It’s that time again…the 2012 National Geographic Photo Contest is in full swing. The contest has reached his midpoint but there is plenty of time to enter before the November 30, 2012 deadline. Photographers of all skill levels - from professional to amateur - across the globe, submitted more than 20,000 entries from 130 countries in last year’s competition. The photographs are judged on creativity and photographic quality by a panel of experts in the field. There is a first place winner in each of three categories: People, Places and Nature, and a grand prizewinner as well. The following images are a sampling of the competition thus far – twelve images in each category. The caption information is provided and written by the individual photographer
Collected , Edited And Report By:
Pilot / Tarek Elagamy
2012
Nazroo, a mahout (elephant driver), poses for a portrait while taking his elephant, Rajan, out for a swim in front of Radha Nagar Beach in Havelock, Andaman Islands. Rajan is one of the few elephants in Havelock that can swim, so when he is not dragging timber in the forest he is used as a tourist attraction. The relationship between the mahout and his elephant usually lasts for their entire lives, creating an extremely strong tie between the animal and the human being. (Photo and caption by Cesare Naldi)
2On the final leg of a six-week United States of America road trip, I was driving east across Interstate 40 when a spot storm with golf ball-sized hail struck. A sign near Groom, Texas, announcing the "largest cross in the western hemisphere" explained the large crucifix I’d been wondering about for miles on the highway; it seemed like an OK place to wait out the storm. On my way to getting stuck in the mud and a giant double rainbow, I saw this silhouetted view of the cross, splitting the sunny sky from the stormy plains. (Photo and caption by Brad Maule) #
3This picture was taken during the Rinjani volcano trek on Lombok Island in Indonesia at sunrise. (Photo and caption by David Bismuth) #
5A male gelada baboon on the Guassa Plateau of the Ethiopian Highlands enjoys a good grooming. (Photo and caption by Robin Moore) #
6I was in the front car of the short subway between Pudong and the Bund, and was treated to the wonderful spectacle of an oncoming train in the tunnel's changing light show. I put my camera up to the window and shot as fast as possible to get this image. (Photo and caption by Gail von Bergen Ryan) #
7A stone's-eye-view of two tracks made by the sailing stones of Death Valley's Racetrack playa. The dried clay surface has a beautiful texture, and there is a palpable aura of mystery over the entire three-square-mile playa. The Racetrack was not entirely free of human influence though: several weeks before this taken many of the stones were stolen, leaving long trails without a traveler at the end. (Photo and caption by Tucker Sylvestro) #
8On my second day visiting the astounding Iguazu falls on the Brazilian side I was forced to change to my telephoto lens as my wide angle had been damaged by the water vapour. In had rained solid for 10 days prior to my arrival and so the falls were at their most spectacular. Standing on the elevated viewing platform I was able to shoot this school group who stood transfixed, emphasizing the incredible size of the falls. (Photo and caption by Ian Kelsall) #
9I took this picture on a sunny fall afternoon on a prairie near Chicago, Illinois. To improve the color saturation, I blocked the sunlight with my body. The blue background came straight from the camera. The image was not altered with any editor. (Photo and caption by Richard Susanto) #
10My grandfather was born and raised on our New Zealand farm. He and my grandmother were married nearly 60 years. Preparing for a photo in the barley, my grandmother lovingly reached up to adjust his hat. This was his last harvest. (Photo and caption by Gemma Collier) #
11During a rainy, cloudy morning at the Wild Goose scenic overlook on St. Mary Lake in Glacier National Park, Montana, the sun peeped from under the cloud cover long enough to paint a golden-yellow swath across the face of the mountain for maybe 15 minutes before disappearing again. (Photo and caption by Rebecca Latson) #
12A young orangutan swings from tree to tree in Tanjung Puting National Park in Indonesian Borneo. (Photo and caption by Sean Crane) #
13This is about one hour of firefly activity near my home in rural Ontario. The precision of the background star trails is an interesting contrast to the chaotic pattern of the firefly flashes. (Photo and caption by Steve Irvine) #
14The edge of an iceberg floating just off the coast of Antarctica. (Photo and caption by Mike Matas) #
15While visiting Kruger National Park with my son, we came across two male hippos battling for dominance as we crossed a bridge over the Sabie River. The bellowing from the animals as they fought their bloody battle was incredible. They first fought in the shallows near the bank and then moved into the deeper part of the river. We don't know how it turned out but we were so glad to see the spectacle. (Photo and caption by Steve Mandel) #
16Andrew and his friend, a young sperm whale named Scar, were swimming together off the west coast of Dominica. The two of them became "friends" after Andrew saved Scar's life. (Photo and caption by Peter Allinson) #
17The Darvaza natural gas crater is located in the center of the Karakum Desert in the central Asian country of Turkmenistan. The crater resulted after a Soviet natural gas exploration accident in the 1950s and has been burning ever since. The crater is approximately 60 meters in diameter and its depth is approximately 20 meters. (Photo and caption by Natalja Silver) #
18When the wave conditions are right a wave appears, infrequently, as a result of the splash back off the cliff connecting with an incoming wave. This causes the incoming wave to pop up, creating fan-like shapes. On this particular day, over the two hours I spent on the rocks, this wave only appeared once. This is that shot. (Photo and caption by Aaron Feinberg) #
19David Hanson crosses a fallen log beneath soaring trees and a lingering fog in Washington's Olympic National Park. (Photo and caption by Michael Hanson) #
20Even during the Arirang Mass Games in North Korea, the ultimate expression of the state ideology, an individual can still sometimes stand out from the crowd and break free of the collective. If only just for a moment. (Photo and caption by Brendyn Zachary) #
22This bee was unfortunate enough to land in my pool, but he made some amazing patterns buzzing around in the water. He later escaped. (Photo and caption by Michael Johnson) #
24This is one view of many dunes found in Jordan. Two steps forward and one step back made for a challenging ascent. (Photo and caption by Andrew Cwiklewich)#
25Curious gulls on Sanibel Island, Florida. Meet my friend, "Gull-i-Bel"!!! (Photo and caption by Richard Rush) #
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Kanana Camp, Botswana. Pulling over by the side of the road to watch a grazing giraffe, we spotted an amber head lurking behind a small mound. A hungry lioness. Watching, waiting, camera to my eye, she eventually chose her moment and pounced just as the giraffe sensed danger. The lioness gave chase, but failed. Hungry, she lay down, invisible, in the grass not ten feet from us and waited again. (Photo and caption by Alex Tan)
2A supercell thunderstorm rolls across the Montana prairie at sunset. (Photo and caption by Sean Heavey) #
4The Great Pyramids. The people of Ancient Egypt believed that death on Earth was the start of a journey to the next world. The embalmed body of the King was entombed underneath or within the pyramid to protect it and allow his transformation and ascension to the afterlife. (Photo and caption by Jesus Oranday) #
