The prestigious international photography competition Travel Photographer of the Year has announced its 2024 winners, showcasing the most exceptional images that triumphed across various categories and earned high praise from the judges.
Both amateur and professional photographers from over 150 countries submitted more than 20,000 images to the competition.
"The outstanding quality and diversity of this year’s winners are evident in images ranging from intimate portraits to atmospheric landscapes and powerful documentation of our changing planet and its inhabitants," the judges wrote. "The result is a stunning visual journey around the world, capturing breathtaking scenery and vibrant colors, alongside striking and dramatic black-and-white photography."
The competition’s overall winner is Piper Mackay from the United States, recognized for her unique use of infrared photography (IR). "Her portraits of African women are simply exquisite, with intricate details that captivate the viewer," the judges noted. "Meanwhile, her images of giraffes in Kenya’s Maasai Mara reserve create an exceptionally atmospheric experience."
The title of Young Travel Photographer of the Year was awarded to 14-year-old Raymond Zhang from China for his remarkable photographs of a steam train in a coal-mining region of Xinjiang province.
Israeli photographer Roie Galitz won first place in the Earth – Landscapes, Climate, and Water category with a stunning series of images from Svalbard, an Arctic Ocean archipelago. "Galitz’s breathtaking photographs of the Brasvellbreen ice cap, captured from various angles and perspectives, beautifully convey the themes of climate and water, as required by the category," the judges remarked.
In an interview with Ynet, Galitz expressed his pride in winning such a prestigious award. "This competition, one of the most respected in the photography world, receives significant international exposure," he said. "It’s incredibly fulfilling to highlight the urgent issue of climate change and the accelerating glacier melt to millions worldwide—it’s a cause that is deeply personal to me."
Galitz described the Brasvellbreen glacier in Spitsbergen, an immense 50-kilometer ice wall, which has been retreating at an alarming rate due to Arctic warming. "While climate change is evident in Israel through unstable weather, warmer winters, and hotter summers, the Arctic is warming at more than four times the global average. The impact is becoming more pronounced every year. I’ve been visiting this area for 13 years, and the changes I’ve witnessed are staggering."
Beyond climate advocacy, Galitz also expressed national pride in his achievement. "Especially in times like these, seeing Israel among the top winners of this competition is incredibly meaningful. It’s not something I take for granted, and I’m proud to represent my country in photography, art, and environmental conservation."
Another Israeli photographer recognized by the judges is Alexey Kharitonov, who submitted a stunning image of a lake in the Vyborg district of Russia’s Leningrad region.
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