Travel photography always helps to open up your perspectives about the world. From seeing varied cultures to traditions to food, one can learn much about what makes us different yet so alike. To further showcase the spirit of humanity, All About Photo recently conducted a contest on the theme of travel photography. And today, they are unveiling the 25 winners whose images capture the essence of what journey truly means.
The lead image is by Chiara Felmini. All images are courtesy of All About Photo. Used with permission.
This edition saw several thousand entries worldwide, with works ranging from landscapes to wildlife to even street photographs defining culture or community. The winners are from 13 countries across four continents and showcase travel photography’s richness. Through these works, one will instantly see the extraordinary places in the world, some familiar or some rarely seen. However, at its heart is the story of human life, as it ebbs and flows around us.
The top three winners of the All About Photo contest will each receive $1,000. The remaining winners’ works will be showcased in the magazine. Without further ado, here is a look at the winners.
1st Place Winner
Peter Ydeen (USA)
The image is part of his series Urban Landscape, which was captured along the Nile River in Egypt, from Cairo to Aswan, and in central Morocco, from Essaouira through the Atlas Mountains to the Saharan Drâa-Tafilalet regions. The photographer aims to showcase the city’s pastel colors, elegant urban spaces, and people who are themselves elements in their stages. The place showcases a mystery and a dream set in colors of misunderstood beauty.
2nd Place Winner
Thaddäus Biberauer (Austria)
The image was captured during his travels to new countries, where he experienced different cultures and landscapes. The photographer says he had to adapt his techniques and capture images that were far different from his original work, landscapes. ” I was constantly seeking to create stunning images while immersing myself in the beauty of the world. I’m incredibly grateful for these opportunities, which have enriched both my photography and my life,” he adds.
3rd Place Winner
Liam Man (UK)
Icebreaker is a solo, self-funded project that utilizes aerial light painting to highlight the beauty and impact of climate on glaciers. This image was captured for one such project, where lights were mounted on drones to reveal the icy landscape as a moonrise ignites the horizon. The stormy night creates fleeting moments to photograph, with the moonlight refracting through suspended ice crystals, turning the scene a fiery orange. Overall, we see the fragile majesty of glaciers, emphasizing the need to preserve these magnificent landscapes before they disappear due to the consequences of climate change.
Merit Award Gallery
Marvin Anani (USA)
This long exposure captures a Ferris wheel at the National Harbor in Washington D.C. The photographer recalls observing the people moving along the pier, thinking, “Is anybody else seeing this as a cool giant lollipop?” With a tripod and a few minutes of patience, they captured this image, along with several others. A decisive moment lingered long enough, allowing the photographer to create one of their favorite shots, turning an ordinary scene into something extraordinary.
Chiara Felmini (Italy)
The image was captured at Mundari camp, which allows you to observe the lifestyle of these nomadic shepherds, but it does not pretend to arrive at an understanding. The Mundari take great care of their animals, massaging them twice daily and sprinkling them with manure ash to protect them from insects. This image symbolizes the relationship between man and animal and how different cultures honor them.
Silvio Augusto Rusmigo (Cyprus/Italy)
The photographer was invited to document a unique project: the creation of Cyprus’s first bouldering guidebook. This grassroots effort, led by climbers from Cyprus and abroad, focused on mapping the island’s untouched climbing potential, beginning with over 700 lines in Akamas. Experiencing the sport for the first time, the photographer saw more than just climbing—it was about adventure, community, and a deep love for the rugged, contested landscape. Through their images, they aimed to portray Akamas not only as a natural treasure but also as a symbol of what sustainable exploration could achieve for Cyprus.
Syed Mahabubul Kader (Bangladesh)
A group of workers unload paddy straw from a truck. Paddy straw, a by-product of rice farming, has various uses, including cattle feed and fuel.
Alessandro Malaguti (Italy)
In the Nepalese villages perched on the high Himalayan mountains on the border with Tibet, time seems to have stopped. People live the day dedicating themselves to prayer, their livelihood, and the cultivation of the fields. The rhythm of life is stress-free, and the hours are marked only by sunlight, following the simple flow of nature.
You can follow Alessandro here.
William Nourse (United States)
In September 2024, William, along with five other photographers, embarked on a sailing expedition through the relatively untraveled fjords of South Greenland. Setting out from Narsarsuaq, they explored Tasermiut Fjord and Prins Christian Sund for 10 unforgettable days. They camped on the shore under the Aurora, hiked into glacial valleys, and experienced impossibly calm waters with mirror-like reflections, a photographer’s paradise. South Greenland, where the Vikings first settled, offered a glimpse of what they might have experienced—glaciers falling into the sea and sheer granite faces stretching thousands of feet into the air.
Muhammad Amdad Hossain (Bangladesh)
A winter morning turns busy as villagers head out to work in the heart of Rangpur, Bangladesh. An intriguing snap, it captures the spirit of rural life: people going to work either on bicycles, cow carts, or on foot, moving with a rhythm that is ageless. Agriculture, the livelihood of 90% of the people, has knitted the people and their land together. This photograph celebrates the resilience, tradition, and vibrant spirit of a village waking to the promise of a new day.
