Piper Mackay, an American living in Kenya, was this week named Travel Photographer of the Year for black-and-white images celebrating both indigenous women and wildlife on the African savannah. She is the second woman in a row to take the top award.

Chris Coe, founder of the British-based competition, said: “So many images seen today are over-saturated, over-processed and even AI-generated. A ‘less is more’ approach is often far more effective.” Mackay’s use of black-and-white, with a camera converted to shoot infra-red, “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.”

Mackay said: “My philosophy has always been, ‘Never let the photo dictate your experience; always let the experience dictate the photo.’ This award completes my life’s passion and work across Africa for more than two decades. There is no higher honour!”

The 2024 Young Travel Photographer of the Year, the first overall winner from China, was 14-year-old Raymond Zhang, with a portfolio of pictures of an old steam train and its crew working at a coal mine.

Amateur and professional photographers from more than 150 countries entered more than 20,000 pictures for the competition. The winning images, which can all be viewed on the TPOTY website, will be displayed first at the Banbury Museum and Gallery, in Oxfordshire (March 29 to July 7).