The Travel Photographer of the Year competition unveiled the 2024 winners, and photographer Piper Mackay won top honors for her incredible infrared images from Kenya.
Born in the United States and now living in Kenya, Mackay has been traveling and photographing in Africa for 20 years. During that time, Mackay has moved from vibrant color photography to subdued monochromatic work and, more recently, infrared photography.
“So many images today are over-saturated, over-processed and even AI-generated. A ‘less is more’ approach is often far more effective. It is therefore refreshing to judge images which demonstrate good camera craft and in-camera creativity — shot full-frame, or close to it, and with very little retouching. This year’s overall winner’s images are a good example,” says competition judge Chris Coe. “They were made with a camera converted to infrared (IR) — a technique is not as straightforward as it sounds. The detail and atmosphere captured is both eye-catching and highly engaging.”
Mackay’s photography has been featured at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History in Washington D.C., the Museum of History and Industry in Seattle, and The Art Wolfe Gallery. Her work has also been published in National Geographic, Outdoor Photographer, and more. She has also been honored in the Travel Photographer of the Year competition before, when she won “Highly Commended Portfolio” in the 2020 edition of the contest.
Young Travel Photographer of the Year
Alongside Travel Photographer of the Year, the competition also names a “Young Travel Photographer of the Year.” This time around, the winner is 14-year-old Chinese photographer Raymond Zhang.
Zhang became passionate about photography after his father gave him a camera as a 10th birthday gift. Zhang tested out his new camera by photographing birds and was instantly bitten by the photography bug.
When he learned that new development projects threatened the birds he loved photographing, Zhang began to use his camera to raise awareness and inspire change. His winning portfolio shows the lives of train drivers working at a coal mine and the demands of their jobs.
“Raymond has created an impressive collection of images that vividly showcase the hard work and camaraderie involved in running a steam train. Each image tells a unique story, from the sweat and focus of the engineers to the warm, inviting glow of the locomotive’s interior. They convey a sense of timeless dedication and the bond shared by those who work tirelessly behind the scenes,” says judge Angie Nicholson.
Although Zhang is very young, at just 14, the competition has additional categories for specific categories.
In the under-14 category, 12-year-old Australian photographer Leonardo Murray with his landscapes of the Namib desert.
Leonardo captured his winning photos when he went to Namibia with his father, who is a professional photographer. Photography skills must run in the family.
“Beautiful landscapes capturing the majesty of the Namib Desert. For someone so young to see and capture the near abstract shapes and rhythms in this set shows a sense of image perception that is remarkable. At 12 years old, these show a good creative eye and use of light balancing the natural light and in-camera technique,” comments judge Jeremy Hoare.
Polish photographer Maksymilian Paczkowski won the 15 to 18-year-old section for his vibrant bird photos. Paczkowski, a high school student, loves nature and wildlife photography.
“A great eye for an image and use of color in putting together a portfolio more skillfully than most older photographers manage. It’s great to see Maksymillian’s work and he has a bright future. This type of bird images aren’t easy to do,” the judges explain.
Individual Category Winners and Awards
Beyond the overarching “Photographer of the Year” winners above, the TPOTY awards photographers for individual photos and portfolios across numerous categories. Single image winners and selected portfolio winners are featured below.
Faces, People, Cultures
Planet Earth — Landscape, Climate, and Water
Travel in Monochrome
Wildlife, Nature, and Underwater
One Shot Winners
Selected Rising Talent Winners
People’s Choice
Photographers from more than 150 countries submitted over 20,000 images this year, and there are so many fantastic winners, including many runners-up, highly commended, and commended photos. All of these are available to view on the Travel Photographer of the Year 2024 website.
Image credits: Travel Photographer of the Year 2024 (tpoty.com). Each photographer is credited in the image captions.
