Photo: Louis Montrose/www.tpoty.com

The winning images in this years Travel Photographer of the Year award gives a fascinating insight into culture, nature and life around the world. The overall winner of  2011 international Travel Photographer of the Year awards (TPOTY) was named as Louis Montrose from theUSA, a former professor from theUniversity of California and an Elizabethan scholar.

Mr Montrose submitted two very different yet striking portfolios; one showing the Dia de los Muertos, Day of the Dead, festival that took place in Oaxaca, Mexico, and the other depicting life in one of the painted villages of Burkino Faso.

Photographers from almost 90 countries submitted literally thousands of images into this years competition. The entrants that were shortlisted came from 33 countries, and the photographers who scooped the awards in individual categories were from 20 different countries.

The winning image are on the awards website and can now be viewed online in the Winners’ Gallery . They are also set to make  their public debuts in a major exhibition to be held at  London’s Royal Geographical Society (with IBG). This will take place June 21st -August 19th 2012.
From a Beluga whale beneath sheets of ice, the mysterious beauty of sand dunes in America’s Death Valley, and abseiling down a thundering 225-metre waterfall, to vibrant Senegal streetlife, the snowy existence of the reindeer herders of Russia, some colourful and unusual views of London and a young Kenyan schoolgirl’s first view of a story book – via a Kindle – this year’s Travel Photographer of the Year winning images give a fascinating view of life, culture and nature around the globe.

The winners will receive prizes from Adobe Systems, Inc., Cutty Sark blended Scotch Whisky, the Elephant Family charity, Explore, Genesis Digital, Lexar Media, the Royal Geographical Society (with IBG), Oman Air and the Oman Ministry of Tourism, Photo Iconic, Plastic Sandwich, Tribes Travel, Tselana Travel, and Young Photographers Alliance.

The Young Travel Photographer of the Year award went to 17 year-old German photographer Arne Hansen for his portfolio depicting the physical impact of travel on nature. 17 year-old British photographer, Joel Biddle, took the honours in Young TPOTY 15-18, and also won the TPOTY/Young Photographers Alliance Emerging Talent Award, for his intriguing abstract images on the category theme of ‘green’. 14 year old Seamus Crowley (USA) won Young TPOTY 14 and Under, with shots of the Irish landscape, with 10 year old Swiss photographer Lisa Gehrig finishing as runner-up, and 17 year old Tom Spence (UK) runner-up in the 15-18 category.

The New Talent award was won by Italy’s Edgard de Bono and Britain’s Stuart Dunn finished first in the One Shot, Wild Moments category. In the portfolio categories, Sergey Anisimov (Russia) won Cultures & Traditions, Malgorzata Pioro (Poland) Exotic, Anil Sud (Canada) Natural Elements and Franco Banfi (Switzerland) Spirit of Adventure. The beginners’ category – First Shot – was won by Guy Lankaster (UK) and Sheng Hong Tan (Malaysia).

The 2011 Travel Photographer of the Year awards were judged by an international panel of experts, including travel and wildlife photographer Steve Bloom, Caroline Metcalfe, Director of Photography for Conde Nast, stock photography expert Jerry Tavin, Colin Finlay of Wildlife Photographer of the Year, Matt Phillips, Editor of Travel Africa, Mary Robert, Head of Photography for American International University, Melissa de Witt, Editor of Hotshoe, Manfred Zollner, Managing Editor of Fotomagazin (Germany), Debbie Ireland, former head of the AA Photo Library, photographer and TV cameraman Jeremy Hoare, landscape and panoramic photographer Nick Meers, designer and digital imaging expert Terry Steeley, freelance editor and writer Emma Thomson, and TPOTY founder, travel photographer Chris Coe.

INDIVIDUAL AWARDS AND PRIZES

The Travel Photographer of the Year 2011 Louis Montrose (USA) will be given a unique personal showcase within the exhibition at the Royal Geographical Society (with IBG) in the summer of 2012. In addition he’ll receive a £1,000 cash bursary, plus Adobe Creative Suite Design Premium 5.5 and Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 3 software, a Plastic Sandwich personalised leather iPad portfolio case, complete with iPad2, and a Lexar Professional 600x 32GB CompactFlash memory card + Lexar Professional Dual-Slot USB 3.0 card Reader.

