustain them. © Nicolas Castermans
“The Living God of the Theyyam” - Kerala, India
A Theyyam performer in northern Kerala, transformed through elaborate ritual costume, painted features, and an extraordinary ceremonial orange headdress. Theyyam is a centuries-old ritual tradition in which performers embody Hindu deities before their communities. © Erika Howard
“Tides of Deep Bay” - Hong Kong
Framed naturally beneath the wooden beams of a coastal shelter, this photograph documents a traditional oyster farmer at work in Lau Fau Shan, Hong Kong. For centuries, this fishing village along Deep Bay has been renowned for its oyster cultivation. Set against calm waters and a hazy modern backdrop across the bay, the worker tends to his drying trays, highlighting the endurance of local heritage amid a rapidly modernizing region. © Ho Ching Chiu
“Platformality 3” - Kyoto, Japan
Moment of calm, methodical, choreographed safety checks as a bullet train stops for just 90 seconds at Kyoto station, Japan. © Joe Keating
“Formidable” - Morondava, Madagascar
The sun was descending on Morondava’s beach Madagascar when this heavy, layered charcoal cloud formed into this weaving ribbon of cloud, underneath a fisherman sits mending his nets, seemingly oblivious to the drama unfolding above him. © Margo Ryan
“The White Harvest” - Vietnam
Traditional salt harvest in Dong Ninh Hoa Ward, part of Vietnam’s Hon Khoi Salt Fields, where manual salt production has sustained local communities for generations. Across hundreds of hectares of shallow evaporation ponds, a small group of workers continues the centuries-old practice of harvesting salt using only seawater, sunlight, and wind. The image highlights the remarkable scale of the landscape compared to the few individuals who maintain it, illustrating both the physical demands of the work and the enduring connection between people and the environment. As modernization transforms many traditional industries, these salt fields remain a testament to resilience and the value of preserving time-honored ways of life. © Thea Mihu
“Misty Morning” - Dolomites, Southern Tyrol
A misty morning at the Alpe di Siusi, Dolomites, Southern Tyrol. A spot, photographed 1000 times, yet, every morning creates a new condition for an interesting picture. © Dronographer
“Morning Devotion” - Varanasi, India
A Hindu sadhu offers silent prayers while drifting along the sacred Ganges River at sunrise. In Varanasi, one of the world’s oldest living cities, every voyage becomes both a journey through history and a path toward the spiritual. © Earl Martin

Published September 16, 2026 - Congratulations to all selected artists: Barry Crosthwaite, August Henley Ashmun, Bryce Way, Marie Kent, Ryszard Lomnicki, Giovanna Aryafara, Asanka Brendon Ratnayake, Nicolas Castermans, Erika Howard, Ho Ching Chiu, Joe Keating, Margo Ryan, Thea Mihu, Dronographer, Earl Martin,

color street photo of boy and cow in india by Simone Mestroni

2026 Street Photography AWARD

Win $3,000 Cash Awards & International Exposure

This September, the streets are calling, and it’s time to show the world what you see through your lens! From the raw energy of a packed corner to the stark geometry of a dead-end street—we want to see your best street scenes. Whether you’re a seasoned pro or just starting: show us your world!