The Daily Beast - National Geographic Photo Contest Winners - January 17, 2012

 

Shikhei Goh of Indonesia is the winner of the 2011 National Geographic Photography Contest.

More than 20,000 photographs were submitted to the contest from over 130 countries, with both professional photographers and amateur photo enthusiasts participating. Photographs were submitted in three categories: people, places and nature.

Here are a selection of images from the Nature category.

The winning submissions can be viewed at http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/ngm/photo-contest/. Users also can download wallpapers and jigsaw puzzles of contest entries. 

 

2011 National Geographic Photo Contest

Nature Category:
Grand Prize Winner and Nature Winner
“Splashing”
Photo and caption by Shikhei Goh  

This photo was taken when I was taking photos of other insects, as I normally did during macro photo hunting. I wasn’t actually aware of this dragonfly since I was occupied with other objects. When I was about to take a picture of it, it suddenly rained, but the lighting was just superb. I decided to take the shot regardless of the rain. The result caused me to be overjoyed, and I hope it pleases viewers.

Location: Batam, Riau Islands, Indonesia

 

2011 National Geographic Photo Contest

Honorable Mention
“The Hunt”
Photo and caption by Stefano Pesarelli   

I personally believe that, beyond the formal representation of reality, mediated by the technical instruments necessary to fix an image in time, photography is made of insights. The shot is the last act of image capturing and in many ways the easiest part of the whole process. This panning effect, even in its imperfection, with the chromatic harmony of the background, with all the needless information eliminated and the luck of having the big cat’s lifted tail in symmetry with the impala horns, brings the observer inside the hunting without distractions.

Location: Kenya, Masai Mara National Reserve

 

   

2011 National Geographic Photo Contest

Honorable Mention
“Blue Pond & First Snow”
Photo and caption by Kent Shiraishi  

 
The blue pond of the famous tourist resort. This is a place where many tourists gather in spring, summer, and autumn. However, since this pond freezes in winter, nobody is there during that period. This photograph is the moment of the first snow of the season falling on that blue pond. We can see the first snow of the season beginning at the end of October. Why is the pond blue? Because the underground hot spring ingredient is gushing. This blue pond changes color every day. I think that mystical blue and pure white snow are beautiful. All are nature's tints.

Location: Biei, Hokkaido, Japan

 

2011 National Geographic Photo Contest

Honorable Mention
“Sunrising Jellyfish”
Photo and caption by Angel Fitor   

Jellyfish (Cotylorhiza tuberculata) drifting just beneath the surface, looking to capture the first sunrays to trigger their symbiotic algae to produce energy for it.

Location: Mar Menor coastal lagoon, Murcia province, Spain

 

2011 National Geographic Photo Contest

Honorable Mention
“Panic in the Pan”
Photo and caption by Marius Coetzee   

I was leading a photographic safari in Tanzania's Serengeti National Park. It was midday and we came across a dazzle of zebra approaching a waterhole to quench their thirst. Every few minutes the zebras will enter the water to drink, just to panic and scatter out of the water again.

Location: Serengeti National Park, Tanzania