New Talent, Diary of a Destination winner, Edgard de Bono (Italy), will travel to Marrakech with award-winning tailor-made sustainable travel specialists Tribes Travel. He will also receive Adobe, Photoshop Lightroom 3 software, plus a Lexar Professional 600x 16GB CompactFlash memory card + Lexar Professional Dual-Slot USB 3.0 card Reader, a personalised Plastic Sandwich leather portfolio case or iPad cover and two TPOTY/Photo Iconic image critiques – one before his prize trip and one afterwards. New Talent runner-up, Jonathan Munshi (USA) receives a Lexar Professional 400x 8GB CompactFlash memory card and an image critique. The Highly Commended entrant, Ling Cheong (Malaysia) and the two Commended entrants, Jon McCormack (Australia) and Minna Graber (UK) each win a Lexar Professional 400x 8GB CompactFlash memory card.

Sergey Anisimov, the Russian winner of the Cultures & Traditions portfolio category, will travel to Cambodia on a 13-day tailor-made trip with Explore, the adventure travel experts. He will also receive Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 3 software plus a Lexar Professional 600x 16GB CompactFlash memory card + Lexar Professional Dual-Slot USB 3.0 card Reader. Marcin Mikolajczuk of Poland was runner-up in this category, Yurian Quintanas Nobel (Spain) Highly Commended and Tessa Bunney (UK) Commended.

For winning Spirit of Adventure, Switzerland’s Frano Banfi has been awarded a £4,000, expenses-paid commission in London, Edinburgh and Glasgow from Cutty Sark Blended Scotch Whisky. He also receives Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 3 software plus a Lexar Professional 600x 16GB CompactFlash memory card + Lexar Professional Dual-Slot USB 3.0 card Reader. Martin Hartley (UK) was runner-up in this category, with Chris McLennan (New Zealand) Highly Commended and Edoardo Agresti (Italy) Commended.

Malgorzata Pioro (Poland), winner of the Exotic portfolio category, will journey to Botswana with Tselana Travel, the luxury tailor-made travel specialists. She will also receive Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 3 software plus a Lexar Professional 600x 16GB CompactFlash memory card + Lexar Professional Dual-Slot USB 3.0 card Reader. Timothy Allen (UK) was runner-up, Thomas Endlein (Germany) Highly Commended and Simon Morris (UK) Commended.

The winner of the Natural Elements portfolio category, Anil Sud (Canada), will be hosted by the Oman Ministry of Tourism for seven nights in Oman, with Oman Air Business Class flights to and from the country. His prize also includes Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 3 software plus a Lexar Professional 600x 16GB CompactFlash memory card + Lexar Professional Dual-Slot USB 3.0 card Reader. Peter Karry (UK) was runner-up, Matjaz Krivic (Slovenia) Highly Commended and Johnny Haglund (Norway) and Philip Lee Harvey (UK) both Commended.

All portfolio category runners-up, plus the runner-up in One Shot, Wild Moments, receive a Lexar Professional 400x 8GB CompactFlash memory card, and a set of the three Travel Photographer of the Year Journey books. Highly Commended and Commended entrants in those categories win a Lexar Professional 400x 8GB CompactFlash memory card.

Philip Lee Harvey (UK) took the Best Single Image in a Portfolio honours in Cultures & Traditions, Yeow Kwang Yeo (Singapore) in Exotic, Richard Murai (USA) in Natural Elements, and Franco Banfi (Switzerland) in Spirit of Adventure. Each receives a Giclée exhibition print from Genesis Digital and a print of an historic image from the Royal Geographical Society (with IBG) archive. Special mention was given in Cultures & Traditions to Timothy Allen (UK) and Malin Palm (Sweden), in Exotic to GMB Akash (Bangladesh) and David Lazar (Australia), in Natural Elements to Larry Louie (Canada), Ben Pipe (UK) and Doran Talmi (Israel) and in Spirit of Adventure to Johnny Haglund of Norway.

The winner of the One Shot, Wild Moments category, Stuart Dunn (UK) has been awarded an exclusive, paid charity commission to photograph wild Asian elephants in Southern India for the Elephant Family charity, courtesy of Cutty Sark Blended Scotch Whisky and Travel Photographer of the Year. He also wins a Lexar Professional 600x 16GB CompactFlash memory card + Lexar Professional Dual-Slot USB 3.0 card Reader and Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 3 software. Thomas Kokta of Germany was Highly Commended for one image and Commended for another, while Sue Flood (UK) was also Highly Commended and Evan McBride (New Zealand) Commended and Franco Banfi (Switzerland) Commended.

