2019 Winners

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Travel Photographer of the Year: Katy Gomez Catalina, Spain

Winner’s biography

Born in Ubeda, Spain Katy is an amateur photographer with a doctorate in veterinary medicine. Her job is related to official control in public health, with focus on the interaction between human and animal health. A passionate travel photographer, Katy has visited more than 60 countries, and her images have been exhibited throughout Spain and also in France, UK, Germany, India, Iran and Colombia.

“I photograph the world, not only to testify what I see, but mainly to express a personal perspective, a point of view, an interpretation and not just a representation. My subjects are very varied, with travel photography a common link in all my work. The camera has become an inseparable companion, I cannot ‘see’ the world if it is not through the eyes of a camera, with these images I compose my travel story as a writer with his diary. I do not take pictures for others, but for me, for the pure pleasure of photographing. But, if I can also evoke an emotion in those who view them, my satisfaction is increased.”


Young Travel Photographer of the Year: Indigo Larmour, Ireland (age 11)

Winner’s biography

11-year-old Indigo Larmour is Irish, but was born in Abu Dhabi and has been travelling since she was three weeks old. After living in India for the last two years she currently lives in a van with her family, presently driving from India to the UK. 

“When I was 8 I ‘borrowed’ one of my Mum’s cameras and fell in love with the way I could see the world through a camera. Since then our travels have allowed me to capture many amazing places and the people who live there. Being a child means I often view everyday activities from a different perspective. I have loved living in India because there’s always something interesting happening and the colours are so beautiful.  I’ve enjoyed using my photos for school projects including one highlighting the effects of pollution on wildlife that I did at my school in India last year. Photographing wildlife is difficult at my age though because the lenses are so big and heavy!  When I get older I’d love to be a photographer and highlight environmental issues and to tell stories of the people I meet through photos.”

Young Travel Photographer of the Year – Winner, 15-18 years: Ankit Kumar, India (age 16)

Winner’s biography

Ankit Kumar began his journey in photography when he got his DSLR in 2015. Over the last four years, he has had the opportunity to travel to interesting locations in Africa and Europe, where he has taken wildlife and landscape pictures. Winning the Young Travel Photographer of the Year award in 2016 was a turning point in his passion for photography. It ignited in him a thirst for recording wildlife and the changing environment, with an eye towards conservation especially of hunted species and their disappearing world.

Since then, Ankit has won the Asian Geographic Youth Photographer of the Year 2017, was twice Highly Honoured by Nature’s Best Photography Asia in 2017, and Highly Honoured by Nature’s Best Photography in 2018. He is inspired by photographers such as Paul Nicklen, Brian Skerry, Beverly Joubert and Keith Ladzinski, who care about the protection of animals and habitats. He also puts his photographic skills to use by supporting charities through an initiative that he, along with his sister have founded, called  www.wayto.help.

Young Travel Photographer of the Year – Runner-up, 15-18 years: Alexey Nikitin, Russia (age 18)

Young Travel Photographer of the Year – Highly Commended, 15-18 years: Patria Prasasya, Indonesia (age 17)

Young Travel Photographer of the Year – Commended, 15-18 years: Rama Kaushalyan, India (age 17)

Young Travel Photographer of the Year – Winner, 14 and under: Daniel Kurian, Australia (aged 13)

Winner’s biography

Daniel Kurian is a year 7 student from Perth, Western Australia. He started taking photos using an iPad when he was around eight years old, but passionately started photography when he was 10. This was after a school photography workshop organised by two photography enthusiast teachers.

He loves travelling and capturing what he sees through his lens and particularly enjoys his annual trips back to India. Street and travel photography are his favourite genres.

Young Travel Photographer of the Year – Runner-up, 14 and under: Indigo Larmour, Ireland (age 11) 

Young Travel Photographer of the Year -Commended, 14 and under: Shaylee Moreno, USA (age 14)


PORTFOLIOS

Winner, Art of Travel: Paul Sansome, UK

Winner’s biography 

Paul Sansome is a professional fine art and travel photographer based in the south of England and in Vietnam. His artistic photography is produced to the highest standards and his work, which is released in strictly limited editions, is intended to provide that special focal point. Paul is also an experienced photography tutor and has been leading photography holidays for over 15 years. Destinations have included Italy, Morocco, Kerala and Rajasthan in India, Iceland, Vietnam and Myanmar. 
 
