The world's best travel photography

The world's best travel photography
What you see along the way — The finalists of the annual National Geographic Traveller (UK) Photography Competition have been announced, showcasing the best travel photography from the past year.

From Northern Ireland to Nepal, South Africa to Santorini, the finalists of this year’s National Geographic (UK) Traveller Photography Competition come from all corners of the globe. The power to document our travels may well now be a possibility for anyone wielding a camera-phone, but year on year the entries to this competition are a reminder of just how striking an image can be, transporting us to another world entirely.

Launched in 2011, the prestigious annual competition seeks the UK’s best new travel photography talent across six categories: Action; Nature; People; Urban; Portfolio; and Video.

This year’s judging panel consists of Jael Marschner, a photographer and former photo editor at Time Out; Matty Graham, managing editor at Digital Photo Magazine; Andy Greenhouse, creative director and co- founder of Swhype; and Neil Freeman, a photographer and training manager at Nikon; and Chris Hudson, National Geographic Traveller’s art editor. Check out a selection of the finalists’ work below.

Photo by Daniel Burton. This photograph was taken in January 2016 and features a bird’s-eye view of the approach to the Moremi Game Reserve in Botswana’s Okavango Delta region. Moremi is cut off from the remainder of the Delta and travel to and from its lodges requires transit by light aircraft or helicopter. The shot was taken from a Cessna plane and shows one of the many ephemeral tributaries of the Okavango basin which snake through the landscape following the annual discharge of rain from the Angolan highlands.

Photo by Daniel Burton – Moremi Game Reserve, Botswana.

Photo by Andrew Hone. The image was taken at sunset on Ngapali beach in Myanmar, what struck me at the time was how you can go to places you might think are remote, but you will always find people who love sport.  From, the heights of world football in Europe to a beach in Asia, everyone can find the same joy in the game, all you need is ball! These boys certainly have one of the more beautiful backdrops in which to play and ended ended up competing with each other for the best trick with the ball as I lay in the sand shooting away.

Photo by Andrew Hone – Ngapali beach, Myanmar.

Photo by Ben Godwin.

Photo by Ben Godwin – Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Photo by David Candlish - Singapore.

Photo by David Candlish – Singapore.

Photo by Francis Cox - Bhaktapur, Nepal.

Photo by Francis Cox – Bhaktapur, Nepal.

Photo by Laura Dale - Parque de las Palapas, Cancun, Mexico.

Photo by Laura Dale – Parque de las Palapas, Cancun, Mexico.

Photo by Marco Pozzi - Jaipur, Rajasthan, India.

Photo by Marco Pozzi – Jaipur, Rajasthan, India.

Photo by Mario Adario - Lalibela, Ethiopia.

Photo by Mario Adario – Lalibela, Ethiopia.

Photo by Mario Adario - Lalibela, Ethiopia.

Photo by Mario Adario – Lalibela, Ethiopia.

Photo by Matt Parry - Santorini, Greece.

Photo by Matt Parry – Santorini, Greece.

Photo by Miguel de Freitas  - Nambiti Game Reserve, South Africa.

Photo by Miguel de Freitas – Nambiti Game Reserve, South Africa.

Photo by Sajith Buddikha Withanage - ala National Park, Sri Lanka.

Photo by Sajith Buddikha Withanage – ala National Park, Sri Lanka.

Photo by Stuart Dunn - Salalah, Oman.

Photo by Stuart Dunn – Salalah, Oman.

Toby Trueman

Photo by Toby Trueman – Sogo, Hong Kong.

Photo by Daren Baker - Fritham, New Forest, England.

Photo by Daren Baker – Fritham, New Forest, England.

Winners will be announced on 28 February 2017. 

Enjoyed this article? Like Huck on Facebook or follow us on Twitter.

Latest on Huck

The party starters fighting to revive Stonehenge’s Solstice Free Festival
Huck Presents

The party starters fighting to revive Stonehenge’s Solstice Free Festival

Free the Stones! delves into the vibrant community that reignites Stonehenge’s Solstice Free Festival, a celebration suppressed for nearly four decades. 

Written by: Laura Witucka

Hypnotic Scenes of 90s London Nightlife
Photography

Hypnotic Scenes of 90s London Nightlife

Legendary photographer Eddie Otchere looks back at this epic chapter of the capital’s story in new photobook ‘Metalheadz, Blue Note London 1994–1996’

Written by: Miss Rosen

The White Pube: “Artists are skint, knackered and sharing the same 20 quid”
Culture

The White Pube: “Artists are skint, knackered and sharing the same 20 quid”

We caught up with the two art rebels to chat about their journey, playing the game that they hate, and why anarchism might be the solution to all of art’s (and the wider world’s) problems.

Written by: Isaac Muk

The Chinese youth movement ditching big cities for the coast
Photography

The Chinese youth movement ditching big cities for the coast

In ’Fissure of a Sweetdream’ photographer Jialin Yan documents the growing number of Chinese young people turning their backs on careerist grind in favour of a slower pace of life on Hainan Island.

Written by: Isaac Muk

The LGBT Travellers fundraising for survival
Activism

The LGBT Travellers fundraising for survival

This Christmas, Traveller Pride are raising money to continue supporting LGBT Travellers (used inclusively) across the country through the festive season and on into next year, here’s how you can support them.

Written by: Percy Henderson

The fight to save Bristol’s radical heart
Activism

The fight to save Bristol’s radical heart

As the city’s Turbo Island comes under threat activists and community members are rallying round to try and stop the tide of gentrification.

Written by: Ruby Conway

Sign up to our newsletter

Issue 81: The more than a game issue

Buy it now