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Visitor Information: The RPS Gallery and coffee shop will be closed on Saturday 7 December

Travel Image Of The Month - July 2020 :  Covid Days in Hong Kong - Kai Kong Wong

The July Travel Image of the Month (TIoM) competition certainly posed some questions for our judge this month, as a near record number of our travel photographer colleagues   sent in their submissions for the competition. 

I may be a bit biased, but the standard of the images seems to be improving every month, and it's certainly very clear that the way in which the whole concept of a 'sense of place' is being interpreted has led to some very interesting shots.

This month especially, as I've been privileged to open your submissions, there have been several that have simply stopped me in my tracks. There are some truly great shots, and I hope the photographers that I've been in contact with, to both confirm the arrival of their shot as well as to notify them of the posting of their shot haven't minded me adding in the odd congratulatory comment. All deserve it!

In response to suggestions from the Travel Group members, we've taken on board the idea of providing more feedback, not just on the winning shot, but also on those shots that were assessed as being in the short list for the month. For each person on that list I'll send them a 'heads up' to make them aware of the comments our judges have made, and hopefully the extended commentary will be of benefit of all our colleagues who have posted shots this month, as well as the wider community in the future. 

But I'm glad that it isn't me that is making the assessment of the winning image for this month. That responsibility falls this month to my colleague Richard Lewis ARPS, who made the comment to me, that reaching a judgment is becoming increasingly more challenging. 

So who were the images that stood out for our judge this month? Richard's commentary is below. 

Winner: Covid Days in Hong Kong - Kai Kong Wong

"Apart from being very current, this image stood out for several reasons. It is very strong yet simple. It captures not only a sense of place, but also time and atmosphere – the spirit of the place. The strong geometry of the building shapes and contrasting shadows. The posture and position of the single person was just right to capture the spirit of the moment - that there was only one person in an image of Hong Kong underscores its title."

Highly Commended: Huc Bridge, Hanoi - Sam Segar

"In contrast, Huc Bridge is a very calming image of an apparently rural environment, with people going about their every day lives to and from the temple. It exudes atmosphere and the subdued light and soft colours emphasise that sense of place. The panoramic format suits the image very well and all in all it is a nicely balanced composition."

Highly Commended: Cappadocia City - Sanjoy Sengupta

"This is a very striking yet peaceful image. The near-silhouetted balloons bring balance and interest to a sky that would otherwise be empty. The light is strong enough to make out the details of the city below, especially the centrally positioned minaret) in a more subtle way than would be the case if it were less subdued. Again, it's a striking image, well suited to its portrait format."

Notable mentions
 
"I was also very impressed by “Uninterrupted View” (Lynda Golightly) which captured the sense of place and (I thought) Covid era city atmosphere very well."

"Also “Gathering Hay - Myanmar” (Andy Pinch) which presented such a delightful rural idyll – where agricultural tasks are still done without automation – with excellent composition, colour, timing, and local interest."

Well done and thank you to all who submitted images for this month, as well as particular congratulations to those of you who made it on to Richard's short list. Your continued interest and engagement has made this competition increasingly successful. 

Kai's winning shot will be added to the Travel Image of the Month page on the website, with the overall monthly winners competing to be the Group’s best travel photograph of the year.

Click here to see winning images from previous years or here to see 2019 winners, or here to 2020 winners to date.

Best Wishes, 

Steve Day - Travel Group Competitions co-ordinator. 

IMG 2441
CREDIT: July Winner : Kai Kong Wong
Covid Days in Hong Kong
GRITVIKEN, SOUTH GEORGIA By Barbara Fleming
CREDIT: Barbara Fleming
Gritviken, South Georgia
Altiplanicas Landscape
CREDIT: Dennis Anguige
Altiplanicas Landscape
Gathering Hay
CREDIT: Andy Pinch
Gathering Hay - Myanmar
Heavy Work In The Atlas Mountains 580Px
CREDIT: Graham Vulliamy
Heavy work in the Atlas Mountains
Hoi An Market Ian Wright
CREDIT: Ian Wright
Hoi An Market
School Assembly
CREDIT: Alistair Cowan
School Assembly, Hanoi
Sandra Mason Narbonne Plage
CREDIT: Sandra Mason
Narbonne Plage
Eye Catching
CREDIT: Justin Cliffe
Eye-catching - as seen on the streets of Granada, Spain
Uninterupted View
CREDIT: Lynda Golightly
Uninterrupted view
Gathering At A Temple, Shahpura, Rajasthan DAVID POLLARD ARPS
CREDIT: David Pollard
Gathering at a temple, Shahpura, Rajasthan
Unloading The Onions To The Waiting Donkey Carts
CREDIT: Sue Lambert
Unloading the onions to the waiting donkey carts
2020 07 Sur La Plage 580
CREDIT: Peter Spring
Le Touquet
Snow
CREDIT: Tony Au Yeong
Steam and Snow
Close Encounter
CREDIT: Ian Silvester
Close Encounter
Noddles Seller
CREDIT: Liz Bugg
Noodles Seller
Capadocia City
CREDIT: Sanjoy Sengupta
Cappadocia City
Desert Ghosts
CREDIT: Mairi Macaulay
Desert Ghosts
Cargo Boats On Lagos Lagoon
CREDIT: Fela Sanu
Cargo Boats on Lagos Lagoon
Tibetan Monks In Waiting
CREDIT: Frank Herrity
Tibetan monks in waiting
Syrian Exile And A Waiter A.
CREDIT: Andrew Brochwich-Lewinski
Syrian Exile and a Waiter
Going To School, Namche Bazaar, Nepal (1 Of 1)
CREDIT: Allan Hartley
Going to School, Namche Bazaar, Nepal
Black And White And Colour Muizenberg Beach
CREDIT: Paul Cayton
Black and white and colour - Muizenberg Beach
Antarctic Plunge Selfie
CREDIT: Neil Harris
Antarctic plunge selfie
Varanasi Festival Woman Violet
CREDIT: George Pearson
Varanasi Devotions
4F6A8704 Edit
CREDIT: Sam Segar
Huc Bridge, Hanoi
Chamonix Ridge Walker
CREDIT: Trevor Thurlow
Chamonix Ridge Walker
Clouds And Mist, Algies Bay, New Zealand
CREDIT: Jean Evans
Clouds and Mist, Algies Bay, NZ
Kolkata Market By Brian Houghtonarps
CREDIT: Brian Houghton
Kolkata Market
Playground Fun
CREDIT: Peter Yendell
Playground Fun
Tai O Fishmarket, Hong Kong
CREDIT: Phillip Walton
Tai O Fishmarket, Hong Kong
Cuban Worker. Havana. 2017
CREDIT: Valerie Mather
Cuban Worker, Havana, 2017
The Cobbler
CREDIT: Chris Page
The Cobbler
Donegal
CREDIT: Joe Whelehan
Donegal
John Riley – Shopping Trip – Tai O Hong Kong
CREDIT: John Riley
Shopping Trip, Tai O, Hong Kong
Linda Riley – The Happy Chef Manila
CREDIT: Linda Riley
The Happy Chef, Manila