Travel Award August 2026

1st Prize Roberto Flores

1st Prize Roberto Flores
“Sea nomads” - Borneo, Malaysia
The Bajau Laut are an Indigenous ethnic group scattered across the waters of the Coral Triangle, primarily around the Philippines, Malaysia, and Indonesia. Traditionally known as “Sea Nomads” or “Sea Gypsies,” they are famous for living almost entirely at sea, residing either on handcrafted wooden houseboats (lepa-lepa) or in stilt huts built over shallow coral reefs. They rely almost exclusively on free-diving and spearfishing to feed themselves and trade with coastal communities. © Roberto Flores
2nd Prize Francesca Lanfranchi

2nd Prize Francesca Lanfranchi
“Mongolian Winter Migration” - Mongolia
During the winter migration of a Kazakh family across the Mongolian steppe, I witnessed an extraordinary bond between the herders and their animals. In the piercing cold, they travelled together through an immense and unforgiving landscape. The animals were not merely part of their livelihood, but companions in a way of life shaped by generations of nomadic tradition. © Francesca Lanfranchi
3rd Prize Jozef Macak

3rd Prize Jozef Macak
“Young monks” - Siem Reap, Cambodia
Portrait of young monks playing in the ruins of Angkor, the seat of the Khmer kingdom from the 9th–15th centuries © Jozef Macak
Finalist Spiros Dimas

Finalist Spiros Dimas
“Frozen Crater” - Hverfjall Crater, Iceland
Hverfjall is 396 metre (1,300 ft) high tephra explosion crater. It is located near the eastern shore of Lake Mývatn in North Iceland. Resembling a black ash cone of mammoth proportions, you can walk up the steep slopes and around the crater’s rim for otherworldly and awesome view of the surrounding landscape. © Spiros Dimas
Finalist Frances Bruchez

Finalist Frances Bruchez
“Rajasthani Elder” - Varanasi, India
Portrait of a Rajasthani elder resting on a bed in his village. The image captures the dignity in his expression, framed by vibrant traditional garments and the intricate architectural details of his rural home. © Frances Bruchez
Finalist Tamara Susa

Finalist Tamara Susa
“Into The White Cathedral” - Antarctica
A small group of skiers traverses an immense Antarctic glacier at Damoy Point, dwarfed by the towering mountain above them. The scale of Antarctica is difficult to grasp until you see tiny skiers crossing landscapes like this, where dark rock and wind-sculpted snow disappear into the clouds. © Tamara Susa
Finalist Neşe Ari

Finalist Neşe Ari
“The Sadhu and the Seagulls” - Varanasi, India, 2018
In the morning light of Varanasi, a Sadhu sits silently at the prow of a small boat moving along the Ganges River. His orange robes, the prayer beads draped around his neck, and his serene expression blend seamlessly with the river’s ancient atmosphere. Overhead, dozens of gulls fly in unison, as if accompanying the Sadhu’s presence. © Neşe Ari
Finalist Maria Lungu

Finalist Maria Lungu
“Journey” - Iceland
An open road, a vast black beach, you’re alone and yet, you’re free. © Maria Lungu
Finalist Philip Hepp

Finalist Philip Hepp
“An Arctic Way of Life” - Siberia, Russia, 1992
Children of nomadic Komi reindeer herders stand in their temporary camp in the Siberian tundra near Salekhard. Each year, their families travel hundreds of kilometres between the tundra and the taiga forests with their sledges and a large herd of reindeer. © Philip Hepp
Finalist Kirsty Dolphin

Finalist Kirsty Dolphin
“Curves” - Lake Baikal - Siberia, Russia
Ethereal colors and frosty texture captured on a cold day at Lake baikal. © Kirsty Dolphin

Theme: Travel Photography /
Competition Judge: Daniel Kordan

This summer, we sought photographs that bring the spirit of a place to life and evoke a sense of shared memory. Across every genre—whether street, portraiture, landscape, or documentary—your submissions took us on a captivating journey, engaging both the eyes and the mind.

Make sure to sign up for the newsletter and join us on Facebook, Instagram, and X, where we’ll share all our favorite images from the competition. Congratulations to all the talented photographers who made it to the final!

Finalists

Jury's Feedback

1ST PRIZE: Roberto Flores

“What I love about this image is that it goes beyond simply documenting the Bajau Laut and gives us a real feeling of their life as sea nomads. The composition is particularly strong: the child in the foreground immediately captures our attention, while the mother, boats, and stilt houses lead the eye deeper into the frame and reveal the world they inhabit. There is a beautiful balance between the intimate human moment and the wider environment, making the photograph both emotionally engaging and visually complete. For me, it successfully combines storytelling, composition, and a genuine sense of place-exactly what I look for in travel photography. Not to mention the well-balanced composition and soft light. ” — Daniel Kordan

2ND PRIZE: Francesca Lanfranchi

“This image immediately caught my attention with its cinematic quality and exceptionally strong composition. I love the way the rider is surrounded by the camel and horse, creating a powerful sense of depth and almost abstracting the human figure into the scene. His expression feels completely genuine and unposed, giving the photograph a strong emotional presence and making it feel like a truly authentic moment rather than a constructed portrait.” — Daniel Kordan

3RD PRIZE: Jozef Macak

“A beautiful moment full of genuine joy and spontaneity. I love how the playful energy of the young monks contrasts with the ancient architecture around them, creating a wonderful connection between people, place, and culture. The diagonal composition and the different gestures guide the eye naturally through the frame, making the whole scene feel wonderfully alive.” – Daniel Kordan

© Daniel Kordan

Judge: Daniel Kordan

Daniel Kordan is a world-renowned travel and landscape photographer celebrated for his atmospheric depictions of some of the most remote and beautiful places on Earth. An official Nikon ambassador, Kordan leads international photography workshops and expeditions across the globe. His work has earned widespread international recognition, attracting a dedicated community of over two million followers on Instagram, while his commercial portfolio includes major clients such as Apple and Red Bull. He has won numerous awards and accolades, and his work has been published in numerous prestigious publications, including National Geographic.