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Take a look at the amazing winners of the Travel Photographer of the Year Awards

From up-close beasts to painterly snowscapes, these were 2021’s most incredible outdoor snaps

At first glance, the above image looks like a pretty conventional (if exceptionally well-timed) snap of a leopard prowling the savannah at night. But if you take a longer, closer look, you’ll see that something strange emerges. Within the leopard is what looks like reflections of the stars and the night sky. It looks like Photoshop or fancy editing – but it’s a very real, genuine photograph. 

So, how did it end up like that? Honestly, we’re not sure. The shot was taken by British photographer Will Burrard-Lucas, with the help of his home-built ‘BeetleCam’ technology. Using a remote control buggy, Burrard-Lucas managed to capture a shot of the leopard: a largely nocturnal animal that’s usually pretty difficult to catch on camera. The result is totally transfixing. 

Burrard-Lucas won the ‘living world’ category at the 2021 Travel Photographer of the Year Awards. Featuring categories ranging from ‘landscapes & adventures’ and ‘people & their stories’ to ‘green world’, the winners were as mesmerising as ever. Here are a few more of our favourites:

This impressionist-like snowscape

Fortunato Gatto / www.tpoty.com
Photograph: Fortunato Gatto / www.tpoty.com

This exceptionally calm rural scene

Tevin Kim / www.tpoty.com
Tevin Kim / www.tpoty.com

This pleasing shot of camels reflected on a beach

Desert reflections
Photograph: Trevor Cole / www.tpoty.com

This close-up of an icy grizzly

Marko Dimitrijevic / www.tpoty.com
Photograph: Marko Dimitrijevic / www.tpoty.com

This cute mountain town

Vladimir Karamazov / www.tpoty.com
Photograph: Vladimir Karamazov / www.tpoty.com

This eerie flamingo formation

Jie Fischer / www.tpoty.com
Photograph: Jie Fischer / www.tpoty.com

And this ridiculously brave skier

Pally Learmond / www.tpoty.com
Photograph: Pally Learmond / www.tpoty.com