Travel Award Editors’ Picks of August 2020

“People Don’t Take Trips… Trips Take People” – John Steinbeck

Following the results of the 2020 Travel photography award, judged by National Geographic photographer Matthieu Paley, the editorial team is sharing some of the competition entries that didn’t make it to the final selection round but showed a magnificent set of skills and made a strong impression.

From vivid street scenes to breathtaking natural landscapes and pre-pandemic adventures to recent domestic getaways, we received submissions from all corners of the planet and although we couldn’t give an award to every entrant, we are honored to share some of the many talented photographers whose images struck us and are well worthy of exposure.

Travel comes in many forms and this incredible range of stunning and inspiring works stands as a testimony – Thanks again to all of you for taking part in the award and sharing with us such beautiful images!

Traversing the Peak - Austria
Two climbers attempt to climb to the peak of the Dachstein Mountain in the Austrian Alps. Many parallels with our individual struggles during this pandemic ridden year. © Eamon Al-Hato
“A Moment To Reflect” - Myanmar
In the unique watery world of Inle Lake, Intha fisherman row canoes with one leg. Inle Lake is in the Shan Hills of Myanmar. At its southwestern edge, Phaung Daw Oo Paya is a tiered pagoda with gilded Buddha statues. In the hills, near the market town of Indein, the stupas of Shwe Inn Dein Pagoda resemble a field of gold spires. © Stephen Taylor
“HCMC” - Vietnam
For my series “Home in HCMC” I was looking for a good perspective showing the slums with the modern residential towers - an example for what means “Home” to the people in fast-growing Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam 2019. © Andreas Kremer
“Lalibela” - Ethiopia, 2020
Orthodox Christians, celebrating Christmas in the iconic Church of St. George or Bet Giorgio which represents one of the wonders of the medieval world. It is one of the eleven rock hewn monolithic churches in Lalibela. © Maricruz Sainz de Aja
“Hanging laundry” - Boa Vista, Cape Verde, 2020
This is a tour of the Cape Verde Islands through the everyday, the simple and the day-to-day in this African archipelago whose Creole-Portuguese-African cultural mix can be seen in every corner. This collection of images are the treasures found along the way: the faces, the textures, the details, a projected shadow or a ray of light that could go unnoticed or be observed for hours. © Andrea Illan
“Fishing nets at Xiapu” - China
A fisherman is heading home at dusk. Due to the pleasant seawater temperature and plenty of sunshine, the Xiapu mudflats are rich in kelp, laver, oyster and yellow croakers. Locals living along the beach are mainly engaged in marine culture. The bamboo poles, fish nets and stone columns that are inserted in the mudflats are used to dry kelp, laver, oyster and other marine products. As the sun rises and sets, the tide rises and falls, the bamboo poles, fishing boats and fish nets form various spectacular sceneries.
© Niall Chang
“Bedouin” - Morocco
Morocco - a Bedouin protects himself from the ever-present strong winds and swirling sand. © Ian Corless
“Hussaini hanging bridge, Hunza.” - Northern Pakistan
The Hussaini bridge in Northern Pakistan was known as the most dangerous bridge in the world. However, after the bridge was washed away in a 2011 monsoon storm, the restored bridge these days is much more secure. The bridge is used regularly by inhabitants of villages on the east side of the Hunza river to reach the Karakoram Highway and other villages on the western side. © Jørgen Johanson
“First Embrace” - Tonga
Several miles off the shores of the island kingdom of Tonga, it is birthing season in these deep blue waters. This photograph unilaterally sums up the relationship between a humpback mother and her calf. The nurturing soft affection between mother and calf is almost human. They will be inseparable for the next one to two years of their lives depending on whether the mother gives birth again. Low in the distance, you can faintly make out the form of a male called an “escort.” He is closely guarding the female and calf, with the eventual hope of winning the mother’s affection. © SheriBelle Karper
A local bus carrying travelers in Jaipur, Rajasthan - India
© Andrea Lillus
“Steps” - Rajasthan, India
A group of women walks down the steps of the Khun Meena Pamid Stepwell to fill their pots with water. People usually come here to swim, bathe, and perform religious rituals. © Shirren Lim
“On the Edge” - Northern Ethiopia
The Orthodox priest of the magnificent and remote monolithic church of “Abuna Yemata Guh”, built on top of a rocky pinnacle in northern Ethiopia, motionless on the edge of the narrow and dangerous path overlooking the canyon and leading to the church, is shaken by the strong wind which crosses the gorge and which risks dropping him for almost 300 meters. In this sudden and unrepeatable moment, his white tunic and the plume used for blessings move in the wind, illuminated by the rays of the sun. © Andrea Peruzzi
“Shades of Serenity” - Sea Ranch, California
The Sea Ranch is a planned unincorporated community and census-designated place located in Sonoma County, California, United States. © Carlos Leal
“Eagle Hunter Mongolia” - Mongolia
Description: An eagle Hunter in Mongolia is setting up for the hunt. © Tom Tautz
“Last stop before nowhere” - Mongolia
A little roadside shop en route to nowhere. It left me to wonder who might visit this store and what the inside might looked like. © Patrick Luchsinger

Published September 14, 2020 - Congratulations to all selected artists: Eamon Al-Hato, Stephen Taylor, Andreas Kremer, Maricruz Sainz de Aja, Andrea Illan, Niall Chang, Ian Corless, Jørgen Johanson, SheriBelle Karper, Andrea Lillus, Shirren Lim, Andrea Peruzzi, Carlos Leal, Tom Tautz, Patrick Luchsinger,

Black and white landscape photo of sand dunes in Morocco by Guillaume St-Amand

2026 Black & White AWARD

Win $2,700 Cash Awards & International Exposure

In a world saturated with color, we’re turning the spotlight to black & white. This May, show us your mastery of light, composition, and shadow in any genre of photography – Let’s see how black & white elevates your artistic vision!