Paul started out as a landscape photographer but says “One of the compelling facets of photography is the diverse range of genres that we are able to give our attention to. I have always enjoyed the challenge of wildlife photography, particularly attempting to photograph birds in flight. More recently, much of my photography has been travel based and here the challenge is to portray the emotion of the subject or to tell a story. One common thread through these genres is that the timing of the shot is critical – a fleeting moment of light in the landscape, a moment of animal behaviour or the flash of emotion on a person’s face”. 

Runner-up, Art of Travel: Ignacio Palacios, Australia/Spain

Highly Commended, Art of Travel: Ted Lau,Hong Kong

Commended, Art of Travel: Trevor Cole, Ireland

Best Single Image, Art of Travel: Geoff Shoults, UK

Special Mention, Art of Travel – left to right: Trần Tuấn Việt, Vietnam, Pavol Straňák, Slovakia, Ingrid Vekemans, Belgium

Special Mention, Art of Travel – left to right: Jose Fragozo, Portugal, Ted Lau, Hong Kong, Trevor Cole, Ireland


Winner, Endangered Planet: Alain Schroeder, Belgium

Winner’s biography 

Alain Schroeder is a Belgian photojournalist. In 1989 he founded Reporters (http://www.reporters.be), a well-known photo agency in Belgium. He has illustrated over thirty books dedicated to China, Iran, the Renaissance, Ancient Rome, the Gardens of Europe, Thailand, Tuscany, Crete, Vietnam, Budapest, Venice, the Abbeys of Europe, Natural Sites of Europe, etc.  Belgian book titles include Le Carnaval de Binche vu par 30 Photographes, and Processions de Foi, Les Marches de l’Entre-Sambre-et-Meuse.  Publications include National Geographic, Geo and Paris Match. He has won many international awards including a Nikon Japan award for the Who Will Save the Rohingya series, Travel Photographer of the Year 2017 with two series - Living for Death and Kushti – and a World Press Photo 1st Prize Sport Stories for the series Kid Jockeys, and participated in numerous exhibitions worldwide.  

Runner-up, Endangered Planet: Florian Ledoux, France

Highly Commended, Endangered Planet: Amit Eshel, Israel

Commended, Endangered Planet: Will Burrard-Lucas, UK

Best Single Image, Endangered Planet: Jason Edwards, Australia

Special Mention, Endangered Planet – left to right: Ignacio Palacios, Australia/Spain, Jason Edwards, Australia, Robert Gondek, Poland

Special Mention, Endangered Planet – left to right: Amit Eshel, Israel, Erin Donalson, USA, Ignacio Palacios, Australia/Spain


Winner, People & Cultures: Trevor Cole, Ireland

Winner’s biography 

Trevor Cole was born in the city of Derry, Ireland, but has lived most of his life outside the bounds of Ireland; in England, Singapore, Togo, Italy, Ethiopia and Brazil. He returned to Ireland (Donegal) in 2012.  
 
“My photography, together with travel, have become two of my life’s passions. My photography focuses predominantly on culture and landscapes; images which reflect a spatial and temporal journey through life and which try to convey a need to live in a more sustainable world. I seek the moment and the light in whatever context I find myself and endeavour to use my photographic acumen to turn the ordinary into the extraordinary. Capturing inimitable moments today to reflect upon tomorrow. My own ‘take’ as a geographer photographer!” 

Runner-up, People & Cultures: Victoria Dempster, UK

Highly Commended, People & Cultures: Ben McRae, Australia

Commended, People & Cultures: Zhiyuan Liao, China

Best Single Image, People & Cultures: Debdatta Chakraborty, India

Special Mention, People & Cultures – left to right: Robin Yong, Malaysia, Robert Newman, USA, Harry Fisch, Spain 

Special Mention, People & Cultures – left to right: Trevor Cole, Ireland, Jinzi Song, China, Brian Hodges, Australia, Beniamino Pisati, Italy


Winner, Thrills & Adventures: Brian Clopp, USA

Winner’s biography

Brian Clopp spent his birthday week in 2019 living amongst the Onaqui wild horses in harsh desert conditions, capturing these stunning images. On recent travels, his hard drive containing a year’s worth of photography was stolen when thieves hacked his rental car, but becoming a TPOTY finalist encouraged him to continue his art.