5The Music Of Love. This picture was taken in Tenganan Village, Bali (2010). Tenganan is the most famous Bali Aga (original Balinese) village and is located close to Candi Dasa in East Bali. A man was playing bamboo music to entertain a disabled child which is not his son, but he loves this child likes he loves his own son. (Photo and caption by Ario Wibisono) #
6Liquid Planet. Another picture from the Liquid Vision Series, which shows a different point of view of waves. An angle that people are not used to seeing. (Photo and caption by Freddy Cerdeira) #
7Brown bear, Buskin River, Kodiak Alaska. This bear had been fishing in the river on this morning. It climbed onto the bank and laid down in the grass. This photo was taken about an hour after sunrise just as the sun was starting to clear the trees. The temperature was near the dew point and steam was rising off its body. It didn’t seem at all concerned by the fishermen in the river or the photographer on the bank. (Photo and caption by James Haskins) #
8Praying Mantis - Pseudocreobotra wahlbergii. This beautiful whalbergii evolved through two of its nymph-stages on the Barberton Daisy at left, surviving because of its bright color which blended so well with the flower. Towards the end of its growth into an adult, it became a little more adventurous (but not much more) as pictured here. Once it had shed the layer in this picture, it became a fully-fledged adult, and departed after about two weeks. Total stay in this tiny ecosystem was approximately six weeks. (Photo and caption by Fred Turck) #
10Alone. I was up in the air in an helicopter, taking images for the community and suddenly I saw one tree surrounded by thousands of spruces and I got only one shot in this perfect light. (Photo and caption by Mats Almlöf) #
11The archipelago of Fernando de Noronha, Brazil is considered a wildlife sanctuary, but today, even in this isolated archipelago dolphins are victims of the bad habits of consumption. (Photo and caption by João Vianna) #
13The child in us. Traveling from Zhangmu (Nepal-Tibet border) to the Tibetan capital - Lhasa you can see road workers all along the Friendship Highway. The Chinese industrialization has affected Tibet a great deal. But despite the Chinese government's attempts to settle Chinese population across the Tibetan Plateau, the Roof of the World still remains a place where only the Tibetans can survive its harsh climate conditions. A Tibetan boy holding the hand of his father who works on the road construction, Tibet. (Photo and caption by Sergi Barisashvili) #
14The baboon in front was harassing one of the babies in the troop. This male facing the camera attacked him. The whole fight was over in a few seconds but it was loud and seemingly vicious. The rest of the troop was scrambling around trying to get out of their way. There is, needless to say, always a lot of drama going on in a baboon troop. (Photo and caption by Sharon Raoli) #
15Unsafe Journey. A woman is riding between the railway carriages of a local train heading north from Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh. Her luggage is tucked under the carriage in front of her. It is the month of Ramadan, a fast which culminates in Eid-ul-Fitr, a three-day celebration. Tens of thousands of people leave the city to go to their home village and celebrate with their families. Trains are packed and many who fail to get tickets before they sell out or can't afford buying them at the black market ride on the roof of the train or, like this woman, finds a quiet spot between the carriages. (Photo and caption by Amy Helene Johansson) #
16Lightning Strike NY Harbor. This shot was captured during a major electrical storm. There was little wind and no rain which allowed me to stay safely inside and shoot from an open window. This was the 82nd exposure out of 150 made that night. The camera was mounted on a tripod, exposures made with a cable release for 5 seconds at f10. Except for a some minor level adjustments and a square crop this was what came out of the camera. (Photo and caption by Jay Fine) #
17Boise Sunrise. With the fog and morning light this looks like a place I'd love to be. If you look very closely, you can see a deer in a clearing in the center left area of the picture (small dot, head poking above bushes, see detail). (Photo and caption by Glen Hush) #
20Against the windstorm on Mont Blanc. My friend Laszlo Varkonyi is leading a group on Mont Blanc, he died on Everest this April in a fatal accident: a big serac fell down. (Photo and caption by Aniko Molnar) #
21Mystery Bug. This was on my clothesline. I have no idea what it is. I have used a macro lens as the insect was only an inch or so long. We live in the Northern Rivers district of New South Wales, Australia. The rainforest around our house sometimes brings forth intriguing creatures like this. I know it looks like a studio shot but it isn't. The photograph was was taken in natural light. The background is a sheet that was serendipitously drying on the clothesline at the time. I have rotated the image to make the insect easier to examine. If anyone can tell me what it is I would be grateful. (Photo and caption by Stephen Hocking) #
22Pure Elements. I drove my 4x4 over rivers to get a view of the Volcano eruption at "Fimmvorduhals" in Iceland. It was a full moon and strong winds gave me problems standing still outside the truck. I had my camera with me and zoom lens but no tripod, suddenly there was a magical moment, I was experiencing a display of nature rarely seen by man. I found my camera with the zoom lens, rushed out of the truck, trying to fight the strong wind. I pushed the camera on to the hood of the truck trying to stand still, holding my breath, I shot 30 frames, and only one shot was good. (Photo and caption by Olafur Ragnarsson) #
23Bicycle Crash. Zestful BMX (Bicycle Moto-Cross) rider crashes after a failed attempt to grind the handrail. When in pain, even the ambitious, strong, extreme sports loving man looks like a simple, tired, vulnerable person. (Photo and caption by Karolis Milasevicius) #
24The Serra da Leba Road near Lubango (Huíla, Angola). This is Serra da Leba, a landmark in Angola. A road built in the 70's, it's been in the country's postcard images for decades, but all shots were taken by day. I wanted something different and tried a night shot. But it seemed impossible: pitch dark, foggy, altitude of 1,800m (5,000ft). I wanted no more than 60sec of exposure, max, to avoid digital noise. But a car takes a few minutes to climb or descend this section of the road. The fog was dense and blocking the view! Suddenly the fog cleared, a few cars went down, others went up, they met in the middle in under 60sec... Painting done! (Photo and caption by Kostadin Luchansky) #
25A Llama stands at the crest of a hill as the sun sets behind it at Chavín de Huántar, Peru. (Photo and caption by John Palmer Gregg) #
26Fallen Angel. A legionnaire from the French Foreign Legion's 2REP (Foreign Parachute Regiment) sits in an armored personnel carrier en route to an operation near Badpash Kusa Kala, Afghanistan on June 16, 2010. (Photo and caption by Steven Greaves) #
27Foot and Thistle, Mountain Gorilla of Rwanda. I was fortunate to visit the rare and endangered Mountain Gorillas in Rwanda, February of 2010. This young gorilla had fallen asleep with a thistle grasped in his foot. The thistle is one of their food sources. They learn to extract the pith from the spine-defended inedible stem. This particular gorilla demonstrates syndactyly of the third and fourth toes, a common congenital malformation also found in humans. (Photo and caption by Jim Edwards) #
