Sometimes photographers are capable of capturing the most magnificent shots of their lives. Without warning, something remarkable and huge is caught! There are plenty of examples of these types of stunning photographs in this year’s National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest.
The 24th annual run of the National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest has some spectacular images in the running under four categories: Travel Portraits, Outdoor Scenes, Sense of Place, and Spontaneous Moments. There are hundreds and thousands of breathtaking nature photos, supreme architectural landscapes, and multicultural portraits to go through online.
Nat Geo Traveler Photo Contest has already ended and the photo with the highest average rating will be declared the Viewers’ Choice winner in August. While waiting for the results, why not have a look at some top photographs captured by great photographers.
There were about 12,000 entries submitted in this contest and it’s impossible to list all of them here. So in this post we listed only 15 breathtaking photos from the contest gallery for your inspiration and give you chance to have a look at rest of the photo entries yourself.
If you like this article, you might be interested in other article on Hand-Picked Wallpapers from National Geographic.
NatGeo Traveler Photo Contest
Lava Kiss
Photographer Dallas Nagata White was spontaneously dipped and kissed by her husband in the rain amidst an active flow of lava in the former Royal Gardens subdivision above Kalapana, Hawaii. It was a truly once-in-a-lifetime moment!
(© Dallas Nagata White/National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest)
Spiral Down
The beautiful spiral staircase in the Vatican Museum.
(© Syaza Mohammed Shakharulain/National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest)
Woman Milks a Yak
A Nomad woman milking a yak on the grasslands of Sichuan, China after a snowfall the night before.
(© John Quintero/National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest)
Fly by
This photo was taken on the ice near Arctic Bay last month. It is the highest latitude passenger flight on a hot air balloon ever. The iceberg in the photo looks like two but it’s one.
(© Michelle Valberg/National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest)
The Cave
Deep, blue and cold. The frightening experience of climbing inside an ice cave on the north face of alpine summit at 3,800 m above sea level is very difficult to describe in words. Especially in summer, when all the glacial ice melts making the place for completely new formations. You need to stay focused, pay attention to every single move and commit yourself entirely to this climb. The reward! An amazing experience of climbing something pure and truly unique.
(© Kamil Tamiola/National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest)
Leading Lines
A slow shutter image of the Kuching Waterfront located in Sarawak, Malaysia.
(© Sharkawi Che Din/National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest)
Stacked Supercell with Lightning
This huge mesocyclone supercell was near the Nebraska / Kansas border on the night of June 22nd, 2012. What a stunning structure!
(© Jennifer Brindley/National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest)
Blizka
The Buzludzha Monument on a 1,441-meter-high peak was built by the Bulgarian communist regime to commemorate events in 1891 when the socialists led by Dimitar Blagoev assembled secretly in the area to form an organized socialist movement. It was opened in 1981. No longer maintained by the Bulgarian government, it has fallen into disuse. Approaching and visiting the building in the middle of winter is a real adventure.
(© Thomas Jorion/National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest)
Sunrise on Palouse Hills
The sun’s first rays warm the rolling hills of the Palouse Country in Eastern Washington.
(© Randall Roberts/National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest)
Broken Home
While storm chasing in the spring of 2011, the photographer, Jeff Berkes came across this unique spot as a hail storm was approaching. He only had 7 minutes to set up his gear before the storm slammed into him. Quarter-sized hail, tremendous lighting and strong winds accompanied this storm.
(© Jeff Berkes/National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest)
Underwater Surf
Taken at Cloud Break at an outer reef in Fiji, a surfer duck dives his board to clear the rolling waves of the raw ocean.
(© Lucia Griggi/National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest)
Maiko
Picture was taken in Kyoto, Japan. Her name is Toshimana, a Maiko in Kyoto, Japan. I caught her on her walk in small alley ways of Shijou. Being denied the first time for a picture she gave me a few seconds on her walk back.
(© Seiya Bowen/National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest)
Reality
Spotted this old beggar at the entrance of the Gadaladeniya Temple, Pilimathalawa, Kandy, Sri Lanka. He was so quiet, seated on ground very still and was staring at the temple with his deep eyes. Wrinkles on his face and his deep eyes tell the story of a life.
(© Sachi Wickramage/National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest)
Good Bye Old Friend
Elephants are legendary for their memory and intelligence including attributes associated with grief, making music, altruism and compassion. Came across this elephant whose corpse was overcome by vultures and jackals. From a distance heard and then saw another elephant approaching at a fast pace. She was successful at chasing away the predators and then very slowly and with much empathy wrapped her trunk around the deceased elephants tusk. She stayed in this position for several hours guarding her friend.
(© John Chaney/National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest)
Dragon Wave
This photo was taken from the rocks at Ke’e beach, as a wave formed into the shape of a dragon.
(© Lace Andersen/National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest)
via [the Atlantic]
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