‘Loiyangalani, Northern Kenya’ by Piper Mackay, Travel Photographer of the Year 2024
“My philosophy has always been, ‘Never let the photo dictate your experience – always let the experience dictate the photo.’”
Wise words from Piper Mackay, who has been named overall winner of the latest edition of Travel Photographer of the Year (TPOTY) for her images of women and wildlife of the African savanna.
The photographer, based between California and Kenya, left a career in the fashion industry after she fell in love with and began photographing the wildlife and cultures of Africa in 2004. Two decades later her TPOTY submission, shot in a pared-back, monochromatic style using infrared (IR), revisits the locations she first encountered. It was a standout portfolio, says TPOTY founder Chris Coe.
“So many images seen today are over-saturated, over-processed and even AI-generated,” he says. “A ‘less is more’ approach is often far more effective. It is therefore refreshing to judge images which demonstrate good camera craft and in-camera creativity – shot full-frame, or close to it, and with very little retouching.
“Piper Mackay’s distinctive winning images illustrate this ‘less is more’ ideal well. They are beautifully composed, celebrating both indigenous women and wildlife on the African savanna.
“The use of black and white, with a camera converted to shoot IR, allows us to absorb the details and atmosphere which good monochrome conveys so well. Her images have an immediate impact, but the intricate detail and atmosphere captured is also eye-catching and highly engaging.”
Amateur and professional photographers from more than 150 countries submitted more than 20,000 images to the 2024 edition of TPOTY. Discover Piper Mackay’s winning portfolio along with other top submissions to Travel Photographer of the Year 2024.
‘Omorate, Omo Valley, Ethiopia’ by Piper Mackay, Travel Photographer of the Year 2024
‘Angola’ by Piper Mackay, Travel Photographer of the Year 2024
‘Baragoi, Northern Kenya’ by Piper Mackay, Travel Photographer of the Year 2024
‘Maasai Mara, Kenya’ by Piper Mackay, Travel Photographer of the Year 2024
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