The Young Travel Photographer of the Year 2011, Arne Hansen (Germany), will receive £500, plus Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 3, Lexar Professional 600x 16GB CompactFlash memory card + Lexar Professional Dual-Slot USB 3.0 card Reader, a personalised Plastic Sandwich leather portfolio case or iPad cover and an image critique session. Joel Biddle and Seamus Crowley, winners of Young TPOTY 15-18 and Young TPOTY 14 and under respectively, each receive a Lexar Professional 400x 8GB CompactFlash memory card plus an online critique, while the 15-18 runner-up, 17 year-old Tom Spence (UK), and the 14 and under runner-up, 9 year-old Lisa Gehrig (Switzerland) each receive a Lexar Professional 400x 8GB CompactFlash memory card.

Joel Biddle, as the winner of the Young Photographers’ Alliance Emerging Talent Award, for the most interesting entry submitted by a photographer aged 25 or under in the New Talent or Young TPOTY categories, will be given a place on the YPA mentoring programme.

First Shot – Work, Rest, Play
The beginners’ category winners Guy Lankaster (UK) and Sheng Hong Tan (Malaysia) will receive Adobe Photoshop Lightroom3 software and a Photo Iconic photography course, or online image critique. The two Runners-Up – Damian Levingston (UK) and Renny Whitehead (UK) and four Commended entrants – Sumit Dua (USA), Emil Mikkelsen (Denmark), Kelvin Lee (Singapore) and Maria Filippidou (Greece) each receive critiques.

Full details of the awards can be found on www.tpoty.com.

Related posts:

1. Travel, Shoot, Win – Travel Photographer of the Year awards with amazing prizes
2. Travel photographer of the year with IBG
3. Cheap Travel Money This Summer

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The ultimate off-road cycling endurance challenge, the Hills Killer Challenge has a choice of three, seven or fourteen hills, combining orienteering, cycling skills and strength, in a race against the clock. Last year over 300 competitors took part, from beginners to Hills Killer veterans and this year is expected to attract even more.  It takes place on Sunday 19 September with a choice of 13, 26 or 52 mile off-road routes.
The organisers are giving away a goodie bag.  It contains a Berghaus Twentyfourseven 20 Daysac. – lightweight and comfortable this handy and compact 20L backpack has a new, sleek design and is packed full of Berghaus features including an internal MP3 player pouch, internal organiser and a padded back flow system for extra comfort.  In addition the prize package also contains a Target Dry Mac in a Sac and the very versatile garment the ‘Original Buff’. Both certain to make sure you’re suitably dressed for whatever the weather.

For your chance to win simply answer the following question: What legendary challenge will be taking place at this year’s Isle of Wight Cycling Festival?

a.)    Killer Heels

b.)    Hills Killer

c.)    Hills Kill

Answers should be emailed to plans2travel@xec.co.uk.  Also in order to validate the entry please also sign up to the plans2travel newsletter.  Closing Date is 30 September 2010.

For more information about the Cycling Festival visit www.sunseaandcycling.co.uk

Details about the ‘Original Buff’ can be found at www.buffwear.co.uk

Information about the Mac in a Sac can be found at www.targetdry.co.uk

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On DVD for the first time are these in-depth voyages into the developmental years of quite possibly the greatest passenger aircraft of all time – Concorde. A celebration of the Anglo-French Concorde project showing the illuminating journey of discovery from the initial extensive aerodynamic experiments to the first flights and rigorous testing of the prototypes, through to the inaugural scheduled supersonic passenger flights. These official films are presented uncut, many are previously unseen and all provide an unrivalled insight into the aeronautical marvel of its time.

Concorde was an icon of luxury travel during for nearly thirty years of service so this is a great prize for anybody interested in history of travel.

To enter answer the following question:

In what year did Concorde end commercial operation?

E-mail you answer to plans2travel@xec.co.uk

To complete your entry, you must also sign up to our travel newsletter featuring lots of travel news and regular offers.  Sign up using box at side of this page or click here.
Competition ends Midnight 7 December 2009.

