Travel Photographer of the Year has a range of categories to challenge entrants and reflect the diversity of subjects and genres encompassed under the ‘travel photography’ banner. There’s something for everyone – portfolio categories, one shot categories, a smartphone and tablet category and an HD video category.
Overall winner & the Travel Photographer of the Year 2022 – This is the big one! The Travel Photographer of the Year 2022 will be the photographer who submits the best eight images across the portfolio categories. The Overall Winner will receive a £1000 cash prize plus the new Fujifilm X100V camera, a personalised Plastic Sandwich leather portfolio book, membership of the Royal Photographic Society plus Tonic magazine – and, of course, the massive international exposure that goes with winning TPOTY. LEARN MORE
Young Travel Photographer of the Year 2021 – For photographers aged 18 and under. This year’s theme is ‘Somewhere that Inspires Me’. Awards will be given in the 14 &Under and 15-18 age groups, and an overall winner. Prizes include £500, a personalised Plastic Sandwich leather portfolio book, a place on a Photo Iconic photography workshop, and Royal Photographic Society membership LEARN MORE
PORTFOLIO CATEGORIES
Cultures – The diversity of global cultures is a wonderful gift to the world and exploring these cultures is a major reason for travelling. But many of these cultures are threatened as the world becomes more homogenous, accelerated by extensive global communications. This category is for cultures from anywhere in the world, both indigenous and emerging new cultures; their lives, uniqueness, landmarks and celebrations; threatened cultures and efforts to preserve them. The winner receives a magnificent signed print from National Geographic explorer and photographer and Cultural Sanctuaries Foundation co-founder, Chris Rainier, membership of the Royal Photographic Society, and Tonic magazine. The recipient of the Best Single Image award receives a Genesis Imaging giclée exhibition print. LEARN MORE
Deserts to Rainforests – Landscapes and environments face many challenges both from climate change and human impact. This category is for beautiful natural landscapes; threatened landscapes; climate change impacts and the sustainability and conservation projects designed to preserve or restore these landscapes and environments. The category winner will receive the new Fujifilm X100V camera, membership of the Royal Photographic Society, and Tonic magazine. The recipient of the Best Single Image award receives a Genesis Imaging giclée exhibition print. LEARN MORE
Green Planet, Blue Planet – There are many challenges to the natural world and its incredible biodiversity. This category is for images of wildlife, birdlife and smaller living creatures on land or in the air; the biodiversity of the oceans, seas, rivers and other underwater environments; conservation and the impact of humans on the living natural world. The category winner will receive the new Fujifilm X100V camera, membership of the Royal Photographic Society and Tonic magazine. The recipient of the Best Single Image award receives a Genesis Imaging giclée exhibition print. LEARN MORE
The Art of Monochrome – Photography started in monochrome and, despite the emergence of colour in a colour world, the black and white (B&W) image remains powerful and an important medium in all types of photography, not least travel. This category is for images of any travel-related genre but must be in monochrome. The category winner will receive the new Fujifilm X100V camera, membership of the Royal Photographic Society and Tonic magazine. The recipient of the Best Single Image award receives a Genesis Imaging giclée exhibition print. LEARN MORE
ONE SHOT – SINGLE IMAGE CATEGORIES
Creative Travel – Journeys and adventures, visions and perspectives… in this category you are encouraged to be creative, including digital manipulation. Travel is both a journey and an adventure. The skill of the travel photographer is to capture and interpret what we see and find in images which create impact and transport the viewer to another place. We want to see the photographers’ creativity and vision – their perspective on travel. The winner receives a cash prize, membership of the Royal Photographic Society and Tonic magazine. LEARN MORE
Mark of Mankind – Human beings have transformed this planet, for both better and worse, with incredible cities and architecture through the centuries, art, agriculture, transport infrastructures, mining, forestation and de-forestation, and more recently the search for renewable energy. This single image category is for images of anything which shows man’s impact on our lives and our planet. The winner receives a cash prize, membership of the Royal Photographic Society and Tonic magazine. LEARN MORE
Water – As global temperatures rise and governments fail to address this issue, water becomes ever more important to human survival and an even more vital resource. This single image category is for images of water in all its many forms – liquid, frozen, vaporised. Water in every one of its many uses from survival and irrigation to celebration and leisure activities. The winner receives a cash prize, a membership of the Royal Photographic Society and Tonic magazine. LEARN MORE
HD VIDEO CATEGORY
Travel Shorts – Our HD video category for short travel-related films up to two minutes (120 seconds) in length with the theme; ‘Sense of Place, Sense of Person’. The winner receives a cash prize and Tonic magazine. LEARN MORE
SMART SHOT – MOBILE PHONE & TABLET
iTravelled – Mobile phone and tablet photography is hugely popular among travellers. It is immediate and reactive – all about capturing a moment. The winner receives £250 and Tonic magazine. LEARN MORE
YOUR VOTE
The People’s Choice award. Our judges will choose a selection of images from the 2022 finalists, and these will be displayed on our website for public vote. The winner receives a selection of books, cards and prints from TPOTY plus membership of Eye for the Light.
Our sponsors and partners
It would not be possible to run Travel Photographer of the Year without the support of our sponsors and partners, and we are hugely grateful for their involvement each year. Click the logo to learn more about each of Travel Photographer of the Year’s sponsor and partners.
