Travel Photographer of the Year comp announces 2024 winners
US photographer Piper Mackay has been awarded the title of Travel Photographer of the Year 2024, for a series of 'beautifully and exquisite portraits' portraits of African women and 'atmospheric' giraffes in Kenya’s Maasai Mara, captured with an infrared (IR) camera.
TPOTY founder Chris Coe said: “So many images seen today are over-saturated, over-processed and even AI-generated. A ‘less is more’ approach is often far more effective.
It is therefore refreshing to judge images which demonstrate good camera craft and in-camera creativity – shot full-frame, or close to it, and with very little retouching.”
“They are beautifully composed, celebrating both indigenous women and wildlife on the African savanna.
The use of black and white, with a camera converted to shoot infrared (IR), allows us to absorb the details and atmosphere which good monochrome conveys so well.
Her images have an immediate impact, but the intricate detail and atmosphere captured is also eye-catching and highly engaging.”
Mackay, who now lives in Kenya, said her philosophy has always been ‘Never let the photo dictate your experience, always let the experience dictate the photo.’
"This award completes my life’s passion and work across Africa for more than two decades. There is no higher honour!” she said.
Mackay’s prize includes a £2000 cash bursary from TPOTY, Radiant Photo imaging software and a portfolio review from New York agent Frank Meo. More than 20,000 images were entered in the competition.

In addition to the major award, a number of Australian photographers were recognised, including 12-year-old Leonardo Murray, who won the Young TPOTY 14 years & Under category for his series of images of dunes in the Namib Desert.
The images were captured while on holiday with his father, a professional photographer.
In addition, Joshua Holko received the Best Single Image award for his image of a Mongolian Pallas Cat covered in hoar frost.
The title of Young Travel Photographer of the Year 2024 was awarded to 14-year-old Chinese photographer Raymond Zhang for his portfolio of an old steam train and its drivers, photographed right in the heart of the action.
In the 15-18 years category, 17-year-old Polish photographer Maksymilian Paczkowski won with a series of birdlife shots shot in Poland.
The winning shots - which can all be viewed in the Winners’ Gallery on tpoty.com - will first go on display at The Banbury Museum and Galleries, Banbury, UK from 29th March to 7th July.
TPOTY will also be showcased at Xposure in the UAE. Another exhibition will follow in Changsha, Hunan Province, China in mid-June.
Individual categories and awards
Mexican photographer Maricruz Sainz de Aja won the Faces, People, Cultures portfolio category with a subtly atmospheric series of low-lit images of Papua New Guinean Wauga tribespeople in the Central Highlands.

Indian photographer Partha Pratim Roy’s dramatic image of an Indonesian horseman trying to control his steed won the Best Single Image award in this category.

Roie Galitz’s striking landscapes of the Bråsvellbreen ice cap in Svalbard, shot from different viewpoints and perspectives, illustrate both the climate and water elements of the category theme and secured top honours for the Israeli photographer in the Planet Earth Landscape, Climate and Water portfolio category.

Belgian photographer and former overall TPOTY winner, Alain Schroeder, won the Best Single Image award with a poignant image which reminds us that climate change is here right now, and blighting people’s lives.

Another British photographer, Jenny Stock, was the judges’ choice to win the Wildlife, Nature & Underwater category, with her fascinating and intimate portfolio of American crocodiles in Cuba.

The People’s Choice award was decided by members of the public voting on the TPOTY website. The winning image, chosen from 19,895 public votes, was by Mauro de Bettio (Italy). It captures the wonderfully close relationship between an endangered pangolin, and its devoted protector, who rescued it from a wildlife market in Nigeria.
You can see many more of the amazing images that win categories and were shortlisted at tpoty.com.