28Lightning Crashes. A lightning bolt strikes the antenna of The Center building in Central Hong Kong during a storm on September 13, 2009. (Photo and caption by Michael Siward) #
30Me'enit Boy, Southwestern Ethiopia. One of our neighborhood friends, Sintiyu, looking on. A rare opportunity to see him undistracted by the camera, and absorbed in his family. (Photo and caption by Stephen Murdoch) #
31Moths to Light. Moths attracted to a light in front of my home. (Photo and caption by Steve Irvine) #
32Surva, the International Festival of the Masquerade Games held in the town of Pernik, Bulgaria is the biggest event of this type not only in Bulgaria but on the Balkan Peninsula as well. It promotes variations of ancient Bulgarian customs that are still alive today. These are an important part of the Bulgarian folklore tradition and are meant to be performed by single men and women. With its competitive nature, the festival is not only a venue but also a contest for the living vessels of this tradition, namely the Kukeri and Survakari. (Photo and caption by Orlin Ognyanov) #
33Ki Gompa. This picture was taken when I visited the Buddhist Monastery of Ki. Ki is a tiny village in the middle of the Himalayas, and next to it is Ki Gompa (Ki Monastery). I lived with the monks for about a week, and this picture reflects the peaceful, almost heavenly atmosphere that characterizes this place. The Monastery is almost 4,000 meters high, and I had to climb almost 500 meters more to get this panorama. This place is a touch of heaven. (Photo and caption by Natalia Luzuriaga) #
34Haunting Glimpse. An encounter with an elusive Canada Lynx is said to be a rare privilege. I am honored to have had the opportunity to see a Lynx up close and personal. As I photographed this beautiful cat, I felt transfixed by its wild, untamed, haunting eyes. This is a once in a lifetime chance that I will cherish forever. (Photo and caption by Janet Chester) #
35Suradita Village, West Java, Indonesia. Children playing with their roosters. Actually it was not a real cockfight because the roosters didn't wear blades on their feet. Children like to play this game because they almost never have toys in their life. (Photo and caption by Ario Wibisono) #
36Silhouetted against the headlights of their engine, Firemen attempt to put out a blaze caused by a gigantic natural gas line explosion near San Francisco in September of 2010. The fire destroyed 37 homes, and resulted in seven fatalities. (Photo and caption by Josh Edelson) #
37Power of childhood. City: Lençois; Estate: Bahia; Country: Brazil. (Photo and caption by Rodrigo West de Magalhaes) #
38North Atlantic seals enduring winter storm. It was already -1 and with a strong wind it was colder still, Had to position myself so as to shield the camera from the wind to keep the image sharp the snow was being blown horizontally away from me. (Photo and caption by Eric Garnett) #
39Great Blue Heron with fish. The largest and most widespread heron in North America. When foraging, they stand silently along riverbanks, lake shores, or in wet meadows, waiting for prey to come by, which they then strike with their bills. (Photo and caption by Linh Dinh) #
40A walk along the river bank. This photo was taken in Zhenyuan, Guizhou Province, China this summer. I was taking a walk along the river bank of Wuyang in the mist of a late afternoon shower. Refreshing smell after rain was mixed with the aroma from nearby food stands. In the distance, kids were playing and laughing. The tranquil and harmonious life of the local people reminds me of the joyful time I grew up in a similar small town in Southwest China. (Photo and caption by Fred Wang) #
41Heavy load. One morning in August, I was on my way to pick up the newspaper. Everything was moist and wet, and I spotted this little fly on a small white flower, just outside my bedroom window. Two hours after I shot this picture I went outside again, and the fly was still sitting on the same flower - still not able to fly. (Photo and caption by Audun Wigen) #
42Table Mountain. I took this picture in June 2009 while I was just outside of Cape Town, South Africa. I was working at a kids camp and took a quick shot of the sun setting over Table Mountain as we were headed in for dinner. I was in such a rush to capture the sunset while trying to keep an eye on a bunch of kids on the playground that I didn't even notice the boy in the right edge of my viewfinder. It wasn't until I was back home in Tennessee that I discovered the huge impact of this picture. The duality of the not-quite-teenage boy and the 260-million-year-old mountain in the same shot absolutely amazed me. (Photo and caption by Quinn Ballard) #
43Herring Gull with Guillemot Chick. Taken on the Farne Islands, Northumberland, UK, the herring gull circled around the guillemot colony three or four times before dropping in and picking up this chick with the guillemot colony watching. (Photo and caption by Ron McCombe) #
44Pyramid mountain. Maelifellssandur volcanic dust desert in Iceland. (Photo and caption by Sukru Mehmet Omur) #
45Giraffes at Savannah. Unusual perspective shot depicting two giraffes and a tree in Masai Mara, Kenya. (Photo and caption by Niko Saunio) #
46After the Crash. My dear friend, Laura, fell from the sky. The helicopter she was traveling in crashed into an open, dry field and burst info flames, killing three of the six passengers on board, including the pilot. Laura survived, but barely. She was burned, crushed, and near death. She broke 45 bones. She was pulled from the burning wreckage by her hair. To this day, she still cannot walk. While there wasn't a part of her body that was unharmed, her spirit and determination to live a full, happy life remains stronger than ever. This image taken in a lush, green field is meant to signify her rebirth. (Photo and caption by Judy Starkman) #
47Cloud and ship. Ukraine, Crimea, Black sea, view from Ai-Petri mountain. (Photo and caption by Yevgen Timashov) #
LONE TREE YELLOWSTONE: A solitary tree surviving another harsh winter in Yellowstone National Park. Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming. (Photo and caption by Anita Erdmann/Nature/National Geographic Photo Contest)
2IS HE STILL THERE?!: One morning while on the Big Island of Hawaii, i exploring my surroundings to see if i could find something to photograph. I almost went back inside when something on this huge palm tree leaf caught my eye. I stayed around and it was this little gecko, startled by my presence he was hidden between the ridges of the leaf. He would pop his head up periodically to check his surroundings, as soon as he saw i was still there he would hide again. We played this game for a while until i got the shot. Holualoa big Island, Hawaii. (Photo and caption by Lorenzo Menendez/Nature/National Geographic Photo Contest) #
3LANDSCAPE IN THE RAIN: It was raining heavily when I took the photo, but the sun illuminated the landscape parochially. Bergueda, Catalonia, Spain. (Photo and caption by Mihaly Attila Kazsuba/Nature/National Geographic Photo Contest) #
4NONI NECTAR FOR GREEN GECKO: Madagascar Gold Dust Day Gecko licking nectar from a young noni fruit in Kailua, Hawaii. These geckos were living all around the hale' we were staying in, enjoying the noni and basking on the railing and sunny steps to our place. They were very shy mostly, except this one must have enjoyed the nectar so much as to let me get a shot of their favorite activity. They seemed to tend the noni very attentively throughout the day. August 2010, Chandra S Sherin. Kona Village Resort, Kailua - Kona, Hawaii. (Photo and Caption by Chandra Sherin/Nature/National Geographic Photo Contest) #