His portraiture photography subjects include President Jimmy Carter, Ted Turner, Jessie Jackson, James Earl Jones, and more. His work has often been featured as CNN’s Travel Photo of the Day. He is a ‘purist’ photographer who doesn’t edit his shots, striving to capture every setting perfectly.

Brian co-produced the Golden Globe nominated film ‘First They Killed My Father”’directed by Angelina Jolie. He recently completed his directorial debut on a short film about Penelope Stout, the first surviving settler of New Jersey, and the Lenape natives who save her life during a time of war. An Eagle Scout, Brian’s project instilled a collection drive in his small farm town of Cranbury NJ that continues to this day, collecting tens of thousands of winter clothes, hygiene items, and art supplies for the Trenton Area Soup Kitchen. Now, Brian is co-launching The Giving Herb, a wellness CBD company that gives half to charity.

Runner-up, Thrills & Adventures: Beniamino Pisati, Italy

Highly Commended, Thrills & Adventures: Dan Giannopoulos, UK/Greece

Commended, Thrills & Adventures: Marco Grassi, Italy

Best Single Image, Thrills & Adventures: Quanhou Lu, China

Special Mention, Thrills & Adventures – left to right: Russell Millner, UK, Uli Kunz, Germany

Special Mention, Thrills & Adventures – left to right: Enrique Lopez-Tapia, Spain, Marsel van Oosten, Netherlands


Winner, TAPSA Travel Documentaries: Kiran Ridley, UK

Winner’s biography 

Kiran Ridley is an award-winning photographer based in Paris and working throughout Europe and Asia. Most of his work concentrates on news, social political topics and the human experience. Fascinated by people and naturally curious by the human condition, Kiran, is passionate in documenting ongoing situations throughout the world, capturing the human dynamic, seizing the unique moments that humans create, whether in our hopes and dreams, fears or our anger. 
 
After picking up a camera for the first time at the age of 16, he was enthralled at the ability to capture and bear witness to history in the making and to tell the stories of the people within it. There started a journey of learning and discovery, embracing cultures and environments wherever he is, allowing him to blend in and become accepted, capturing distinct and intimate moments of those around him. 
 
Now, his work is published throughout the world including The Sunday Times Magazine, The Times and The Financial Times, The LA Times, The Washington Post, The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Le Figaro, Le Point, Die Welt, El Pais, Forbes, Observer and Guardian newspapers, Time, Spiegel, Economist Magazine, GQ and Conde Nast amongst many others. 


ONE SHOT – SINGLE IMAGE CATEGORIES

Dusk to Dawn, Joint Winner: Will Burrard-Lucas, UK

Winner’s biography

Will Burrard-Lucas is a wildlife photographer from the UK. Whenever possible, he prefers to get close to his wild subjects and use a wide-angle lens to capture a more intimate perspective. Initially, he achieved this by crawling up to unthreatening species. However, he also dreamt of doing this with iconic African animals such as lions and elephants. To achieve this, he created a remote-control camera buggy in 2009, which he called BeetleCam. The buggy soon proved itself and to this day Will continues to use it to capture fresh perspectives in his work. Will has also developed sensors to detect animals and automatically trigger his cameras.

Deploying these ‘camera traps’ for weeks or months at a time has allowed him to capture rare photographs of secretive and nocturnal wildlife. Will founded Camtraptions Ltd to turn his creations for camera trap photography into products for photographers and filmmakers around the world. In 2017, Will embarked on a project titled Land of Giants. The aim of this project was to document the last of Africa’s iconic elephants with tusks reaching down to the ground. In 2019, Land of Giants was released as a book in support of the Tsavo Trust.

Dusk to Dawn, Joint Winner: Sumit Dua, USA / UK

Winner’s biography

Sumit Dua is an amateur photographer based in Los Angeles, CA. By profession he is a doctor, and started photography during medical school. Initially his photography was done on a primitive digital camera borrowed from his uncle.

“Photography helps me observe the world and find moments that I would otherwise miss. My passion for photography started with an impromptu trip through many regions of India and it still remains my favorite destination to photograph with its vibrant colors and old textures. My other hobby includes magic.”

