From crystalline captures of landscapes to intimate, up-close portraits of some of the world’s most fascinating creatures, the always hotly contested Travel Photographer of the Year (TPOTY) awards showcases some of the most incredible scenes around the world. Here’s a selection of some of our favourite images from the TPOTY 2019 awards – guaranteed to have you scribbling new destinations and experiences on your ‘where to visit next’ list.

Wildlife photographer Will Burrard-Lucas, from the UK, used a remote-control camera buggy to take this intimate portrait of a black rhino in Tsavo West National Park, Kenya. A long exposure allowed him to take a sharp, intricate image while still capturing the dramatic, inky beauty of the night sky.

Based between the USA and UK, Sumit Dua is a doctor and amateur photographer drawn by colours and textures. The image of two neighbours chatting in Havana, Cuba, reminded him of the ‘old master’ paintings – and earned him joint first place in the category.

UK-based photographer Glynis Shaw took full advantage of the reflective watering hole and bright night for this striking capture of a Scrub Hare in Mkuze, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. She describes the water as looking “like a black mirror”.

A lone, and rather lonely looking, tree lends scale to this mesmerising aerial image of the sand dunes in Parque Nacional dos Lençóis Maranhenses, Brazil. Professional photographer Ignacio Palacios, born in Spain and now based in Sydney, Australia, took the shot through the open doors of a light aircraft.

Malaysian photographer Robin Yong captured this cheeky shot of an elderly woman and a muscle-bound, tattooed young man in Havana, Cuba. The image also took the People’s Choice award, where members of the public voted online from 100 judge-shortlisted photos.

This category recognises changing trends in the photography world – and the advanced technology that allows some incredible images to be captured on a mobile phone or tablet. The winning shot, by US photographer Benjamin Shaul, was this brilliantly bold image of synchronised flamingoes on the Caribbean island of Aruba.

New for this year, the TAPSA category grants one photographer a scholarship to pursue a career in documentary photography. Kiran Ridley, from the UK, took first place in the category’s debut with his striking, thought-provoking images of democracy protestors in Hong Kong, taken in the summer of 2019.

You can almost feel the dust on your skin, and in the back of your throat, looking at this dynamic shot by US photographer Brian Clopp. He spent a week with the Onaqui wild horses of Dugway Proving Ground in Utah, USA, camping in harsh desert conditions to capture the beauty, majesty and pure drama of the creatures – here battling for dominance.

Italian Beniamino Pisati came in second place with his black-and-white captures of the Festival of Abrivado, held each November in Camargue, France. More than 2,000 cowboys – known as ‘guardians’ – and 1,000 horses participate in the race to herd long-horned bulls.

Dan Giannopoulos, based between the UK and Greece, caught on camera the moment a racing driver at London’s Wimbledon Stadium was forced to exit his car due to an engine malfunction. The starkness of the surroundings, deserted apart from the lone rider, is reminiscent of a film set.

Italian photographer Marco Grassi shot this striking, vertiginous image of a yellow rain-jacketed walker gazing down the cascade of Foss, the biggest waterfall in the Faroe Islands. The scene is rendered all the more dramatic – and grey – after a night of heavy downpours. Feeling inspired? Check out our guide to the Faroe Islands.

This intricately textured photo, by Chinese-based Quanhou Lu, was taken in Xingjiang, China and shows animals being herded between pastures via a dramatic road. The incredible detail and earthy, molten colour palette made it a stand-out in the category.

The extraordinary moment where two predators, of different species, meet was captured in Nanuk, Hudson Bay, Canada by UK-based Russell Millner. It was a brief, if intense, encounter, Millner said. The wolf approached the bear before both moved on with their business, tolerant and respectful of one another.

Irish born Trevor Cole has spent the majority of his life travelling and documenting his experiences on camera. His winning portfolio of images captured in Mundari, South Sudan portray ordinary aspects of life there through an extraordinary and atmospheric lens. This dynamic photo depicts a man dusting himself with ash to protect from the elements and insects.

Another of Cole’s winning set shows the bond between Mundari tribesmen and also the bond they share with their cattle, which represent wealth. The smoky, dusty scene is “almost biblical”, says the photographer.

UK-based Victoria Dempster focused on a cowboy called Dominic, who she met on the rodeo circuit in Colorado, USA. Her black-and-white images capture his different sides with inky depth – such as this shot showing his soft side to one of the family’s many animals, a pet lizard.

