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The Travel Photography Award 2025, organized by The Independent Photographer – an international platform for art and travel photography – is their prestigious annual award in the travel photography category. This year's judging panel includes Michael Yamashita, a renowned National Geographic photographer. The highlight of the season is the diversity in storytelling: creative perspectives, sophisticated techniques, and sensitivity to the spirit of travel – where experience and beauty go hand in hand.
From camels crossing frozen lakes in Mongolia, the vibrant saris on the banks of the Indian River, to the laughter of children in Havana or buffaloes crossing stone bridges in Guangxi… these works not only depict the colorful beauty of the world, but also remind us that travel is a journey to encounter simple yet magnificent moments.
Join Travellive in admiring these stunning moments captured through the lenses of world-renowned photographers:
"The journey of the ice nomads" - A caravan of Kazakh camels crosses a frozen blue lake in Mongolia during their winter migration, showcasing the strength of survival and connection with the harsh natural environment. Photo: Alessandro Bergamini.
"Water carriers in Agra" - Three women in vibrant saris carry clay water jugs from the river at dawn, with the magnificent Taj Mahal reflected in the distance. Photo: Erhan Coral.
"Nizwa Market" - A slow-shutter exposure photograph of Oman's bustling Nizwa local market, with its distinct sections for livestock, handicrafts, seafood, fruit, textiles, and dates, depicting the vibrant life of the Arabian countryside. Photo: Andy Yee.
"Colors of Heritage" - In a verdant alleyway in Jodhpur, a woman in a red sari sits contemplatively with two men with elaborate mustaches in traditional attire, creating a vibrant tapestry of Rajasthani culture. Photo: Daniel Garzon.
For the Buddhist community, the Boudhanath stupa in the Kathmandu Valley is considered one of the world's most sacred sites. Located in the heart of the Tibetan Quarter, it continuously radiates energy from the footsteps of pilgrims circling the iconic white stupa clockwise. Under the compassionate gaze of the gilded Buddha's eyes, each person performs the "kora" daily – at least three rounds – as a way of cleansing their minds and accumulating good karma for this life and the next. Boudhanath is both a majestic spiritual place and blends seamlessly into the vibrant daily life of the surrounding neighborhood. Photo: Florence Lepavec.
"Connecting Faith," Prayagraj, India - The grandeur of the Maha Kumbh Mela 2025 festival in Prayagraj is unparalleled. This year, 30 pontoon bridges have been erected, up from 22 in the 2019 festival, a testament to the meticulous preparation and extraordinary efforts to welcome millions of devotees. These floating bridges span the sacred confluence of the Ganges, Yamuna, and Saraswati rivers, facilitating the movement of pilgrims. Each bridge is a lifeline, where faith blends with engineering, opening a safe path for the spiritual journey across the sacred Sangam River. Photo: Shreenivas Yenni.
“The Hand Game” – On the banks of the Ganges River in Varanasi, a moment captured in an intimate gesture, grooming each other’s faces. The graceful posture and the strange dance of their intertwined hands and arms make it difficult to distinguish who they are. Photo: Garcia.
"Kambala Bull Racing" - A man stands on a wooden plank, being pulled swiftly across a muddy puddle by two oxen, depicting the atmosphere of the traditional bull racing festival in Karnataka, India. Photo: Jens Benninghofen.
"The coral reef guardian" - A Bajau Laut man sits in a small boat anchored on a coral reef off the coast of Semporna, Sabah, Malaysia. Photo: Gilles Auroux.
"The Road" - A wooden cart pulled by oxen carrying two boys along a dusty road, flanked by giant baobab trees – a symbol of Madagascar. Photo: Antonio Alexandru.
"Untitled" - Children frolic in the streets of Havana, where walls stained by time, car fumes, and scorching sun still prevail. Despite the poverty, their innocent laughter rings out like the rhythm of life, illuminating hope amidst a Cuban city full of contrasts. Photo: Martina Atanassova.
"A Fragile Moment" - The last patches of summer snow melt amidst the vibrant landscape of Landmannalaugar, Iceland, a surreal and dynamic scene of nature. Photo: Jack Johnson.
Mount Fanjingshan, Guizhou, China – a natural heritage site and Buddhist sanctuary – stands majestically and sacredly amidst the endless clouds. Considered one of the most beautiful mountains in China, it appears as if it stepped out of a fantasy film but exists in real life. It is renowned for its diverse ecosystem, home to the rare snub-nosed monkey and over 2,000 plant species, many of which are endemic. Photo: Fabio Nodari
"The Frozen World" – the Harbin International Ice and Snow Festival in Heilongjiang Province, China, is an annual winter event and also the world's largest ice and snow festival. Photo: Mikael Wardhana.
"The Man and the Buffalo" - A farmer herds his buffalo across the Huixian stone bridge, amidst the majestic karst limestone valleys of this South Chinese countryside landscape. Photo: Daniele Bellucci.
