This article was adapted from National Geographic Traveller (UK).
Here we reveal the winners of the 12th annual National Geographic Traveller (UK) Photography Competition. We asked you to send in photos that tell great stories, and we received thousands of entries of an incredibly high standard.
The prestigious awards were open to both amateur and professional photographers, submitting travel images taken during the past year. The winners impressed by demonstrating there are new ways to show and celebrate the world through their unique photography.
Pat Riddell, editor of National Geographic Traveller (UK), said: “From the Northern Lights in Iceland and the landscapes of the Norwegian coast to the souks of Marrakech and a workshop in Cambodia, the entries of this year’s competition continue to amaze us with their creativity.”
The competition consists of six categories: Food and Travel, Landscape, People, Portfolio, Urban Environment and Wildlife. Below, we present the winner and runners-up for each award.
Food and Travel
Many photographers have an eye for food and an eye for travel. But it takes particular skill to capture the messy and satisfying ways in which culture and cuisine are intertwined.
A local worker on Koh Dach Island, Cambodia drying bean curd skins.
Photograph by Bernard Kuhn
The winner: Bernard Kuhn
On the way back from a visit to the silk community of Koh Dach Island, the sight of rows of yellowish skins hanging on the roadside caught my attention. I stopped and entered a workshop where local workers produce bean curd skins, a popular food item in China, Japan and Korea. Ta Be, pictured, boils soy milk in shallow pans. The film of skin, which forms on the top, is removed and dried. The rising smoke in the rays of light and Ta Be, dressed in a sarong, really highlighted the difficult conditions in which he’s working.
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What the judges said: “The light streaming in through the windows creates a beautiful chiaroscuro, illuminating the scene. In a very elegant manner, this man delicately peels the skin off the tofu, crafting soy strings. The moody, high contrast lighting is what makes this photo truly shine.”
The neon-sign filled basement bar featured in Davy Chou’s film, Return to Seoul.
Photograph by Joshua Paul Akers
Runner-up: Joshua Paul Akers
In Davy Chou’s film, Return to Seoul, the protagonist dances in a basement bar. After a lot of research, I discovered it’s a real place where the DJ — a collector with over 20,000 records — plays nightly to a crowd of fashionable hipsters and lovers of obscure music. Despite the ambivalent bartender and lingering smell from the toilet, I loved the retro neon signage and curious mix of customers.
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The traditions of the fishing industry in Devon have remained intact over centuries.
Photograph by James Maloney
Runner-up: James Maloney
As the residents engaged in their daily activities and fishermen returned to the harbour to unload their catch, it provided a poignant reminder of the traditions that have defined this fishing community for over seven centuries.
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Landscape
From vast, panoramic vistas to drone shots that capture the patterns of a terrain, this category is all about offering unusual perspectives on the world around us.
A rare sight of the Milky Way, the Northern Lights and Vestrahorn in Iceland.
The winner: Chris West
It was 3am and I was fast asleep on one of our last days in Iceland when my girlfriend Elitsa woke me up, telling me that the aurora was “possibly” visible. Reluctantly, I got up and we drove the 20 minutes towards Vestrahorn mountain in hope. As we got out of the car, Elitsa’s immediate shriek of excitement told me all I needed to know — the Milky Way, the Northern Lights and Vestrahorn were in full view. This fulfilled a dream I’d had since the first time I came here.
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What the judges said: “Many images of the Northern Lights can be a little boring or cliched. But this one is beautifully composed: the exposure brings out the Milky Way in the stars above; the mountains stand out sharply in the background; and the lone figure with the headtorch acts as the perfect centrepiece. Even the snowy dunes look great — a lot of work has gone into this shot.”
The El Cono de Arita — a cone-shaped natural phenomena in Argentina which resulted from erosion of the salt pan.
Photograph by John Seager
Runner-up: John Seager
El Cono de Arita is a spectacular geological formation where erosion has shaped a near perfect cone in the desert of the salt pan in Salar de Arizaro, Argentina. I’d visited this site before and knew that the early evening sun casts a long shadow of the cone on the salt pan. When I returned to the site and flew my drone, I couldn’t believe my eyes — the scene was almost surreal. I felt very lucky to have been able to be capture the magnificent ‘Arita’ on a beautiful, cloudless evening.
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A female public toilet on Adelaide Island, Antarctic Peninsula.
Photograph by Maciej Piętowski
Runner-up: Maciej Piętowski
As part of my role as an IT engineer at a research organisation, I was fortunate enough to travel to a research station on the Antarctic Peninsula. My passion for the natural world and photography meant it was the perfect combination. The female public toilet, on the edge of the station, highlights how far humanity has come to explore one of the most remote places on Earth.