5MOSAIC: Patterns of sea stars as exquisite mosaics, attractive, and each time is different. Cambodia (Photo and caption by Andrey Narchuk/Nature/National Geographic Photo Contest) #
6DUNBAR: Two elements. Water and rock. Motion and tranquility. Dunbar, East Lothian, Scotland. (Photo and caption by Tatana Vacovska/Nature/National Geographic Photo Contest) #
7FLIGHT OF AN EAGLE OWL: A large adult eagle owl in flight. Lingfield, Surrey, UK. (Photo and caption by Mark Bridger/Nature/National Geographic Photo Contest) #
8CONFRONTING: Cage divers confront a great white shark on the Isla de Guadalupe. (Photo and caption by David Litchfield/Nature/National Geographic Photo Contest) #
9THE CLOUD: At safari not only animals can attract attention. South Africa, Western Cape, Aquila Safari park. (Photo and caption by Dmitry Gorilovskiy/Nature/National Geographic Photo Contest) #
10FLESH AND BONES: In a world where no one understands the importance of nature, all that is left of our nature is just these flesh & bones. Toronto, Canada. (Photo and caption by Amirhassan Farokhpour/Nature/National Geographic Photo Contest) #
11ATACAMA SUNSET: Setting sun lights up clouds over Salar de Atacama in north Chile. I took this photo in July 2011 and at that time clouds like this were worrying sign of more unusual snow fall which already blocked roads to Bolivia and Argentina. Thankfully this time it just served as spectacular canvas to a sunset and reminder how beautiful is the world we live in. Salar de Atacama, Chile. (Photo and caption by Magdalena Rakita/Nature/National Geographic Photo Contest) #
12STINGRAY: This image was captured to Sandbar, Grand Cayman during my last trip.This beautiful creature turn around you very close and you can touch it.This is a really amazing experience, you are surrounded by dozen of this friendly animal. Sandbar-Grand Cayman-Caribean (Photo and caption by Gazzaroli Claudio/Nature/National Geographic Photo Contest) #
13LOVE OF PARENTS: The emperor penguins fight for survival and to protect their only baby in the frozen Antarctic ice desert. Antarctica: Atka Bay, Weddell Sea. (Photo and caption by Claus Possberg/National Geographic Photo Contest) #
14WINTER LOLLIPOPS: Winter is extremely beautiful in Lithuania. It was an early morning and minus 25 degrees Celsius outside. This landscape feels out of this world, but in fact it's in the outskirts of my home city, Kaunas—just a mile away from my house. Oftentimes beauty lies just a step away from our door. Kaunas, Lithuania (Photo and caption by Matas Juras/Nature/National Geographic Photo Contest) #
15OXPECKER'S PUZZLE: I've always been intrigued by the markings of giraffes--how they vary between individuals and how they look like pieces of a puzzle, cracked mud or even tectonic plates in my scientific mind. I've tried many times to capture them but it was never right. Here, this oxpecker in a tight crop, lost on the abstract surface and framed by the legs of the larger animal finally seems to work. South Africa. (Photo and caption by Benjamin Bronselaer/Nature/National Geographic Photo Contest) #
16NIGHT TIME HAMMERHEAD: Curious hammerhead at dusk. Cat Key, Bahamas. (Photo and caption by Raul Boesel/Nature/National Geographic Photo Contest) #
17RHEA'S PORTRAIT: A different angle from an American Rhea (Rhea americana) seen in Pantanal, Brazil, on a cloudy day. Pantanal, Miranda, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil. (Photo and caption by Simony Blanco/Nature/National Geographic Photo Contest) #
18WILDEBEEST CROSSING: Beautiful mayhem. Masai Mara, Kenya. (Photo and caption by Samantha Gargour/Nature/National Geographic Photo Contest) #
19SAND SPHERES: The food filtered 2-3mm sand ball creations of a tiny Sand Bubbler Crap. Done so that it knows which sand has been filtered for food. Daintree Rainforest region, Cairns, Austrailia. (Photo and caption by Baron Collocott/Nature/National Geographic Photo Contest) #
20SUMMER AT GRANNY'S: This is a heart-shaped stawberry in the hand of my grandmother. Love is the message. Gyula, Hungary. (Photo and caption by Szabo Eszfer/Nature/National Geographic Photo Contest) #
21GOOD MORNING: Jabulani the elephant greeting his caretaker, Stavros Chakoma, before heading out on safari. Kapama Game Reserve, Kruger region of South Africa. (Photo and caption by Paula Durham/Nature/National Geographic Photo Contest) #
22CLASH OF CIVILISATIONS: Walking down a main street in Addis, I met this young character. We started talking and soon became friends. One day, he invited me to his home to try some famous Ethiopian coffee, prepared traditionally. As I drank cup after cup of exquisite, freshly roasted coffee, this scene emerged in front of me. In a way it described my experience of Ethiopia, and other African nations I had worked in: a rapidly changing, dynamic world where tradition and modernity struggle to coexist. Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. (Photo and caption by Jason Benovoy/People/National Geographic Photo Contest) #
23YUENGLING, 2011: This is the first photo that I took of my friend, Robert, when he got back from serving in Afghanistan for one year. He didn't talk much. We just sat together, and he showed me what he was feeling when I put my camera in front of him. He was humble. He didn't complain, but only filled the room with his experience of wearing combat boots, and carrying a gun to work everyday. He drinks a lot now, but I guess he always did. Douglasville, GA. (Photo and caption by Ashley Kauschinger/People/National Geographic Photo Contest) #
24DUSK IN THE BALE MOUNTAINS: A kitten and an elderly woman stand outside their hut deep in the subalpine Bale Mountains of southeastern Ethiopia. Bale Mountains, Ethiopia. (Photo and caption by Benjamin Guez/People/National Geographic Photo Contest) #
25THE PENITENTS: The day of Friday, there is the traditional procession of penitents through the village streets beating their backs with the discipline of rings and metal plates. San Lorenzo Maggiore, Benevento, Italy. (Photo and caption by Salvatore Picciuto/People/National Geographic Photo Contest) #
26DAY OF YOUTH: Muslim girls at the day of the youth on the 11th of February. The girls are walking in a procession to the mayor of the village and are singing about the power of Cameroon. Lagdo, Cameroon. (Photo and caption by Ronnie Dankelman/People/National Geographic Photo Contest) #
27SUNBATHING UNDERWATER: The sun gives us energy even underwater. This image was captured during freediving (diving on a single breath without scuba gear) in the Red Sea. Eel Garden, Dahab, Sinai, Egypt. (Photo and caption by Vaclav Krpelik/People/National Geographic Photo Contest) #
28UNTITLED: Children filled with happiness playing in the water. Brazil. (Photo and caption by Seth Solo/People/National Geographic Photo Contest) #
29WEATHERED HANDS: The Kara women collect the water, cook for family, harvest the fields, make the clothing, and are the backbone of the tribe. This elderly woman was the only white-haired person I came in contact with. I tried desperately to get a pleasing portrait and caught her hands in my peripheries; the perfect symbol of the woman's role in tribal society in the Omo River Valley. Her bracelets are made from salvaged AK-47 shell casings, a symbol in itself for the cyclic theme of war and revenge between the Kara and the neighboring tribe, the Nyangatom. Omo River Valley, Ethiopia. (Photo and caption by Nicholas Wiesnet/People/National Geographic Photo Contest) #
30WORSHIPPER, HOLY SEPULCHRE: A worshipper in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre during Holy Week. Old City, Jerusalem. (Photo and caption by Matthew Goddard-Jones/People/National Geographic Photo Contest) #
