Canadian humanitarian documentary photographer and Edmonton optometrist Dr. Larry Louie has taken top honours in the 2010 International Travel Photographer of the Year awards (TPOTY), with stunning, highly atmospheric portfolios of black and white images of Mali and Tibet.
Photographers in over 70 countries submitted thousands of images for this year’s contest. Entrants from 34 countries were shortlisted and photographers from 18 countries scooped individual category awards.
The judges unanimously agreed that his beautiful, very distinctive shots made Larry – who uses his photography as a platform to highlight the work of the eyesight charity Seva Canada – a very worthy overall winner.
TPOTY founder Chris Coe said, “So often images fail to make an impact or leave a lasting impression on the viewer. Aside from being beautiful, sumptuous images in their own right, Larry’s photographs linger, inviting you in to explore their intricate detail and fascinating textures… His shot of the 45-degree trainee Buddhist monk defying gravity on the wooden ladder just makes me smile no matter how many times I view it.”
Dr. Louie will be presented with his award in London, England and wins a £1,000 TPOTY cash bursary, an Intrepid Travel trip to Laos, Thailand and Vietnam as well as other prizes.
According to TPOTY the international exposure that goes with winning this highly prestigious and sought-after award is considerable and has raised the profile of past winners, helping them to sell their images, gain commissions and much more. The TPOTY entry form states: “Warning – winning this award can change your life!”
Seva Canada congratulates Dr. Larry Louie for this latest in a long series of awards and thanks him for his support of Seva Canada’s programs to restore sight and prevent blindness in some of the world’s poorest and most remote regions.