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People
Sometimes, we remember a place as a person or a crowd. Travel portraiture reminds us of the beauty of a strangers and the power of human stories.
Molly and her young daughter, wearing a amautis, a centuries-old Inuit tradition.
Photograph by Colin Tennant
The winner: Colin Tennant
While on assignment in the Canadian Arctic, my wife and I spent several weeks with the Inuit community of Arctic Bay, in the Qikiqtaaluk Region of Nunavut. During this time, we documented elements of Inuit life. This portrait is of Molly and her young daughter, wearing a traditional amautis. Made from seal skin, amautis have been used by Inuit mothers for centuries, providing a safe and practical way for women to carry their babies. This traditional eastern Arctic Inuit parka also helps to develop the close bond between mother and child.
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What the judges said: “This photograph speaks to the beauty of cultural diversity, reminding us of the rich tapestry of human experience. It captures the essence of maternal love, cultural heritage and the human spirit’s resilience against nature’s extremes.”
The Kandanar Kelan Theyyam — a Hindu religious ceremony — being performed in Kerala, India.
Photograph by Gavin Burnett
Runner-up: Gavin Burnett
We arrived at a small private temple and waited until 3am for the Kandanar Kelan Theyyam — a Hindu religious ceremony. The bonfire was stoked, the drums beating and the crowd jeered as they leaped. The assistants’ faces winced with each pass as they helped guide the entranced deity through the flames. It was a tricky low-light shoot with manual exposure and focus, and the timing was also crucial — too early and miss the jump, too late and the subject would be in shadow.
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Swimmers in Cornwall go for a Christmas Day dip.
Photograph by Chris Gorman
Runner-up: Chris Gorman
I’d wanted to photograph a Christmas Day swim for some time as they’ve become more and more popular of late. The moment finally presented itself while I was visiting friends in Bude in Cornwall over the festive period. I knew the perspective of the drone looking back at the swimmers from out to sea would make for something striking. After finding a safe place to launch, I waited with some excitement as more and more swimmers arrived.
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Portfolio
A full photography feature, or ‘photo story’, usually requires around 10 images. Each must uniquely progress the story by revealing a different aspect of the destination. The Portfolio category is judged for the subject and style of the set, and the ways in which individual photos interact to create a cohesive, narrative collection.
An Arctic Sea Eagle spotted in Norway.
Photograph by Dylan McBurney
The winner: Dylan McBurney
Norway has always been a location where I wanted to go and shoot. It has everything from natural beauty and stunning wildlife to dramatic landscapes. When I had the opportunity to travel along the country’s coast and onto Svalbard with Hurtigruten, I was so excited about what I might be able to capture. This portfolio encompasses a range of images from landscape to aerial, and even wildlife photography. I feel these images offer an insight into the fascinating details the Arctic landscape has to offer.
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What the judges said: “A story that we overlooked at first, but kept getting drawn back to — a lovely mix of urban and natural environments, nature and people from a range of perspectives, all graded beautifully to make a very strong set of images.”
A religious devotee in Varanasi, India.
Photograph by Beth Wild
Runner-up: Beth Wild
I’d heard much about the magic and intensity of Varanasi. Of course, photographically, it’s amazing. There’s colour and character infused into every corner; there’s majesty and poverty, life and death. But it’s the religious devotion, woven deeply into the fabric of all Varanasi life, that creates a timeless sense of other-worldliness. The energy of so many souls worshipping the divine — endlessly. I walked along the ghats (riverfront steps) and back through the lanes every day, slowly getting to know the people and places.
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Some king penguin colonies in South Georgia and the Falklands can reach up to 200,000 breeding pairs.
Photograph by Renato Granieri
Runner-up: Renato Granieri
I wanted to focus on king penguin colonies in South Georgia and the Falklands, showing their behaviour, but also the habitat they call home. The density of wildlife on this remote gem of the South Atlantic is extraordinary — some colonies reach 200,000 breeding pairs. I was keen to capture their beauty as well as the resilience and toughness that allows them to survive in such harsh conditions. South Georgia is exposed to storms and strong winds even in summer, so the best time to visit is from October to March. However, some researchers do live there all year round.
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Urban Environments
From skyscrapers to street shots, the ‘Urban’ category offers photographers a chance to take a closer look at city life.
Marrakech’s Souk Haddadine — home to artist blacksmiths and welders.