Prizes donated courtesy of Strikeforce Entertainment.

If you want to read more about the content of the DVDs then the full details are available at http://www.concorde.org.uk/concorde-products/concorde-the-early-years-dvds-volumes-1-and-2/

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Sound too good to be true?

If you’re bored of the daily grind, now is the perfect opportunity to grab the opportunity of a lifetime. The two week sandman apprenticeship will entail scouring the Caribbean in search of perfect beach locations to build the next Sandals Resort.

Sandals, the leading group of luxury beach resorts is offering one lucky member of the public the chance to become the first ever Apprentice Sandman. Unique to Sandals, the Sandman is an expert in all things sand – testament that they have the best located beach resorts around the world! The job will entail scouring the Caribbean in search of perfect beach locations to build the next Sandals Resort. Key skills learnt on the job include location sourcing, sand quality checks, tidal and water property testing, air quality checks, not forgetting view and land stretch analysis enabling them to become an expert like their mentor.

In true Apprentice style, ten finalists will be selected. It will take a convincing display of passion and dedication for sand and tropical beaches in order to walk off with the winning prize. The chosen apprentice will fly to Emerald Bay in the Bahamas to get hands on experience and learn the complex details that make the perfect beach.

Jeremy Jones, Sandals current Sandman, says: “I’ve been the Sandman for the last five years and have scoured the Caribbean in search of perfect beaches to build the next Sandals resort. My most recent find is Emerald Bay, Great Exuma in the Bahamas which is opening towards the end of January 2010. It took me a year to find but it was certainly worth it. The Sandman apprentice winner will have the opportunity to travel the Caribbean, visit beautiful beaches and help me find the hidden gems still waiting to be discovered. It’s a never ending search but someone has to do it!”

2 week Apprenticeship Description::

• Someone who is willing to travel to beautiful and exotic places
• Enjoys adventure, the outdoors and has a love of beaches
• A good traveller – i.e. can ride in helicopters, jeeps, all modes of transport etc to carry out recess under all various circumstances/nature elements
• An outdoors personality – i.e. good swimmer, walker etc
• Interested in oceanography and physical geography
• Likes walking along beaches, swimming, air travel, jeep rides, sunshine, beaches

• Someone who can work to high levels of standards and can follow strict beach guideline policies

UK beach fans can enter the competition on www.Sandals.co.uk explaining why they deserve to become the first Sandals Sandman Apprentice

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Since the launch of the competition in September, the ‘Build Your Dream Break’ Facebook page has attained over 100 fans and Superbreak has received 260 entries for the competition itself.

To win a dream break, entrants must describe their ideal break in 20 words or less and have until 31 October 2009 to get their submissions in, with the winner’s draw taking place on the following day. The sole winner of the competition will be awarded a £1000 prize fund from which to build their dream UK break.

The prize can be customised to the winner’s content, so long as all components are purchased through Superbreak’s site. The winner can choose from a range of accommodation options across the United Kingdom – including London hotels – as well as other package selections such as theatre, concert and dinner outings. Superbreak offers a variety of short breaks tailored to what people want from holidays – whether that’s culture, adventure or relaxation.

Terms and conditions apply for the competition. Entries are limited to one per person and all entrants must be UK residents aged 18 or older. A full list is available online.

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It’s a four night cruise that is all inclusive and ports include Southampton, Zeebrugge for Bruges, Rotterdam for Amsterdam and Cherboug. It departs on 28th May 2010. All you have to do is go to the competition page and fill in the form telling them what you would like to see and do on your dream luxury cruise (minimum 100 words). They will then judge the best entry and announce the winner on 30th September 2009.

To enter please visit http://www.whitestarcruises.com/win-a-luxury-cruise-with-white-star-cruises.phtml

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On 13th May at 8.30pm lastminute.com is launching their latest When It’s Gone It’s Gone (WIGIG) promotion: two hotels nights for the price of one in one of their Top Secret Hotels! Top Secret Hotels bring you up to an additional 50% off our already discounted rates but in order for us to bring you these exclusive deals, we are not allowed to tell you the name of the hotel, until you’ve completed your booking! So instead of paying full price for a weekend away as little as £51 could get you an indulgent break at some of the UK’s top hotels so harness that sense of adventure and join in because when the rooms are gone they’re gone…

To make sure you don’t miss out on any of lastminute.coms deals, we’re giving away an iPhone with internet access so you’ll always be the first to hear about WIGIG promotions!

