The winners of the 2018 international Travel Photographer of the Year awards (TPOTY) were revealed last week. Amateur and professional photographers from 142 countries submitted over 20,000 images, shot on everything from high-end professional cameras to mobile phones.

The top prize and title of Travel Photographer of the Year 2018 was awarded to Stefano Pensotti, a semi-professional photographer from Italy. With superb images that showcase life around the globe – including a standout photograph of men playing chess in a Hungarian public bath – Pensotti becomes the first Italian to take the top title.

Young Travel Photographer of the Year 2018 was awarded to 14-year-old American Isabella Smith thanks to her colourful portfolio of photographs taken in Chefchaouen, Morocco, while in the portfolio categories, no overall winner was awarded in Beauty of Light category, but UK photographer Oscar Tarneberg did receive commendation for his aerial image of a busy road junction in China.

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The Natural World category was won by Spaniard Javier Herranz Casellas for his intimate portfolio depicting the Pita (Agave Americana) plant. French photographer Florent Mamelle’s impressive shot of the Fuego volcano in Guatemala erupting under the night’s sky was awarded Best Single Image in the same category.

Winning images from the 2018 international Travel Photographer of the Year awards will be exhibited in Spring 2019 at a free-to-view outdoor exhibition at London Bridge City and at TPOTY exhibitions internationally. Check out some of our favourite images below and all the winners over at the TPOTY Website.

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Late last year, the Nature Photographer of The Year contest announced its winners, crowning French photographer Bastien Riu and his photo ‘Flight’ the Overall winner.