Legendary travel photography meets archival print excellence. We’re delighted to be the main sponsors of this year’s National Geographic Traveller (UK) Photography Competition, where eight category winners were exclusively printed on Hahnemühle Hemp Gloss Baryta paper, showcasing outstanding imagery with exceptional depth, detail and sustainability credentials.
Celebrating the very best in modern travel photography, this year’s competition highlights creativity, storytelling and unique perspectives from across the globe. From sweeping landscapes to intimate portraits and dynamic scenes, the categories encourage photographers to explore what travel photography means today.
Competition Categories
Urban
From glass-and-steel skyscrapers to ancient heritage sites, the Urban category celebrates cities in all their forms. A strong sense of place, a clear focal point and the thoughtful use of texture, pattern and the spaces between buildings will impress.
Wildlife
Featuring stunning landscapes or local environments, judges will focus on images that show the relationship between animals and their habitat. Entries should clearly communicate how the environment, behaviour and subject interact within the frame.
Landscape
One of the most established disciplines in travel photography, this category invites creative and unexpected perspectives. Images should demonstrate what a modern landscape photograph can be, whether through scale, light, composition or viewpoint.
Food
The Food category challenges photographers to go beyond the plate. Judges were looking for images that capture both produce and destination, reflecting culture, provenance and travel through food. Successful entries will convey the uniqueness of the location as clearly as the subject itself.
People
This category focuses on people within a travel context. Judges were looking for thought-provoking images, whether depicting individuals or crowds. Sensitivity and depth are key considerations.
Portfolio
Designed for visual storytelling, the Portfolio category invites travel narratives told through a series of up to 10 images using a range of photographic styles to build a cohesive and distinctive picture of a location, culture or journey.
Aerial
New for 2026, the Aerial category recognises the striking perspectives made possible through drone photography. From urban patterns and architecture to remote wilderness and natural formations, viewpoints from above can transform the understanding of a landscape.
Rising Star
Also new for 2026, the Rising Star award identified emerging talent in travel photography. Open to photographers aged 18 to 25, this category welcomes images based around a broad travel theme, offering newcomers an opportunity to gain recognition within the industry.
Huge congratulations to Edward Hasler on winning the overall prize of the competition. His work looked exceptional when printed on Hahnemühle Hemp Gloss Baryta, as did the outstanding images from each category winner and the highly commended photographers.
Where to See the Exhibition
The winning images are being showcased in a large-scale outdoor exhibition at Granary Square, King’s Cross, from 28 May to 12 July. In addition, 150 VIP guests were invited to a special opening-night event at Coal Drops Yard, Kings Cross where a selection of the winners works, were printed on Hahnemühle Hemp Gloss Baryta.
As a special memento of the evening, every attendee left with their own Hahnemühle Hemp Gloss Baryta print, giving them the opportunity to experience first-hand the exceptional quality, detail and finish of this unique sustainable paper.
The exhibition highlights not only the incredible talent of this year’s entrants but also the importance of choosing the right print media to bring photographic work to life. With its unique blend of sustainability, exceptional image quality and rich tonal reproduction, Hahnemühle Hemp Gloss Baryta provided the perfect platform for showcasing these award-winning photographs.
To learn more about Hahnemühle Hemp Gloss Baryta and its unique qualities, visit:
https://www.hahnemuehle.co.uk/hemp-gloss-baryta/10641833
Read more about the winners of the competition here: https://www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/article/national-geographic-traveller-uk-photography-competition-winners