For more information on fantasticlastminute.com deals, log onto www.lastminute.com

To stand a chance of winning this amazing prize all you have to do is answer this question and sign up to our newsletter:

“What is the predominate colour on the lastminute.com website, other than black or white?”

Email your answer to lastminute@xec.co.uk and don’t forget to confirm your entry by signing up to the newsletter here.

Competition ends midnight, 27th May 2009.

Good Luck!

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It’s a politically coloured world map also with hill shading, and shows all countries in different colours with major towns and population detail added.  More details of the actual product are available on the Maps International website here.

We have three laminated versions to give away – measuring 195 cm by 120cm – retailing at £29.99.

To enter all you need to do is to sign up to our newsletter and then email the answer to this question:

Above what order value is UK Delivery free of charge – check here for the answer.

Ends Midnight, 31st October.

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Lanzarote has long been a popular holiday hot spot – attracting over one million visitors from Britain and Ireland annually. Thanks to the islands clement year round climate, great beaches and unique tourist attractions.

Lanzarote Guidebook helps visitors to the island to get the most out of their holidays. As it is written by island residents and published quarterly – so it always contains the latest information and is kept accurate and up to date. Featuring good quality photography, maps and a wealth of in-depth detail.

The 108 page Autumn edition is out now and can be downloaded in printable PDF format, fast and for free at www.lanzaroteguidebook.com . And offers readers the chance to win a holiday for two at the Sands Beach Villas resort in Costa Teguise.

Lanzarote Guidebook covers everything visitors need to know about the island, including upcoming events, an introduction to the works of the island born artist and architect Cesar Manrique, resort guides, cultural attractions, sightseeing information, museums, excursions, beaches, markets, restaurants, nightlife and much more besides.

As well as a handy Essentials section which features lots of practical information from bank opening times and ferry timetables through to emergency phone numbers and tips on driving locally. Online, visitors can also catch up on the very latest island news, check the latest weather reports, use interactive island maps and even seek free advice via the websites Tourist Advice Line.

In addition to booking their own holidays, hire cars, flights and villas – often at prices far more competitive than in any High Street travel agency. Lanzarote Guidebook is also distributed direct to 10,000 tourists on the island, free of charge, via local car hire companies and through the official tourist information offices based in each of the main island resorts.

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My Mercedes is Not For Sale, by Jeroen Van Bergeijk is published on 8 August, and Plans2Travel are delighted to say that we have got our hands on a copy to giveaway to one our readers.

Capturing a young journalist’s intrepid endeavour, My Mercedes Is Not for Sale is more than an adventure—it is a rowdy, witty and insightful tale of an innocent abroad, which captures the high-spirited journey of a young journalist and paints a vivid portrait of West Africa through a surprise-filled journey into its thriving car cult.

“Look, there’s my car,” I say, pointing at my Mercedes in the parking lot.
“Where?” a fellow desert traveler asks.
“There, that Mercedes,” I say.
He looks at me, questioning. “You want to drive that through the Sahara?”

It seemed like a great idea to Van Bergeijk to travel and make a quick profit: buy a decrepit car in his native Amsterdam and resell it in the Third World, where a market even for old bangers still thrives. Jeroen’s chariot of choice is a rusted-out 1988 Mercedes 190D with 220,000 kilometres on the clock; his route will take him from Holland through Morocco, across the Sahara, and into some of the least trodden parts of Africa.

Armed with a bar of soap, some duct tape and a pair of women’s tights, he has all the essentials needed to survive thousands of miles from civilization.

My Mercedes Is Not for Sale is a rollicking tale of an innocent abroad. The author finds himself facing a driving challenge akin to the Dakar Rally but encounters obstacles never dreamed of by race-car drivers: active minefields, occasional banditry – mostly by the border guards – and a teenage, chain-smoking desert guide with a fondness for Tupac lyrics. Food and water are scarce, sandstorms are frequent, and then there’s the coup just as he’s so nearly there…

Here is a video trailer to whet your appetite:

You can visit the website of the book at www.mijnmercedes.nl.

To enter the competition all you need is to sign up for our travel newsletter.

If you can’t wait to see if you win, you can purchase the book by clicking on the link below:

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