Travel Photographer of the Year (TPOTY) have announced the winners of the 2021 competition!
From beguiling abstract images of the ‘paintings’ created by the sand and tides in the Scottish Hebrides to a Ramadan breakfast amidst the devastation of a Syrian town, intimate and fascinating depictions of lives and cultures across the globe, a hare in ‘ball’ of ice and snow and a ‘ghost leopard’ apparently merging with the stars, the winning images in the 2021 global Travel Photographer of the Year awards (TPOTY) present a diverse and glorious view of life on our planet.
The global spread of the awards can be seen in the fact that some 20,000 images were submitted from photographers in 151 countries. The winning shots will go on display at a spectacular, free-to-view outdoor exhibition in a magnificent London venue – Granary Square near King’s Cross and St Pancras stations, in April and May 2022.
TPOTY 2021 – Overall Winner (pictured):
The Overall Winner – the Travel Photographer of the Year 2021 – is Fortunato Gatto. This Italian photographer has been based in Scotland since 2007, and his deep love of his adopted country is reflected in his sumptuous, detailed abstract images of patterns in the sand in the Hebrides which form part of his winning selection. In addition, his images of a ‘meeting of the seasons’ in Alaska draw you in, with a wonderful sense of place, to one of the earth’s most beautiful remote places.
Winning Single Images:
Each year there are many entries in the portfolio categories which don’t quite work as a portfolio. But within these portfolios there are some stunning individual images. In recognition of this the TPOTY judges award the Best Single Image in a Portfolio to a single outstanding image, not necessarily in one of the winning portfolios. These Judges’ Choice images are exhibited along with the other winning images in the TPOTY exhibitions.
We are thrilled to support the following single-image categories, the winners of which all receive a 24″ giclee exhibition quality print of their selected image printed by Genesis Imaging.
Winner, Best Single Image in a Best 8 Portfolio:
Alain Shroeder, Belgium
Bitlis, Turkey
In the village of Uzgen, Osh region, more than 170 horses (in this picture) and men wearing the classic Soviet tank hat or a Kyrgyz tebetei hat, push and shove each other with dexterity and endurance in fearless combat as they fight for possession of a young 60 kg bull. A wealthy local man, has organized a massive game of Alaman-Ulak (a freestyle version of the national sport, Kok Buru – known by some as ‘dead goat polo’) to celebrate the 13th birthday of his son.
Winner, Best Single Image in a Landscape & Adventure Portfolio:
Pally Learmond, UK
Haines, Alaska, United States
Due to the close proximity of the Pacific Ocean, snow sticks to the mountains of southeast Alaska like nowhere else on earth. This creates a phenomenon called ‘spines’ which form on top of the normally steep and rocky mountain faces. This provides professional freeride skiers with a playground like no other. In this photo, Austrian professional freeskier Fabian Lentsch lets it all go on a mountain face called ‘Dirty Needle’.
Winner, Best Single Image in a Living World Portfolio:
Jose Fragozo, Portugal
Masai Mara National Reserve, Kenya
An eye blinked in the drought-stricken mud pool as the hippopotamus emerged to take a breath. I was watching two hippos from my vehicle, and the challenge was to catch the eye when it was open. Having observed hippos for years, I knew that they only come up for air every three to five minutes.
Winner, Best Single Image in a People & Their Stories Portfolio:
Trevor Cole, Ireland
Terekeka, South Sudan
A young Mundari herder immersing himself in fresh urine from his Ankle Watusi cow. The outcome of this is to make use of a natural antiseptic and to change their hair colour to red or even bleached blonde!
TPOTY 2021 Winners Exhibition
The winning shots from 2021’s TPOTY Competition will go on display in Granary Square near King’s Cross and St Pancras stations, in April and May 2022, supported by Genesis Imaging.