‘A window on the world we hope to explore again’: National Geographic Traveller reveals the breathtaking shortlisted images in its 2020 photography competition
- Launched in 2011, the prestigious annual competition seeks the UK’s best new travel photography talent
- This year judges have whittled more than 4,500 entries for the contest to a 12-strong shortlist of finalists
- There are four categories: Cities, Landscape, Nature and People. The winners will be announced on August 25
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These photographs show just how stirring the best travel photography can be.
They have all been shortlisted in National Geographic Traveller (UK)’s prestigious Photography Competition 2020.
Launched in 2011, the annual contest seeks to find the UK’s best new travel photography talent across four categories: cities, landscape, nature and people. This year judges sifted through more than 4,500 entries and whittled them down to a 12-strong shortlist – presented here.
Among those making the cut is a stunning dusk shot of Prague, a dramatic image of a lion hunting in a sandstorm in Kenya and a mesmerising photo of Namib-Naukluft Park in Namibia.
The category winners and the overall grand prize winner will be announced on Tuesday, August 25.
Pat Riddell, editor of National Geographic Traveller (UK), said: ‘While the coronavirus pandemic has greatly affected our ability to travel, our desire to see the world is nevertheless undiminished. This year’s competition is a window on the world we hope to explore again as soon as it’s safe to do so, and is a reminder of the power and emotion that travel photography can capture. From spectacular wildlife to moving landscapes, the shortlist again demonstrates some of the UK’s best talent behind the lens.’ Scroll down to see the top picks from this year’s contest…
This stunning picture, taken at dusk, shows a rooftop view of The Church of Our Lady Before Tyn in Prague. It was snapped by Holly Barber and is shortlisted in the cities category
Photographer Mick Ryan captured this charming scene of two ladies carrying groceries in the southern Italian city of Bari. The image is a finalist in the cities category
This colourful image, by Jordan Banks, is a finalist in the cities category. It shows the striking doors of the Soho building – a private block of flats in Odaiba, an artificial island in Tokyo Bay
Annapurna Mellor is behind this incredible photo of the dramatic mountains and Buddhist Thiksey Monastery in the Ladakh region of India. It is a finalist in the landscape category
Photographer George Turnbull snapped this mesmerising image of Namib-Naukluft Park in Namibia. It has been shortlisted in the landscape category
This serene shot of the Yuanyang rice terraces, in China’s southern Ailao Mountains, is a finalist in the landscape category. It was snapped by Eric Ho
Diana Knight is shortlisted in the nature category for this incredible shot of a lioness braving a sandstorm on the banks of the Mara River in Kenya
This jaw-dropping shot shows a spotted eagle ray. It was taken by Francesca Page near Cocos Island in Costa Rica and is a finalist in the nature category
Tony Zhang is shortlisted in the nature category thanks to his fascinating shot of flamingos and their chicks on Tanzania’s Lake Natron. The mud mounds on the water are the birds’ nests
On the left is a portrait taken by Kay Lockett of Dugerjav, a mother-of-eight and a grandmother of 22 from Mongolia proudly displaying her Order of Glorious Motherhood medal. In Mongolia, a sparsely populated country, motherhood is seen as a patriotic duty and the government honours women for having large families. The image is a finalist in the people category. On the right is a jolly image snapped by Lynn Fraser, which shows Danchu, a Roma coppersmith in Transylvania. It is also a finalist in the people category
This joyful image, taken by Hariel Torres, shows dancers performing a haka on Ua Pou island in French Polynesia’s Marquesas Islands archipelago. It was taken during the Matavaa festival, which has been held every four years since 1986 on the island chain. It is a finalist in the people category
National Geographic Traveller (UK) has a cover price of £4.95, is available via subscription and on newsstands, and is published 10 times a year. Visit nationalgeographic.co.uk/travel for more information.