Sands of time: This photo, titled A Moment, was taken by Ly Hoang Long, who won second place in the One Shot-One Moment category at the international competition Travel Photographer of the Year.

HA NOI (VNS) — Noted HCM City-based photographer Ly Hoang Long won a runner-up prize in the One Shot-One Moment category in the 2014 edition of the Travel Photographer of the Year (TPOTY).

The awards were founded in 2003 by professional photographer Chris Coe and his wife and business partner, Karen.

The competition is open to amateur and professional photographers of all ages.

TPOTY has quickly grown into one of the world's most prestigious photography awards, receiving entries from nearly 100 countries annually.

Over the years, the international judging panel for the title Travel Photographer has comprised photographers, editors, picture editors, photo procurers and stock photography and digital imaging experts from Germany, Italy, New Zealand, and South Africa, as well as Sri Lanka, the United Kingdom and the United States.

Long's photo features two boys flying kites on a white hill of sand. Johnny Haglund from Norway won the One Shot-One Moment category with his photo of four locals standing amidst the dynamic movement of the surrounding environment in Kinshasa, Congo.

British photographer Philip Lee Harvey won The Travel of the Year award with his submission of a number of high-quality portfolios in different categories.

His images of Lalibela, Ethiopia and the Himba of Namibia have been highly appreciated by the judges, according to TPOTY's website.

Eleven-year-old Samuel Fisch from the United States won the Young Travel Photographer of the Year award, while Georgia Mulholland from Australia won the 15-18 Years Old – Destinations award.

Indonesian photographer Michael Theodric, 12, won the 14 Years Old and Under - Destinations award.

The winning images in the 15 categories will be exhibited at the Royal Geographical Society in London from July 24 to September 5, 2015. — VNS