Australian photographer Ben McRae plays with light and shadow for his images shot in Dus Village, in Ethiopia’s Omo Valley. This portrait shows a member of the Kara tribe, who are known for intricate body painting and decorations like this dramatic headdress.

Zhiyuan Liao, from China, was commended for her images showing the simplicity and importance of rituals, in this case butter tea – made with tea, salt and yak butter – in Tibet. This photo shows two Tibetan women making the bitter, smoky drink, which is an integral part of both everyday life and special occasions from welcoming guests to performing rituals.

The vivid colours and emotions of this shot, taken on the day of Chhath festival in Kolkata, India, gained Debdatta Chakraborty the prize of best single image in the People & Cultures category. During the Hindu festival, participants – mainly women – perform Dondi, a ritual meant to appease the gods in the hope of being granted a happier future.

Belgian photojournalist Alain Schroeder won Travel Photographer of the Year 2017 and impressed again with a series of images documenting treatment and recovery of orangutans at a quarantine centre in Sumatra, Indonesia. This emotive photograph depicts vet Yenny cradling young orangutan Brenda, whose left arm bone was snapped in two.

Florian Ledoux, from France, took second place with her aerial shot of a polar bear leaping between sheets of ice on Baffin Island in Nunavut, Canada. The striking colours and composition provide insight into the bear’s habitat.

Amit Eshel’s portrait of pumas on the Torres Dell Paine in Patagonia, Chile was highly commended in the same category. It shows Rupestre, the mother, stoically undertaking her motherly duties as two of her four cubs pull, pounce and play.

Will Burrard-Lucas was recognised for his series of black-and-white images of elephants in Kenya’s Tsavo East National Park. This cow elephant, captured at an extraordinary angle by a waterhole, tragically died a few weeks later due to starvation.

Australian photographer Jason Edwards captured this sobering image, which shows the charred remains of an African elephant on a roadside in Chobe National Park, Botswana. The magnificent mammal was slaughtered for meat, though poachers discarded the body when they were disturbed.

A body of work spanning striking architecture and close-ups of natural beauty won UK-based professional photographer Paul Sansome the top prize in this category. Photographs such as this one of Harpa Concert Hall in Reykjavík, Iceland zoom in on focal points with extraordinary detail.

Sansome says he aims to capture “a fleeting moment”, whether that means the sun casting a certain shadow on a building or, in the case of this image taken at a reservoir near Ouarzazate in Morocco’s High Atlas Mountains, a grey heron landing in just the right light.

The layered shadows and striking silhouette of this image, taken in the Scottish Highlands, give it an ethereal, dreamlike feel. Its incredible composition and timing saw it acclaimed as the best single image in a portfolio in the Art of Travel category. 

Thirteen-year-old Daniel Kurian, from Perth, Australia, won this category with a series of images of fishermen in Kerala, India. His reportage-style photographs capture the crew’s everyday tasks, from preparing the colourfully painted wooden boats to bring in their catch, including this enormous sailfish that needed two men – and lots of concentration – to carry ashore.

This adorable, engaging capture of a pig-tailed macaque by the Kinabatangan River in Borneo, Malaysia demonstrated an innate skill for wildlife photography that earned Ankit Kumar top spot in the 15-18 years category. Kumar won the overall Young TPOTY award in 2016 and has since focused on wildlife and conservation, driven to highlight species that are disappearing.

Indigo Larmour might be just 11 years old but she’s travelled more widely than most. The Irish national was born in Abu Dhabi, has lived in India for two years and is currently road-tripping from there to the UK. Her images, including this vivid capture of a man preparing chai in Kolkata, India, reflect her travels and eye for stories.

Top prize went to amateur photographer Katy Gomez Catalina, making her the first overall winner from Spain. Her striking series of black-and-white photographs stood out for their diverse yet always thought-provoking subjects, from Batwa people in Uganda to animals being examined before slaughter. Her impressive portfolio included this portrait of a young shepherd in Fada-Ngourma in Burkina Fsao, West Africa.

This image of people politely lining up in the rain to enter the Louvre in Paris exemplifies the breadth of her skill-set. Gomez Catalina as struck by the neatness and uniformity of the queues, highlighted further by the boy running across the square, which the photographer described as “the only dynamic note of the scene”.

READ MORE: Stunning images from the Historic Photographer of the Year awards