Dusk to Dawn, Runner-up: Yevhen Samuchenko, Ukraine (left), Highly Commended: Glynis Shaw, UK (right)

Dusk to Dawn, Commended: Johnny Haglund, Norway (left), Lance McMillan, Canada (right)


Winner, Oceans, Seas, Rivers, Lakes: Ignacio Palacios, Australia / Spain

Winner’s biography

When it comes to photography and travel, few can rival Ignacio Palacios’ experience, skill, and passion. A third-generation photographer, Ignacio has been honoured with over 100 prestigious photography prizes and awards from around the world and has travelled to over 90 countries in his 22 years career. Born in Spain, Ignacio now calls Sydney Australia home – through his unmistakable Spanish spirit continues to influence his work and define his signature style.

Combining his love of travel and photography has proved a powerful combination, and today Ignacio leads photography tours to incredible destinations around the world. As an AIPP double Master of Photography, Ignacio shares his insight, experience, and technique with his clients to help them find their own success and joy on their photographic journey.Ignacio’s distinct, award-winning style can be defined by his mastery of composition, colour, and light. With his minimalistic style and unique ability to connect with his audience through storytelling.

Through his images, Ignacio invites his audience to experience the subject not as how he captured, but how he experienced it, evoking an emotional connection between the viewer, subject and artist. Photography and travel will always be Ignacio’s passion, and he is dedicated to helping others ignite their passion too.

Oceans, Seas, Rivers, Lakes – Runner-up: David Alpert, UK (left), Highly Commended: Paul McKenzie, Ireland (right)

Oceans, Seas, Rivers, Lakes – Highly Commended: Nicola Young, UK (left), Commended: Brian Hodges, Australia (right)


Winner, Street Life: Robin Yong, Malaysia

THIS IMAGE WAS ALSO THE WINNER OF THE PEOPLE’S CHOICE VOTE

Winner’s biography 

Robin Yong is a multi-award-winning travel and commercial photographer, trained by the famous American photographer Jim Zuckerman, the world famous Venetian Masks Florine Houee and Danielle Massart, and legendary Hollywood photographer Greg Gorman. He enjoys traveling to exotic destinations to befriend and photograph the locals. He is best known for his work on the Omo Valley tribes in Ethiopia, the Venetian Masked models in Venice, the Bokator boxers of Cambodia and the Maikos of Kyoto. He calls these works his Travel Portraits, his Art of Travel Medicine. For most of his works, he does not use flash, reflectors or artificial lighting, depending solely on natural lighting alone. The photos are often dramatic, colourful and extremely beautiful. For Robin, every photo must look like a movie poster… 
 
Over the past few years, Robin has quickly become one of the most popular and influential photographers at the Venice Carnevale and within the past few months, Flowers of Ethiopia alone has gathered numerous awards, finalist status and honourable mentions in many International photography competitions, including International Photography Awards, Hamdan Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum International Photography Award (HIPA), Istanbul Photo Awards, Moscow International Foto Awards andThe Prix de la Photographie Paris. In just slightly more than two years, Robin’s travel photos have gathered more than 700 awards worldwide.

Street Life – Runner-up: Benson Spiers, UK (left), Highly Commended: Stuart Price, UK (right)

Street Life – Highly Commended: James Lindsay, UK (left), Commended: Sumit Dua, USA/UK (right)


SMARTSHOT

Winner, iTravelled: Benjamin Shaul, USA

Winner’s biography 

Benjamin Shaul is an American photographer who has a passion for traveling the world. He holds a degree in Ocean Engineering. From war zones to holiday destinations, he has traveled to 52 countries on six continents. His goal is to travel to at least one new country every year. Benjamin’s primary career focuses on creating and fostering international relationships between countries, which helps him continue to travel the world.

He began taking photographs more than 15 years ago, while his nature and travel photography started more than a decade ago. Benjamin believes the world is an awe-inspiring and mesmerizing place, and every person needs to do their part to take care of the cultural and natural world.

iTravelled – left to right – Runner-up: Kaim Ladak, UK; Highly Commended: Lukas Bezila, Slovakia; Commended: James Lindsay, UK


Winner, People’s Choice: Robin Yong, Malaysia

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