• The Travel Photographer of the Year (TPOTY) awards were created in 2003 by photographer, Chris Coe, with the initial objective of providing an international showcase for travel photography and travelling photographers in order to celebrate the very best in travel photography.

• It is run by photographers for photographers.

• TPOTY is for everyone. There is no distinction between entrants and they are judged solely on the quality of their photographs. TPOTY is not just for those who are good photographers now, but about encouraging anyone who is interested in photography to develop their skills and get better at making pictures.

• There is a special competition to encourage young photographers aged 16 and under; Young Travel Photographer of the Year.

• Within just a few years, TPOTY became established as the international travel photography competition, and has evolved into the focus of an international community for travellers and photographers.

FACTS ABOUT TRAVEL PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR

• Amateur and professional photographers compete alongside each other.

• In 2007 alone, TPOTY attracted entries from photographers in over 50 countries.

• The youngest entrant to date was aged just five, the oldest 88.

• The competition is judged by a panel of photographic experts, including renowned photographers, picture buyers, editor and technical experts.

MUCH MORE THAN JUST A COMPETITION….

Helping Photographers - As well as giving photographers the chance to win fantastic prizes, TPOTY offers the winners – and other talented entrants – the chance to gain international exposure for their photography, through media coverage, the TPOTY website, books, exhibitions, image library and print sales. To date TPOTY has helped photographers to sell their images, helped photographers to secure commissions, helped them secure exhibitions, advised and encouraged them on making photography a career and, through feedback on their images, enthused them and given them confidence to make their pictures better.

TPOTY Portfolio Books - Over the years the ‘Journey’ portfolios will become both a collectable series of some of the most beautiful and inspiring contemporary travel photography and a wonderful showcase for many fine photographers.

Exhibitions - TPOTY images have been exhibited at the British Airways London Eye, the Daily Telegraph Adventure Travel & Sports Show (London), at London’s Exposure Gallery and at Focus on Imaging at the NEC, Birmingham. In due course the images will form a travelling exhibition and currently TPOTY is in talks to hold exhibitions overseas.

Image Library – The TPOTY organisers are regularly contacted by photographers and journalists across the world as a source of informed comment on international photography competitions, a link to some very talented photographers and as a source of outstanding images. Many entrants have gained contracts with image libraries as a result of the visibility given to their images through TPOTY. We have also set up a facility with Photoshot for entrants to get their images reviewed by experienced stock editors. To see their growing collection of travel images visit www.photoshot.com.

Travel Shooters - a free-to-view online travel and photography magazine, with Photographers’ Showcase, news, features, equipment and book reviews, hints and tips and free prize draws.

Photography Courses - TPOTY judges, photographers Nick Meers, Chris Weston and Chris Coe, run photography masterclasses around the country and overseas, under the Photo Iconic brand. These courses are highly interactive and are designed for small groups of photographers of all abilities, focusing on ‘the image’ through a mixture of seminar-based tuition, critiques and shoots. Full information is available on www.photoiconic.com.

All images © photographers as credited. No reproduction in any media without permission