Alessandro Zanoni (Italy)
This series of images is taken from a large documentation project regarding the city of Tokyo that is still in progress. These images may be included in a forthcoming editorial publication that should see the light of day by 2025. The title—provisional—of the work is Skin Of The City. The five images proposed concern many places of food and drink consumption, such as typical Izakaya, Yakitori, and Yakuniko.
You can follow Alessandro here.
Brice Gelot (France)
The photograph is part of Straight Out the Hood, a long-term documentary that examines the dark and unseen side of the street, from rough areas to poor neighborhoods.
Steve Dinberg (USA)
Steve has always been passionate about their craft, constantly searching for that decisive moment. They seek out special, magical light, intriguing faces that reveal personal history, hands that tell a story, and eyes that convey emotion. Above all, they aim to capture moments of interaction. With an instinctive eye for colors, shapes, and textures within defined spaces, the photographer, a lifelong traveler, looks for streets, alleyways, or even the face of a person that conveys meaning within their surroundings.
Thibault Gerbaldi (France)
As a traveler, Thibault is drawn to people—their faces, their stories, their everyday lives. These encounters breathe life into his journey, reminding him that the heart of travel lies in the connections we make along the way.
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Marios Forsos (Greek)
Following the collapse of the ISIL state, rogue bands of ISIS fighters and warlords have streamed into northern Mali, effectively taking over almost half the country and imposing their own particular version of law and government. In response, the Malian government has withdrawn to the south, abandoning the people of the north and center to their fate, leaving them without support, education, access to markets, and many more.
During the past 7 years, the people have had to discover new – or old – ways of surviving, with a lot of them reverting to subsistence farming, foraging, and bartering, including collecting driftwood and sand from the Niger to sell as building materials and firewood. With no teachers or schools available, wandering religious scholars have taken it upon themselves to go from village to village and exchange education for food and shelter.
Without any equipment or other resources, they use the Qu’ran as the only textbook and wooden slates, along with pieces of charcoal as writing implements. Classes are held wherever possible, from abandoned warehouses to shady street corners where everyone is welcome.
Andrea Peruzzi (Italy)
After the recitation of scriptures and prayers, a monk steps into the temple’s entrance pagoda, his form bathed in the ethereal glow of the setting sun. This is a life shaped by deep devotion, constant meditation, and a tireless pursuit of self-improvement. Every moment is a step on the journey to enlightenment, transcending the limitations of the self, where the ultimate aspiration is the serene realization of Nirvana.
David Dhaen (Belgium)
The photographer captured a series of random images in one of the most beautiful areas of Kenya.
Prescott Lassman (USA)
Ireland is a complex and ancient land. These photographs are from his recent trips, during which he attempted to capture some of the mysterious beauty of the Emerald Isle.
Chris Ha (Canada)
This collection of aerial photographs celebrates the beauty of tradition in Vietnam, showcasing the daily lives of workers who carry forward time-honored crafts and practices. United by the iconic conical hats that symbolize Vietnamese culture, each image captures a unique story of dedication and artistry.
From the rhythmic rows of tea harvesters to the vibrant fields of incense sticks, the sprawling fishing nets, the textured salt flats, and the earthy vessels used for fermenting soy sauce, this body of work offers a glimpse into the labor and legacy of Vietnam’s people. Shot from above, the perspective emphasizes not only the intricate patterns and stunning geometry of these scenes but also the human connection that binds them.
This series serves as a tribute to the resilience and creativity of the workers whose traditions shape the identity of Vietnam, reminding us of the harmony between culture, craft, and community.
Nora Skerlecz (Hungary)
A Lisu couple sits in their humble living room in Yunnan, China, surrounded by the warmth of their home and the echoes of their heritage. Their expressions and traditional attire reflect the resilience and rich cultural identity of the Lisu minority, offering a glimpse into a way of life deeply rooted in family and tradition.
France Leclerc (Canada)
A “charreada” is a traditional Mexican rodeo-like event that is deeply rooted in Mexican culture. The competitors, called “charros,” demonstrate impressive and daring maneuvers, showcasing their incredible skill with ropes. As part of the event, women and young girls, known as the “charras,” parade on horseback, dressed in colorful Adelita outfits. These dresses are named after a legendary female fighter from the Mexican Revolution. This image highlights the stylishness of both the “charros” and “charras” while also capturing the significance of the horse in this cultural event. Olé!
Matt Coughlin (USA)
Marambo, a silverback gorilla, and his Muhoza gorilla family in the mountains of Rwanda. These aware, intelligent creatures met us on the mountain ridge. The photos use full spectrum light (visible, IR, UV) to render the lush green forest in intense pinks and reds.
Debbie McCulliss (USA)
A large group of Adelie penguins gather on a snowy hill in Antarctica to prepare to hunt deep in the ocean for krill and small fish. The stunning monochromatic landscape of ice-covered glaciers in the distance contrasts the dark penguins and the white snow and ice.
Adelie penguins are the most southerly distributed of all Antarctic penguins and are true Antarctic inhabitants. Hunting in groups helps protect them from predators like leopard seals.
Stuart Chape (Australia)
A series of images of the glacial Tasman and Godley River systems in the mountains of the South Island of New Zealand taken from a light aircraft.
For more information, visit All About Photo’s website.
