Most people who ask this question about their vacation pics get told “nothing, there’s already pics if everything online,” but you’re doing more than taking vacation pics. I wonder if you could get a following with social media accounts documenting those extensive travels. Idk if you want to chase follower counts and do the influencer schtick though

how long before doors open is this, usually?

An award can be great advertising and publicity, so I don’t begrudge people using one to promote themselves. People trying to make money from nature/landscape/travel photography kind of need to market themselves all the time, and an award from a widely-known company could kick someone’s career up to a new level. Or, at least, they hope that it will.

Talking to rich people on the street will not bring you wealth. There’s something to be said for networking, but you’re not networking. You’re just fanning their rich person ego for a while, letting them show off their car, and hoping money will fall in your lap.

If you want to be rich, get an engineering degree and make tech for the military, or get an MBA and try your luck in venture capital. Either way the pursuit of wealth above all else is a miserable way to live.