31CHILDHOOD: When does childhood become adulthood? When does snack time become lunch at your desk? When did safety shift from blankies to insurance? When did magic turn into illusion? Childhood. When the whole world is magic. Portland, Oregon. (Photo and caption by Mei Ratz/National Geographic Photo Contest) #
32THE UNTOLD STORY: A young Afghan refugee girl living, with her family, in a village named Bhaun near district Chakwal in Punjab, Pakistan. Village Bhaun, Punjab, Pakistan. (Photo and caption by Mohsin Khawar/People/National Geographic Photo Contest) #
33WRESTLER'S HANDS: A wrestler at the US Olympic Training facility in Colorado Springs, CO, stops to rest and catch his breath after a hard training session. Colorado Springs, CO. (Photo and caption by Stephanie Zollshan/People/National Geographic Photo Contest) #
34TERENCE STAMP: The actor at my home in Ojai, California, during a casual photoshoot in my living room. Ojai, CA. (Photo and caption by Betina La Plante/People/National Geographic Photo Contest) #
35MY OWN LIGHT: Pinki Kundu, a 13 yrs old girl is suffering from a chronic disease & is being treated in Mother Teresa TB Hospital in Kolkata.She is under CAT 1 drug therapy & is doing well.The day I photographed her she was very hopeful mood that she would be returning back to her parent soon. Kolkata, West Bengal, India. (Photo and caption by Saibal Gupta/People/National Geographic Photo Contest) #
36PAPA: This a portrait that I took of my Grandfather. He was a photographer and I wanted to show all his wonderful old cameras and his life in an editorial styled portrait. He just turned 95 years old and still remembers how all his old camera's work. I really love this picture and hope you like it as well. Hillside, IL. (Photo and caption by Christopher Bellezza/People/National Geographic Photo Contest) #
37SALOME RAMOS: Salome Ramos is 64 years old and lives in Quibdo, a town with a 95 percent Black population derived from African slaves imported to Pacific coast of Colombia by the conquistadors. She is presently out of work, but her previous Jobs include everything from maid to miner. The economics of Quibdo are almost entirely supported by the wages of mining or fishing and the towns atmosphere has a raw vibrance, I felt like an alien as everyone stared at me- in a curious rather than un-welcoming way. Quibdo, Colombia. (Photo and caption by Carlos Manuel Saavedra/People/National Geographic Photo Contest) #
38AUBURN PRIDE: Young men driving into a patch of reflected light along Auburn Rd. Part of a larger personal project documenting the western Sydney suburb of Auburn. The series provides a glimpse into the life of the next generation of Australians living in Auburn, peering behind the veil of this little-known side of society. Auburn is a small suburb in Sydney’s west, a landing point for many migrants and refugees when they first arrive in Australia. Sydney, Australia. (Photo and caption by George Voulgaropoulos/People/National Geographic Photo Contest) #
39ROSA: My 89-year-old Great Aunt sits in the living room of her second floor apartment. Philadelphia, PA. (Photo and caption by Amber Verbas/People/National Geographic Photo Contest) #
40PLATFORM 2: Early morning commuter walks the tracks. New Delhi Railway Station, India. (Photo and caption by Danny Griffin/Places/National Geographic Photo Contest) #
41NEW ORLEANS STREETCAR: This is a streetcar in New Orleans traveling back towards The Quarter on St. Charles Ave. I held the camera against the window sill, making sure to divide the image equally between the inside and the outside. New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo and caption by Don Chamblee/Places/National Geographic Photo Contest) #
42PRAYING ON THE LAND OF BLACK JERUSALEM - I: Black Jerusalem is the name given to Lalibela, the ancient capital of Abyssinia and monastic city of northern Ethiopian mountains. Its 11 rocky churches hidden in the volcanic rock are still venerated as the Mecca of the Ethiopian Coptic Christianity. Every believer is required to make at least once in his or her life a pilgrimage. Inside the rock-carved church Debra Sina, a female pilgrim draped in her robe is reading the bible. In the background a corridor communicates with the church Golgotha whose access is denied to women. Lalibela - Ethiopia. (Photo and caption by Sophie Picavet/Places/National Geographic Photo Contest) #
43FLAT OCEAN: Just before a huge monsoon downpour, the ocean became flat as I have never seen before. It was drizzling a bit, people were on their way to their house, when I walked up this pier. The light rain made the pier mirror-like, and the ocean was so calm. On the horizon are the islands just in front of Makassar, part of that special islands of Sulawesi. Makassar, Indonesia. (Photo and caption by Erik Kievit/Places/National Geographic Photo Contest) #
44LIGHT'S TRYST WITH DARKNESS IN SEMI-URBAN INDIA: Image shot at 11:45pm, where a windstorm caused complete blackout on a newly constructed bridge in Lucknow,India. The pic is taken in a newly urbanized area, however cheaper modes of transport-autorickshaws and 2 wheelers still rule the streets at any hour. The pic shows various contrasting features - Some folks sitting, some walking, some driving without lights (autorickshaw), some navigating with 'high beam lights' to also give the missing illumination of installed street lights. The contrasting movements/features are depicted by the contrast of lightness and darkness, in the semi-urban city. Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India. (Photo and caption by Taran Bedi/Places/National Geographic Photo Contest) #
45THE TEMPLE OF TRANSITION: Morning light breaking through the windows of the 'Temple of Transition' during the Burning Man event 2011. Black Rock City, Nevada (Burning Man event). (Photo and caption by Lars Tiemann/Places/National Geographic Photo Contest) #
46THE PIGEON FEEDERS: Photographs taken at the entrance to the New Mosque in Eminonu districkt of Istanbul. After strolling through the streets of this ancient city, I have stopped there to relax watching the hordes flying from one feeder to the other. Istanbul, Turkey. (Photo and caption by Wojciech Ryzinski/Places/National Geographic Photo Contest) #
47FALLING LEAVES: This photo was taken in Bruges, Belgium in September in 2011. Bruges, Belgium (Brugge). (Photo and caption by Mandy Michels/Places/National Geographic Photo Contest) #
48NATURAL LANDSCAPE PAINTING: The Landmannalaugar is probably one of the most impressive place in Iceland, a popular tourist destination. Located near the volcano Hekla in southern section of Iceland's highlands. The area displays a number of unusual geological elements, like the multicolored rhyolite mountains. When I took this picture, it was raining and it became worse after. I waited a bit for have people into my composition, in such a landscape to have a notion of scale is important, hence you will find a group of people at the bottom left. Iceland, Landmannalaugar. (Photo and caption by Romain Chassagne/Places/National Geographic Photo Contest) #
49BY THE WIND OF CHANCE: I was doing my touristic duties to photograph the Pyramids, and I hear my professor shouting. Next thing you know my entire class and some police officers were running to catch my professors hat. It actually wasn't until later that night when scrolling through my photos that I realized I captured this gem. Great Pyramid of Giza. (Photo and caption by John Head/Places/National Geographic Photo Contest) #