Incredible Infrared Portraits Win Travel Photographer of the Year 2024
- Advertisment - 
Recent Comments
on 2023 NFL All-Rookie Team: CBS Sports draft expert, former GM unveil league’s best first-year players
on Devout athletes find strength in their faith. But practicing it and elite sports can pose hurdles
on The Rev. Al Sharpton to lead protest after Florida governor’s ban of African American studies course
on After UFC Fallout, Conor McGregor Offers a Valuable Piece of Advice to Free Agent Francis Ngannou
on CONCEPT ART: New Details Revealed for Disney Cruise Line Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point Destination
on Saipan, placid island setting for Assange’s last battle, is briefly mobbed – and bemused by the fuss
on CONCEPT ART: New Details Revealed for Disney Cruise Line Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point Destination
on David and Victoria Beckham so ‘Charmed’ by Tom Cruise They Have His Photos on Display at Their Home
on Iowa State starting RB Jirehl Brock among latest college football players charged in gambling probe
on Biden to tout bill’s prescription drug prices, energy provisions in pitch to Americans, aide says
on Iowa State starting RB Jirehl Brock among latest college football players charged in gambling probe
on The Rev. Al Sharpton to lead protest after Florida governor’s ban of African American studies course
on Sports World Hails ‘Superwoman’ Lindsey Vonn for Her Grand Comeback Despite Career-Changing Injury
on San Mateo County Community College District sues five companies over role in ‘pay to play’ scandal
on Saipan, placid island setting for Assange’s last battle, is briefly mobbed – and bemused by the fuss
on ‘Pokémon Scarlet’ and ‘Violet’ Fan Theories Suggest Legendary Time Travel, Alternate Dimension Plot
on Joe Manchin and Tommy Tuberville introduce bill on name, image and likeness rules for college sports
on Inside the Michael Jordan ‘Air’ movie, plus why NFL, others are buying into the sports film industry
on If you’re a frequent traveler, these wrap tops from Aday will revolutionize your on-the-go wardrobe
on How Does Jack Nicklaus Travel? Exploring the Private Jets Owned by the ‘Golden Bear’ Over the Years
on Hollywood Reporter: Tom Cruise negotiated with movie studios over AI before the actors strike began
on Ford Blue Cruise: US regulators investigate fatal crashes involving hands-free driving technology
on Dozens of boats cruise the Seine in a rehearsal for the Paris Olympics’ opening ceremony on July 26
on Devout athletes find strength in their faith. But practicing it and elite sports can pose hurdles
on Despite strong Lunar New Year holiday data, consumer spending in China isn’t roaring back just yet
on David and Victoria Beckham so ‘Charmed’ by Tom Cruise They Have His Photos on Display at Their Home
on CONCEPT ART: New Details Revealed for Disney Cruise Line Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point Destination
on CBS Sports announces Matt Ryan will join NFL studio show. Longtime analysts Simms and Esiason depart
on Boston College vs. Army live stream, how to watch online, CBS Sports Network channel finder, odds
on Boise State vs. Air Force live stream, odds, channel, prediction, how to watch on CBS Sports Network
on Biden to tout bill’s prescription drug prices, energy provisions in pitch to Americans, aide says
on After UFC Fallout, Conor McGregor Offers a Valuable Piece of Advice to Free Agent Francis Ngannou
on 2024 Super Bowl: CBS Sports Network and CBS Sports HQ to combine for 115 hours of weeklong coverage
on ‘Best Intention’: Chris Kirk Has Absolute Trust in Jay Monahan and PGA Tour’s Widely Debated Model
on 2023 NFL All-Rookie Team: CBS Sports draft expert, former GM unveil league’s best first-year players
on “Completely Knocked Me Out”: Rob Lowe Recalls Boxing Match With Tom Cruise On 1983 Brat Pack Classic
on CONCEPT ART: New Details Revealed for Disney Cruise Line Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point Destination
on “Completely Knocked Me Out”: Rob Lowe Recalls Boxing Match With Tom Cruise On 1983 Brat Pack Classic
on CBS Sports announces Matt Ryan will join NFL studio show. Longtime analysts Simms and Esiason depart
on Carlos Sainz’s Soccer Fanboy Emerges as Spaniard Shares Defining Moment With This Real Madrid Legend
on Biden: ‘At this point I’m not’ planning to visit East Palestine, Ohio, after toxic train derailment
on ‘Best Intention’: Chris Kirk Has Absolute Trust in Jay Monahan and PGA Tour’s Widely Debated Model
on Ahead of big sports weekend, dispute with Disney leaves millions of cable subscribers in the dark
on A heavy wave of Russian missile attacks pounds areas across Ukraine, killing at least 4 civilians
on 2024 Super Bowl: CBS Sports Network and CBS Sports HQ to combine for 115 hours of weeklong coverage
on 2023 NFL All-Rookie Team: CBS Sports draft expert, former GM unveil league’s best first-year players
on Army vs. Coastal Carolina live stream, how to watch online, CBS Sports Network channel finder, odds
on AL Rookie of the Year Julio Rodriguez Spreads Joy and Sportsmanship to the Youth of Loma de Cabrera
on After UFC Fallout, Conor McGregor Offers a Valuable Piece of Advice to Free Agent Francis Ngannou
on Dubai International Airport sees 41.6 million passengers in first half of year, more than in 2019
on Devout athletes find strength in their faith. But practicing it and elite sports can pose hurdles
on Despite strong Lunar New Year holiday data, consumer spending in China isn’t roaring back just yet
on Dave Portnoy: Taylor Swift’s security should ‘drag Kim Kardashian to jail’ if she attends Eras Tour
on CONCEPT ART: New Details Revealed for Disney Cruise Line Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point Destination
on “Completely Knocked Me Out”: Rob Lowe Recalls Boxing Match With Tom Cruise On 1983 Brat Pack Classic
on CBS Sports, Serie A announce new TV rights deal; Paramount+ to air over 400 Italian soccer matches
on Cam Newton’s Violent Public Incident Draws Hilarious Reaction From 3x All-Star: “Where Do I Sign Up
on Boston College vs. Army live stream, how to watch online, CBS Sports Network channel finder, odds
on Angel Reese Launches Foundation Dedicated To Empowering Women Through Sports & Financial Literacy
on A weaker dollar, skyrocketing prices and ‘record’ visitor numbers: Good luck in Europe this summer