It was with great surprise recently, I was notified I am a finalist in the 2019 Travel Photographer of the Year Awards! I feel so grateful considering there were 20,000 entries from 140 Countries.
Judging Travel Photographer of the Year 2019
Judging took place in Mid -December with the results being announced January 2020.
The 2019 Judges were:
Timothy Allen (BBC Human Planet photographer & former TPOTY winner)
Daria Bonera (National Geographic Italy)
Keith Berr (Advertising & charity project photographer)
Cheryl Brophy Chan (Former Picture Editor – Corbis)
Catherine Capon (Conservationist & Environmental Film-maker)
Chris Coe (Photographer & TPOTY Founder)
Richard Dunwoody (Photographer & Champion Jockey)
Colin Finlay (Stock photography expert & collector)
Jeremy Hoare (Photographer & TV cameraman)
Debbie Ireland (RPS Curator, author & former Director of Photography at AA Publishing)
Lawrence Jackson (Former official photographer in President Obama’s White House)
Brigitte Lardinois (Head of Art & Photography, LCC & former Magnum curator)
Caroline Metcalfe (Former Director of Photography at Conde Naste)
Simon Newton (Head of Creative Content, Xposure Festival of Photography)
Michael Pritchard (Director of Education and Public Affairs at Royal Photographic Society)
Mary Robert (Director of Photography, American University, London)
Essdras M Suarez (Two-time Pullizer Prize-winning photographer)
Jerry Tavin (Stock photography expert)
Manfred Zollner (Editor-in-Chief of Fotomagazin, Germany)
To be judged by such an amazing group of creative people is an amazing honour.
About the Image
The Image chosen was "Obwarzanek Krakowskie Seller" taken in the Spring of 2019 in Krakow Poland. Dotted about all over the City of Krakow are these Obwarzanki Krakowskie sellers. They are a type of bagel which is a braided ring-shaped bread that is boiled and sprinkled with salt, poppy seeds etc, before being baked. They are famous in Krakow and I was surprised to see so many elderly people selling them. Walking around the City I shot a few carts but nothing really stood out to me. All of a sudden it started to snow which totally transformed the scene. People scattered for shelter and left this poor man stuck with no customers. He looked freezing, but unfortunately for him, it made the shot for me! I certainly didn't take it especially to enter it in to the Travel Photographer of the Year 2019! I don't think any photographer shots with awards in mind.
I am now 1 of 100 to have been chosen for the People's Choice Award.
Fingers crossed!
UPDATE:
The award ceremony took place in London on 21st January and there were some very worthy winners. I walked away with a Highly Commended which I am very happy about, so thank you Judges!
The Winners of the Travel Photographer of the Year were exhibited at Coal Drops Yard, Kings Cross, London, UK in November 2020, delayed because of Covid-19.