These days, we’re awash in travel images; everyone’s a photographer, and every shot can be filtered and curated for social media appeal.

We explored the ways that photography affects our journeys in the August 2019 issue of our in-flight magazine. We investigated how Instagram has changed places and asked photographers with different specialities to share the secrets of their craft. Indeed, putting together the dedicated issue was a reminder of the enduring power of a professional photo.

From the dozens of shoots we commission annually for print and digital features, we’ve selected our favourite original travel photos of 2019, including a drone shot of Hong Kong’s Lantau Island, above. The following images celebrate so many sides of travel, from cutting-edge architecture to vast, mysterious landscapes to serendipitous moments.

Click on the related link to learn more about the story behind each photo; we hope they will inspire some photo-worthy adventures of your own.