Travel Award Editors’ Picks of August 2024

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

Following this summer’s travel competition, judged by American travel and documentary photographer Jody MacDonald, we’re thrilled to present some of our editorial team’s standout entries. ⁠

The quality of submissions was remarkable. We were transported on incredible journeys across all continents, and it was a huge challenge for our competition judge to select just a few winners and finalists.

These images did not make it to the final selection, but each offers a unique and captivating perspective from a different part of the globe and captures the unique joy of travel. We firmly believe they deserve their moment in the spotlight! ⁠

– Discover the 2024 Travel Award winners & finalists here

“The Open Road" - Iceland
Landscape view of open space in Iceland © Emily Harris
“Girl on pilgrimage" - Andalusia, Spain
Girl on El Rocio Pilgrimage in Andalusia Spain. Every year 6000 pilgrims make the arduous journey to the town of El Rocio in Spain to worship The Virgin of El Rocio. It’s one of Spain’s most important religious festivals. © Leon Foggitt
“Concerto” - New York, USA
This is an aerial drone capture of a fever of cownose rays in the Atlantic Ocean. These rays are known to migrate from as far south as Brazil to as far north as New England in the United States. This capture was taken just a few hundred feet from the coast of New York, USA. © Joanna Steidle
“Planting season” - Mù Cang Chải, Vietnam
Planting season in the rice terraces of Vietnam’s highlands. © Richard Lewisohn
“The Dragon’s Tail” - Bandarban, Bangladesh
In Bandarban, Bangladesh, bamboo is often transported through the swift currents of rivers, a traditional method that takes advantage of the region’s natural waterways. Bundled together, the bamboo floats down the river, guided by skilled workers who navigate the twists and turns, ensuring it reaches its destination efficiently and sustainably amidst the lush, mountainous landscape. © Ashraful Arefin
“Beyond the window” - Gorée Island, Senegal
The shot was taken on Gorée Island in Senegal. The mirrored glass of a window reflects a moment of slow life on the Island. © Alfredo Diano
“After the Rains” - Republic of Palau
The incredible islands of Ngerukewid in the Republic of Palau, with rain clouds passing over the ocean in the distance. Definitely one of the most beautiful island formations I’ve ever seen and a nature reserve since 1956. Getting this photo was one of the main reasons I visited the tiny hardly known island nation in the Pacific, and making it happen proved to be challenging: Difficult and fluctuating weather conditions, having to charter a boat, getting close enough to the reserve boundaries, flying my drone in strong winds and waves, and landing it on the boat‘s sunroof. © Florian Kriechbaumer
“Curiosity” - Madagascar
On an isolated beach in Madagascar fish dry on racks under the intense heat while a small family curiously looks on at the stranger. © Margo Ryan
“Morning in Dhampus” - Nepal
As the first morning light illuminates the towering peaks of the Annapurna range in Nepal, an elderly woman steps out of her modest home, carrying a bowl of freshly cooked rice. © Lorenz Berna
“Flying over Paradise” - Phang Nga Bay, Thailand
Phang Nga Bay includes the area between northern Phuket and the Krabi coast plus a northern extension where the bay takes a decent bite into Phang Nga province . It contains some of the most spectacular landscape-seascapes in Thailand. © Antonio Valente
“The light source” - Faroe Islands
Magnificent light on Risin og Kellingin (The Giant and The Witch) sea stacks. 71 and 68 meters high in the glory of the rising sun. © Pawel Zygmunt
“The Golden Eagles” - Mongolia
The Olgii Eagle Festival was born in 1999 thanks to funding from an American tourism agency based in UB. The party helped give new life to the practice of eagle hunting, attracting an increasing number of tourists from around the world each year. For Mongolian Kazakhs, eagle hunting is a winter hobby not a profession, in fact they live on pastoralism and winter is the time when flocks require the least attention. Hunters, usually descended from Burkitshi families, hunt according to tradition releasing eagles after an appropriate period of time, 5-7 years or when the eagle reaches reproductive age. © David Marciano

Published September 17, 2024 - Congratulations to all selected artists: Emily Harris, Leon Foggitt, Joanna Steidle, Richard Lewisohn, Ashraful Arefin, Alfredo Diano, Florian Kriechbaumer, Margo Ryan, Lorenz Berna, Antonio Valente, Pawel Zygmunt, David Marciano,

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2026 Portrait AWARD

Win $2,700 Cash Awards & International Exposure

Can you tell a story with a single glance? – in May, we invite all photographers to share portraits that narrate compelling tales, whether captured in the controlled environment of a studio, the vibrant chaos of the street, or the rich landscapes of travel.