MAGDALÉNA STRAKOVÁ, CZECH REPUBLIC
Receiving Highly Commended honours in the Travel category, Straková’s panel spanned Yunnan, China to Westbury, England. A number of images were taken in India, including this photograph taken in at Karni Mata Rat Temple in Deshnoke. If a rat touches your feet here, it is lucky. “I wanted to get my double dose of luck and tried to stand still,” she explains. “Not an easy task, as you might tell by my clenched toes.”
02 STEFANO PENSOTTI, ITALY
Pensotti’s panel earned him the prestigious Overall Winner, Travel Photographer of the Year 2018 trophy. Captured in Hungary, this shot encapsulates the personal stories told by his series; inhabitants of Budapest come to the Széchenyi Baths to relax with a few good friends. Lens Canon EF 24mm f/1.4l USM Exposure 1/100 sec, f/16, ISO800
03 FUYANG ZHOU, CHINA
This perfectly timed shot, taken in Shouguang county, Weifang, Shandong province, China, netted Zhou runner-up honours in the Natural World category. One of a series of four images, it depicts a devoted parent hunting for and feeding its little warblers. Lens Canon EF 600mm f/4l USM Exposure 1/1250 sec, f/7.1, ISO800
04 STEPHEN KING, HONG KONG
This stunning shot of lava flowing into the ocean from the Kilauea Volcano (in Kapalana, Hawaii) was Commended in the Hot/cold single image category. The slow shutter speed captures the ethereal flow of freezing and molten substances. Lens Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6l IS II USM Exposure 1.3 secs, f/20, ISO100
05 ROBIN YONG, MALAYSIA / AUSTRALIA
A stunning capture from Venice, this earned a Special Mention in the Faces, People, Culture category. “Maleficent at the entrance of the fabled Green Door,” says Yong. “Dark, mysterious and extremely beautiful, she beckons me to follow her with my camera.” Lens Canon EF 50mm f/1.2l USM Exposure 1/60 sec, f/5, ISO1000
06 JICHANG LIU, CHINA
This scene of swans and ducks piercing the glassy, reflective waters beneath picturesque hills may not be most people’s perception of China, but Liu’s serene image collected a Highly Commended ribbon in the Tranquility single image category. Lens Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8l USM Exposure 1/400 sec, f/8, ISO200
07 MATJAZ KRIVIC, SLOVENIA
Krivic’ panel won the Travel Portfolio category, taking in incredible images ranging from Masai warriors surrounded by lions to Sikh pilgrims at Amritsar. Here, kids play on the main minaret of the Grand Mosque in Bani, Burkina during Eid al-fitr. Lens Canon EF 24mm f/1.4l II USM Exposure 1/8000 sec, f/2.8, ISO400
08 MARINKA MASSÉUS, NETHERLANDS
Masséus’ stunning panel won the Faces, People, Cultures category. “In Tanzania, when you have albinism, you are thought to be evil. There is even a price on the head of the children that have albinism, since killing a person with albinism is considered to bring good luck.” Lens Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8l IS II USM Exposure 1/250 sec, f/3.2, ISO100
09 EDWARD GRAHAM, USA
“I lied prone on the surface, aligning my camera with the ice block and setting sun in the distance,” said Graham of this Commended image of Lake Baikal, Russia. “The ice block lit up with golden hues, emitting a visual warmth that belied the cold of this wonderful place.” Lens Canon EF 17-40mm f/4l USM Exposure 1/40 sec, f/16, ISO160