50BLOW'N IN THE WIND: A warm blustery Labor Day 2011, Chicago. Oak Street Beach, Chicago, IL. (Photo and caption by Alison Wishart/Places/National Geographic Photo Contest) #
51THE GOLDEN GATE: A very different perspective of the Golden Gate Bridge. San Francisco, CA, USA. (Photo and caption by Reuben Cornel/Places/National Geographic Photo Contest) #
52FISHING ON THE CLOUD: Anglers fishing in the mist rising from the reservoir by dawn look like fishing on cloud. Gosam reservoir, Anseong, Gyeonggi-do, Korea. (Photo and caption by Sungjin Kim/Places/National Geographic Photo Contest) #
53BLUE LAGOON: Blue lagoon, Iceland. (Photo and caption by Maroesjka Lavigne/Places/National Geographic Photo Contest) #
54TIME: An image with beautiful natural colours i was surveying for work when i found this moment and only got the one single shot due to the meeting with my client, the car and the climber was removed one week after the image was taken... UK. (Photo and caption by Simon Belham/Places/National Geographic Photo Contest) #
NATURE’S ART (Nature) - Dried up delta of the Kimberly region, N.W. Australia. Creates the most sophisticated patterns only appreciated from above. (Photo and caption by Ted Grambeau/National Geographic Photo Contest)
2SNOW IN ROME (Places) - Piazza Navona at night, stricken by an unusual blizzard. (Photo and caption by luigi vaccarella/National Geographic Photo Contest)#
3MARIA AND RAUL (People) - Raul and Maria were married in 1959, the year of the revolution. They have lived for most of their lives in this tiny apartment in Central Havana. Raul is now blind and Marie spends much of her time looking after his needs. It is now late afternoon and Marie takes a siesta while Raul sits in his rocking chair waiting for her to wake up. (Photo and caption by David Creedon/National Geographic Photo Contest)#
4YOUNG GIRL DRINKING MARES MILK (People) - Fermented mares milk (Airag) is the traditional national beverage of Mongolia. The amount of milk produced by one mare averages about two litres when milked six times per day, so in order to make enough Airag for the family and any visitors, it is necessary to have at least a dozen mares. To get good quality Airag, it is necessary to stir the milk mix no less than 1,000 times each day! Produced during the summer months in a specially made hide skin bag, fresh Airag is quite mild, but if kept for long enough turns sour and acidic which is how many Mongolian's prefer it. (Photo and caption by Andrew Newey/National Geographic Photo Contest)#
5LONELY HUT (Places) - Lonely hut on a slash and burn farm in northern Thailand. (Photo and caption by Pattavee Kaewnoo/National Geographic Photo Contest)#
6LOST SOUL (Nature) - A male Humpback whale dies on its annual migration. The carcass washes ashore on Sydney's Northern Beaches. (Photo and caption by Jack Murphy/National Geographic Photo Contest)#
7GREAT WHITE, SUN LIGHT (Nature) - As I am sitting on top of a suspended submersible cage, 30 feet below the surface, a 15 foot Great White Shark swims overhead just starting to block out the sun. I took the shot right after I had released a breath though my respirator. (Photo and caption by Kirk Nielsen/National Geographic Photo Contest)#
8HOME ALONE (Nature) - The progeny, a solitary chick, amidst the adult Great Crested Terns, taken from a prone position, with a wide-angle lens, at a breeding site on a Sri Lankan island off northwestern seas. (Photo and caption by Lalith Ekanayake/National Geographic Photo Contest)#
9PREDATION UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL (Nature) - I was surrounded by thousands of fish that moved in synchrony because of the predation that was happening. It was an incredible experience. (Photo and caption by Fransisca Harlijanto/National Geographic Photo Contest)#
10HANGING LIFE (People) - I saw this hanging kid along with a hanging bag while walking on the streets of Chennai. (Photo and caption by Sudharshun Gopalan/National Geographic Photo Contest)#
11SWEET DREAMER (People) - Quiet afternoon in a Thai restaurant. (Photo and caption by Adrian Konopnicki/National Geographic Photo Contest)#
12DOG’S LIFE (People) - Two children watch as the dogs get weighed in at the Lismore Greyhound Track. (Photo and caption by Marc Stapelberg/National Geographic Photo Contest)#
13CITY BIRDS (Places) - Strolling through downtown San Francisco during our vacation, the birds sitting on the wires and skyscrapers in the foggy background caught my attention. A lucky shot! (Photo and caption by Matthias Luetolf/National Geographic Photo Contest)#
14PELICAN, WALVIS BAY, NAMIBIA (Nature) - A marine cruise in Walvis Bay, Namibia, is a memorable experience. I remember watching dolphins, seals, mola molas, cormorants... and having the privilege of picturing that one pelican at the exact moment he grabbed a bite thrown from the boat. (Photo and caption by Romulo Rejon/National Geographic Photo Contest)#
15SECLUDED PIER AT LAKE BRUNNER (Places) - I was on my 170 km solo cycling trip around West Coast, New Zealand and one of the destinations was famous Lake Brunner. I reached this pier one foggy morning and I found this moment was “like no other”. (Photo and caption by Mohd Nadly Aizat Mohd /National Geographic Photo Contest)#
16ENDEAVOUR FLIES OVER GRIFFITH OBSERVATORY (Places) - The Space Shuttle Endeavour flies over Griffith Park Observatory and the Hollywood Sign before heading to Los Angeles International Airport where it will be prepared to be moved to its new permanent home at the California Science Center in downtown Los Angeles. (Photo and caption by Axelle Woussen/National Geographic Photo Contest)#
17HEAVENLY VIEW (Places) - The sea of clouds covered the city making a spectacular heavenly view while the photographer is absorbed in taking photo from the top of Mt.Yangbaeksan, South Korea. (Photo and caption by Sungjin Kim/National Geographic Photo Contest)#
18THE GODFATHER (Nature) - He is big - 4 meters tall and over 4 tons in weight, he is the "Godfather." I have visualized this scene many times. I have checked and rechecked my equipment and decided upon the camera and lens combination. I now relax and control my breathing as they come into view. The next ten minutes are bliss of forgetfulness as I zone in to the task at hand; only one moment stands out. He stands still before me in all his magnificence, raising his trunk filled with the red Kalahari dust. In one fluid movement he sprays his forehead and for one brief moment he is covered in the magic of dust and light. (Photo and caption by Peter Delaney/National Geographic Photo Contest)#
19CRATER LAKE STORM AT SUNSET (Places) - A thunderstorm swirls across the water at Crater Lake National Park, as the setting sun creates a rare double rainbow. Taken from Rim Village, approximately 1,000 feet above the lake's surface, providing a straight-on vantage point of the storm. (Photo and caption by Duke Miller /National Geographic Photo Contest)#
20AN EXPEDITION AMUNDSEN (People) - A race that follows in the path of the famous explorer Roald Amundsen brings the contestants to the Hardangervidda Mountainplateu, Norway. 100km across the plateau, the exact same route Amundsen used to prepare for his South Pole expedition in 1911, is still used by explorers today. Amundsen did not manage to cross the plateau and had to turn back because of bad weather. He allegedly said that the attempt to cross Hardangervidda was just as dangerous and hard as conquering of the South Pole. The group in the picture used the race as preparation for an attempt to cross Greenland. (Photo and caption by Kai-Otto Melau/National Geographic Photo Contest)#
21GLACIER (Places) - The other-worldly experience! ((Photo and caption by Rafael Urrutia/National Geographic Photo Contest)#
