Kuala Lumpur Portrait Awards - A Stranger's Face: Travel Portraits Photography Award

• Kuala Lumpur Portrait Awards

• Deadline: March 31st, 2026

• Category: A Stranger's Face

• Prize: €2,000 + Exhibition in Malaysia

• Entry Fees: Yes

• REGISTRATION: CLICK HERE

Travel photography remains one of the most widely practiced and celebrated genres within the medium. While the thrill of discovering distant destinations, unfamiliar landscapes, and new culinary traditions is undeniably part of the experience, it is often the people encountered along the way who leave the deepest and most lasting impression. Whether close to home or on the other side of the world, human connections tend to define the true emotional memory of a journey.

For its 18th edition, KLPA invites photographers to submit portraits created during their recent travels. Though the concept may appear straightforward, producing portraits that are both compelling and enigmatic requires far more than coincidence or a fleeting moment. Strong travel portraiture demands sensitivity, patience, and an ability to engage with unfamiliar subjects beyond the surface level, transforming brief encounters into meaningful visual narratives.

Often, something as simple as a shared glance, a respectful nod, or a warm smile can open the door to conversation. These small gestures can lead to unexpected exchanges, mutual understanding, and the trust necessary to create powerful images. Through these interactions, photographers gain fresh perspectives—not only on the individuals they photograph, but on the cultures and environments they move through. Such encounters allow the world, and the people within it, to be seen in a richer and more nuanced light.