Photograph by Kirill Nikitin
The winner: Kirill Nikitin
This medieval street in Marrakech’s Souk Haddadine is home to artist blacksmiths and welders. It’s covered with metal sheets, offering respite from the scorching sun. I stumbled upon this place when the craftsmen were welding, and rays of sun, beaming through the roof, were dancing in the smoke. It was full of the most bizarre and random metal goods and reminded me of the Room of Requirement from the Harry Potter series. As in the books, it’s also difficult to find it twice.
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What the judges said: “There’s so much to look at in this image — you’re really pulled into the detail of the scene. From the people’s striking poses and facial expressions to the shaft of light streaming in through the blacksmith’s smoke, this is a dramatic, visually captivating shot. It has a great muted colour palette with splashes of bright colour hidden away that pop out. This is a powerful and memorable photograph and a worthy category winner.”
Chinese New Year celebrations taking place in London’s Chinatown.
Photograph by Catalina Busoi-Garoafa
Runner-up: Catalina Busoi-Garoafa
The Chinese New Year celebrations were a revelation; never had I been surrounded by so many people yet comfortable at the same time. Between the dancing dragons, red lampshades and smell of bao buns, there seemed to be a shared excitement to bring in the Year of the Rabbit. I was captivated by the atmosphere and photographed the diverse crowd drawn to the festivities under the glow of the winter sun. Here lies the true beauty of London: a melting pot of cultures coming together in celebration.
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A bird’s-eye view of Duong Dong on the Vietnamese island of Phu Quoc.
Photograph by Chris Harrison
Runner-up: Chris Harrison
From the bird’s-eye view of a drone, the vibrant town of Duong Dong, on the Vietnamese island of Phu Quoc, unfolds in a kaleidoscope of colour. The town clings to land that was formerly jungle and mangroves, but now teems with human life. Every inch of land is packed with colourful rooftops, reflecting the resourcefulness and resilience of its inhabitants. However, these waters have been heavily overfished. Boats dot the harbour, some resting, others setting off in pursuit of the dwindling bounty to be had.
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Wildlife
Wildlife photography connects people to the systems of nature that exist outside of our human-centred world. It’s an essential tool to inspire the desire to protect wildlife and spark important change.
A fox pictured in South London, after its family took up residence in a local cemetery.
Photograph by Lewis James Newman
The winner: Lewis James Newman
A fox family took up residence in a local cemetery, and I got to know its routines. Spring was approaching, and the local council let the wild flowers grow. I could see the dandelions starting to grow and the vixen would choose a particular spot right in the centre. As the days passed and the seeds started to fall, I noticed she’d wake up covered in them. I knew I had to act fast to get this on film, so I spent many evenings at the cemetery trying to capture this very brief moment.
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What the judges said: “There were many incredible submissions within the wildlife category, but something always brought us back to this. The colour and composition are spot on, and the shallow depth of field isolates and highlights the subject. What brings it to the next level is the ability to relate to this exact moment; how you might react similarly if suddenly coated in the feathery pappi.”
A lone polar bear resting on an ice flow in Ellesmere Island.
Photograph by Jordan Banks
Runner-up: Jordan Banks
In August 2023, I set out on a six-week expedition up Baffin Bay to the High Arctic and North Pole. Off the coast of Ellesmere Island in the Canadian High Arctic, we spotted a female polar bear resting on an ice flow. Approaching very slowly and cautiously, we edged ever closer. Thankfully, the bear — who’d just given birth — was very relaxed and allowed us to spend an amazing 20 minutes with her before we quietly backed away.
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The Great Migration moving south towards the Eastern Serengeti.
Photograph by Alia Noordin
Runner-up: Alia Noordin
This image was taken as the Great Migration moved south towards the Eastern Serengeti in an area called Namiri. I wanted to capture something different to the usual river crossings, highlighting the magnitude of the thousands of animals that take part in the migration. The location — in the remote Soit Le Motonyi region of Serengeti National Park — took ages to reach, but thankfully the herds were still on the other side of the river when we arrived.
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The judging panel
Becky Redman
Art director, National Geographic Traveller (UK)
Ben Rowe
Picture Editor, National Geographic Traveller (UK)
Aisha Nazar
Photographer and Picture Researcher, National Geographic Traveller (UK)
Holly-Marie Cato
Documentary and commercial photographer
Matt Dutile
NYC-based travel, portrait, and interior photographer
Luke Stackpoole
Lifestyle and adventure photographer
Jonathan Stokes
Lifestyle and travel photographer
Sadie Gould
Picture Editor at Guardian Travel / Saturday Magazine
Carol Körting
Photo Editor at Leica Fotografie International Magazine
Published in the July/August 2024 issue of National Geographic Traveller (UK).
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