22REFLECTING VANCOUVER (Places) - Walking near the waterfront in Vancouver, I was struck by the beautiful reflection of the nearby buildings in the glass of the Convention Center. (Photo and caption by Martha Katko/National Geographic Photo Contest)#
23ADRIFT (Nature) - Penguins adrift on iceberg during a heavy snow storm in Antarctica. (Photo and Caption by Joshua Holko/National Geographic Photo Contest)#
24DANCE (People) - A female dancer practicing her movements for a performance in the Turbine Hall of Tate Modern, London. (Photo and caption by Tom Radenz/National Geographic Photo Contest)#
25BUTTERFLY AT SUNSET (Nature) - Macro shot of a butterfly with the sunset in the background. (Photo and caption by Toni Guetta/National Geographic Photo Contest)#
26GOLDEN ROAD (Nature) - A glorious road of gold through the aspen woods of Snowmass, Colorado. (Photo and caption by Chih-Hung Kao/National Geographic Photo Contest)#
27HAMER GIRL, ETHIOPIA (People) - The Hamers are a people of East Africa living in southwestern Ethiopia, in a fertile area of the Omo Valley. The gracious Hamer women, freeing pride and dignity even in the midst of the bustling weekly market, are easily spotted with their characteristic outfits. They take pride in their dress and accessories and win the prize as the most decorated of the Omo people. The traditional dress code for unmarried Hamar girls includes elegant cowrie-shell collars, seeded or glass-beaded necklaces and decorated goatskin clothing. (Photo and caption by Pascal Mannaerts/National Geographic Photo Contest)#
28THROUGH THE DUNES (Nature) - Oryx captured in Namib-Naukluft National Park in Namibia just after sunset. Heading through the dunes in search of food and water. (Photo and caption by Mikael Stiller/National Geographic Photo Contest)#
29WINDSWEPT LADY (Nature) - One of the times visiting Monument Valley, Arizona, I was in a box canyon when a severe dust storm came through. This is a photo of an aged, old juniper tree. Its weather-torn skeleton has lasted sun, heat, snow, wind, and nature's elements. It's shape and outline looks as if it's an old windswept and aged lady still standing in a harsh desert climate. (Photo and caption by Dave Drost/National Geographic Photo Contest)#
30THE EDGE (People) - Looking just over the edge, just enough to see what is ahead, not enough to know the whole, just getting the gist. (Photo and caption by Mei Ratz/National Geographic Photo Contest)#
31TOUR de FORCE (Places) - The vibrancy and complexity of civilization especially manifested within the architectural themes of cities never ceases to amaze me. It seems that cities undergo a gradual metamorphosis, as they seem to redefine themselves in their own unique way. The sculptors that provide the energy behind this change are the various people throughout history, and indeed the present, that lend their various influences as determined by the period of history and cultural forces at play. (Photo and caption by Konstantine Eleftheria/National Geographic Photo Contest)#
32BOYS TO MEN (People) - Masai boys who had just undergone the cultural rite of passage. (Photo and caption by Amy Sacka/National Geographic Photo Contest)#
33SKUGAFOSS - It took me a few tries to take this long exposure of SkÛgafoss, the massive southern Icelandic waterfall, between the small groups of tourists slowly making their way to its base. While a person certainly would have added some scale to how large the waterfall really is, I wanted the silky sheen of the flowing water to be unobstructed and people-free. (Photo and caption by Catherine Cole/National Geographic Photo Contest)#
34BATHERS (People) - This mother and two children take a bath in this little puddle which is in a secluded place in the middle of one beech forest in Transylvania. The puddle contains sludge with petroleum (crude oil). The boy, continuously asked his mother, why do we bath here in this very stinky puddle? There was no answer, just a severe look... The mother and the other boy believe fanatically in the mystic healing power of this little very stinky puddle. (Photo and caption by M. Istvan Kerekes/National Geographic Photo Contest)#
35DELICATE ARCH AT NIGHT (Places) - I wanted to do something different than usual on my first visit to Arches National Park, so instead of sunset where the crowds usually gather, I made the hike to Delicate Arch at night. I had my girlfriend stand with the spotlight we brought and took a few shots. This was the best. (Photo and caption by Benjamin Cooper/National Geographic Photo Contest)#
36BELIEVERS (People) - A group of devotees performs a sacred ritual and celebrate Chinese gods during Phuket Vegetarian Festival. Millions of firecrackers are ignited each year during the celebration. It is an annual event held during the ninth lunar month of the Chinese calendar. Local residents of Chinese ancestry strictly observe a 10-day vegetarian diet for spiritual cleansing and merit making. (Photo and caption by Peerakit Jirachetthakun/National Geographic Photo Contest)#
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HELLO WORLD (Nature) - A tiny mantis larva in an American poppy flower. (Photo and caption by Fabien Bravin/National Geographic Photo Contest)
2NATURAL GRACE (Nature) - Two endangered Green Iguanas embrace during mating season. (Photo and caption by Ryan Huggett/National Geographic Photo Contest)#
3“THE BEST ENEMIES” (Nature) - This photo is from a scene quite incredible that I saw a few days ago. A dragonfly (sympetrum) further weakened by the freshness of the morning, came deliberately to hang on this Praying Mantis that had landed on a broken flower stem that I was photographing. I shot some great macros this summer, but I must say that this was the most amazing that I saw, because we have here the eater and the eaten but in a configuration that isn't expected. (Photo and caption by Cyril Verron/National Geographic Photo Contest)#
5MURSI TRIBE (People) - At around puberty, females cut their lower lip and install a clay plate in the opening. As time goes by the plate stretches the hole and a bigger disk is put in. Those plates can easily reach 7 inches in diameter! Lower teeth are often removed to make the lip plate sit comfortably in the opening. (Photo and caption by Dmitri Markine/National Geographic Photo Contest)#
6NURSING MAMA (Nature) - This female brown bear came into the Lake Clark National Park area in late July with her triplet Spring cubs and seemed quite relaxed as she sat nursing her cubs. (Photo and caption by Ruth Steck/National Geographic Photo Contest)#
7WOMEN IN KENYA (People) - Women wearing the traditional Kanga, South of Mombasa, Kenya. (Photo and caption by Christophe Viseux/National Geographic Photo Contest)#
8HOMEBOUND (Places) - A mother and her two children paddling through the lagoon in a dugout canoe, against the backdrop of a dramatic sunset. (Photo and caption by Iris Kwok/National Geographic Photo Contest)#
9SHADES OF THE OREGON COAST RANGE (Nature) - If you are lucky you can see over 150 kilometers on a clear day standing atop Mary's Peak. On the day of this shot visibility was clear, and the Pacific Ocean (75 kilometers away) was illuminated by a setting sun, framed perfectly by seemingly infinite layers and shades of mountains in the Oregon Coast range. (Photo and caption by Ben Leshchinsky/National Geographic Photo Contest)#
10VOODOO TRANCE (People) - Haitian women in a trance during a voodoo ceremony in Souvenance, Haiti. Every Easter, for over 200 years, thousands of devotees of voodoo make a pilgrimage, traveling to the Haitian village of Souvenance, 145km north from Port Au Prince, capital city of Haiti. Voodoo is one of three state-recognized religions in Haiti. (Photo and caption by Vincent Tremeau/National Geographic Photo Contest)#
