Winners of the 12th annual National Geographic Traveller (UK) Photography Competition were revealed, highlighting the best in travel photography.

Open to both amateur and professional photographers from across the UK and Ireland, they submitted their best travel images taken during the past twelve months.

Winners are awarded in six categories: People, City Life, Landscape, Wildlife, Food, and Portfolio.

The above image was the winner of the City Life category. Photographer Scott Antcliffe described the scene: “I was keen to capture Singapore’s more unassuming areas of natural beauty. After being recommended this spot by the hotel receptionist, I made my way there early in the morning to avoid the potential crowds and relentless humidity.

“Upon arrival, I was struck by the sheer density of the foliage. Vines have completely enveloped the supporting walls, but the view of the Yellow Rain Tree at the top was simply stunning and utterly mesmerizing.”

The Grand Prize winner was Justin Cliffe, who captured this striking image of a woman in Vietnam, embroidering at the door of her property alongside her great-granddaughter.

“The Red Dao minority people of Lao Cai Province are one of Vietnam’s most distinctive ethnic groups, largely due to their headdresses,” the photographer explained. “Here, a woman sits at the door of her property working on some embroidery with her great granddaughter. Their intricate embroidery is a skill passed down from mother to daughter and further generations.”

The winner of the Wildlife category was Victoria Andrews who snapped this moment in Spain and entitled the image ‘A fox chasing an owl’.

“I took this image in August during one of the hottest summers in Toledo, Spain. The area is well known for its raptors and I decided to make the trip after being tempted by the chance of photographing the beautiful Bonelli’s eagle. Arriving at the location at first light, I didn’t have to wait more than an hour or so before the Bonelli’s eagle flew in and perched on an old tree stump,” recalled Ms. Andrews.

“After firing off hundreds of perched shots, it then raised its wings in a defensive stance. That’s when I saw the fox approaching. The fox came closer and closer still, until they were almost nose to nose. I was clicking like crazy, while all the time praying I had got all my camera settings correct.”

The winner of the Landscape category was Pawel Zygmunt whose picture featured a stunning spot in Iceland captured by his drone. The aerial view of the Hveravellir geothermal area looks like an eyeball in a horror movie, with the deep, sapphire-blue pool acting as the ‘pupil’, but the scene evokes nature’s raw power on full display.

Check out this charming runner-up photo in the Wildlife category taken by Jo Noon, who shot snow buntings in Alberta, Canada. Upwards of three hundred bunting were congregating on a patch of snowy hillside.

Another highlight of the contest featured an endangered female lynx drinking from a pond, also in Spain.

The Wildlife category runner up, Hari Kumar Prasannakumar, virtually stopped time in Ciudad Real, Spain, while an endangered female lynx was drinking from a pond and a curious honey bee buzzed near her ear, adding a playful twist to the striking moment.

“The 18 finalists — who made the cut from thousands of entries — have really elevated the level of travel photography with their ingenuity and skill,” said Pat Riddell, a contest judge and the editor of National Geographic Traveller (UK) magazine, which can be followed on Facebook or Instagram to find future announcements for upcoming contests.

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