11THE LOST GATEWAY (Places) - A huge cargo ship, dwarfed by the Golden Gate, passing under the bridge, amidst dense fog. Fog so dense, that both the ship and the iconic bridge are hidden underneath, as if both are lost. A long exposure created ghosting of the moving ship, adding to the effect. This was photographed after sunset. (Photo and caption by Indranil Mukhopadhyay/National Geographic Photo Contest)#
12PORTRAIT OF A SNOWY EGRET (Nature) - I was lucky enough to catch a close up shot of this Snowy Egret right after it had made a dive for food. (Photo and caption by Graham McGeorge/National Geographic Photo Contest)#
13HOW’S MY HAIR LOOK? (Nature) - Female bonobos carry and nurse their young for four years and give birth on average every five years. (Photo and caption by Graham McGeorge/National Geographic Photo Contest)#
14IN YOUR ROOM #8 (People) - Wearing a ballerina lace skirt and oversized low-heel sandals, the big dream in this little Kazakh girl's mind is to become an actress. (Photo and caption by Ro-hsuam Chen/National Geographic Photo Contest)#
15LIBYAN REBEL AT THE OLD SHIPYARD OF BENGHAZI (People) - During the Libyan revolt again Muammar Qaddafi, the city of Benghazi was liberated early on and became the base for the rebels and the transitional governing body. Armed rebels were seen all over the place. Many of them had no previous war experience but joined the revolt willingly to get rid of the regime. This rebel, with his spick and span boots and outfit, was guarding the old shipyard. (Photo and caption by Mohannad khatib/National Geographic Photo Contest)#
16THE FISHING VILLAGES OF XIAPU (Places) - The picturesque fishing villages in Xiapu of Fujian province, China attracted me to keep visiting over the years. But I think her beautiful landscapes are best pictured in rainy season. (Photo and caption by Michael LAM/National Geographic Photo Contest)#
17HAGIA SOPHIA MUSEUM (Places) - Hagia Sophia is the one of the most visited museums and most prominent monuments in the world in terms of the art and history of architecture. It has been called “the eighth wonder of the world” by East Roman Philon as far back as the 6th century. It was used as a church for 916 years, but following the conquest of Istanbul, the Hagia Sophia was converted into a mosque. It was used as a mosque for 482 years, and then converted to a museum in 1935. (Photo and caption by Melih Sular/National Geographic Photo Contest)#
18CATCHING FISH (Places) - The fishers caught fish in the night. They use the fire to bring the fish close to the boat and then catch them. (Photo and caption by Chang Ming Chih/National Geographic Photo Contest)#
19GOLDEN HOUR CHARM (Nature) – This photo was taken on the side of the road in Southern Pennsylvania during the infamous "Golden Hour". (Photo and caption by Mandy Michels/National Geographic Photo Contest)#
20TEA TESTING (People) - After the harvest and the processing, in a tea factory, tea is tasted to determine the different quality of the tea. (Photo and caption by Edoardo Agresti/National Geographic Photo Contest)#
21ONNO (People) - A little girl, called Onno, after working in an Arbore farm in Omo Valley, Ethiopia. The Arbore tribe lives in the driest area of Omo Valley. They lives thanks to cows, goats and the they grow sorgo. (Photo and caption by Juan Carlos Ruiz Duarte/National Geographic Photo Contest) #
22COLORFUL MANSION (Places) - Art mansion. (Photo and caption by Hideyuki Katagiri/National Geographic Photo Contest)#
23AUTUMN WOODS (Places) - A shot of autumn woods taken at Queenstown, New Zealand. Looking down from a hot air balloon, the photographer tried to capture a moment of peace and tranquility manifested by a palette of autumn colors. (Photo and caption by Po Chun Hsu/National Geographic Photo Contest)#
24cTWO FISHERMEN (People) - The shoal is one of the most fascinating places in Xiapu, China. Fishermen farm fish, shrimp, and oysters and plant seaweed along this coastal area. (Photo and caption by Peng Jiang/National Geographic Photo Contest)#
25TREES AND THE BLUE POND (Nature) - This pond is located in a small town, on a northern island, Japan. The trees standing in the pond are sapless white birch. The blue color of the pond is natural; ingredients from a hot spring are thought to be the cause, the color changes according to the season, weather and time. I took this photo in the early morning in June this year. (Photo and caption by Yukio Miki/National Geographic Photo Contest)#
26BOLD & SHY (People) - The unlucky car breakdown turned lucky when I found this school in a small village Khangral in Kargil on the way to Leh from Srinagar. The teachers also let me and my friends in to take pictures and most of the kids were excited about it. Some were shy and kept hiding while this little girl enjoyed the limelight. (Photo and caption by Anjum Vahanvati/National Geographic Photo Contest)#
27STILT FISHING (People) - Stilt fishing is a typical fishing technique only seen in Sri Lanka. The fishermen sit on a cross bar called a petta, tied to a vertical pole planted into the coral reef. This long exposure shows how unstable their position is. (Photo and caption by Ulrich Lambert/National Geographic Photo Contest)#
28PIECE OF HEAVEN (Places) - Jamnik, a small village in Slovenia. One morning in autumn, fog was just in the right height at the right time. The atmosphere was heavenly, unforgettable. (Photo and caption by Janez Tolar/National Geographic Photo Contest)#
29TRONA PINNACLES (Places) - We were leaving Trona Pinnacles after spending the night there when I looked back and saw the hazy morning light striking the landscape in a really magical way. I used the 300mm setting on my lens to compress the pinnacles up against the mountains in the background. I converted the picture to black and white to emphasize the shapes of the pinnacles and their relationship to the mountains. (Photo and caption by Bill Sharpsteen/National Geographic Photo Contest)#
30EPHEMERAL WORLD (Places) - I ventured to Mendenhall Lake and Glacier on many occasions during my visits to Juneau, always admiring the scene. But, on this morning, I arrived just in time to capture Mother Nature's most amazing show: the combination of dark mountain ridgelines, icebergs and water movement accentuated by the misty morning clouds and mirror-like water made for a truly striking image. I stood in awe from the wonder. (Photo and caption by Julia Thomsen/National Geographic Photo Contest)#
31FURY AND THE SEA (Nature) - I had my first visit to the Oregon coast this summer. I was standing on a sea rock in a morning during high tide trying capture some shots of the crashing waves. The water levels were getting higher and higher and I realized the whole area would soon be immersed. It was my first time facing and feeling the fury of the sea at such close distance. For millions of years, human beings have been living on this planet and feeling the power of Mother Nature. (Photo and caption by Cheng Niu/National Geographic Photo Contest)#
32THE BATTLE OF FLOUR #1 (People) - This particular battle takes place during the traditional parade of Citta della Pieve. The three Terzieri challenge each other with blows of bags of flour in a spectacular and chaotic battle. The air quickly becomes saturated with flour and in some moments is difficult to breathe. (Photo and caption by Andrea Cittadini/National Geographic Photo Contest)#
33ARANJUEZ I (Places) - Winter in Aranjuez. (Photo and caption by Antonio Martin Ballesteros/National Geographic Photo Contest)
Collected , Edited And Report By:
Pilot / Tarek Elagamy
2012
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