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US Garrett McNamara (L) and US Mark Healey (R) compete during a free session of surf tow in, in the southern Pacific ocean island of Tahiti, French Polynesia, on June 1, 2013 in Teahupoo.
GREGORY BOISSY/AFP/Getty Images
US Garrett McNamara (L) and US Mark Healey (R) compete during a free session of surf tow in, in the southern Pacific ocean island of Tahiti, French Polynesia, on June 1, 2013 in Teahupoo.
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REUTERS/Soe Zeya
A boy carries plastics sheets to use as shelter at a Rohingya internally displaced person (IDP) camp outside of Sittwe, May 15, 2013. Authorities in Myanmar struggled on Wednesday to evacuate tens of thousands of people, most of them Rohingya Muslims, before Cyclone Mahasen reaches camps in low-lying regions that have been their home since ethnic and religious unrest last year.
The winners have been announced for the 25th annual National Geographic Traveler photo contest — featuring some stunning pictures of people, places and things from around the globe. They're still taking submissions, for all you globe-trotting photographers. Here is a selection of our favourites that have already been entered:
A fisherman casts his net on Bira Beach in Indonesia. Dody Kusuma photo
Mikael Ande, a child of Sami reindeer herders, takes a break indoors after a long, cold day of rounding up the animals for vaccinations and slaughter. Children of reindeer herders learn to handle these animals and the land they thrive in from infancy — young Mikael here knew far more about the ways of nature than I could ever hope to learn. Michelle Schantz photo
I found this girl in a monastery in Jakar, posing at the door of the main entrance to the chapel. Juan Abal Lopez photo
A scientist climbs out of an ice cave formed by volcanic vents near the summit of Mt. Erebus, Antarctica. Alasdair Turner photo
More photos after the jump:
Continue reading "Highlights from the 2013 National Geographic Traveler photo contest" »
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This picture taken on April 8, 2013, shows icicles hanging on flowers in a garden in Hami, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. A sharp temperature decrease has hit this area following a strong cold air.
Cherry blossoms are in full bloom in Kyoto, Japan — the blooming period runs from the end of March to the beginning of April. Getty photographer Buddhika Weerasinghe captured these beauties on April 5, 2013 in Kyoto, Japan.
Maruyama Park
On the Okazaki canal
Imperial Palace Park
A bee buzzes at the Imperial Palace
On the Okazaki canal
Adam Pretty of Getty Images captured these intricate, art-like detailed views the sandstone inside the ruins at Petra in Jordan. Photographed on March 29, 2013.
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Gale force winds from the North makes a spectacular picture at the harbour in Seaham, northeast England, as they batter the seafront, Feb. 6, 2013. Many parts of Britain are braced for a predicted return of snow and gale force winds over the coming days. (AP Photo / Owen Humphreys, PA)
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National Geographic to Celebrate 125th Anniversary
On Jan. 13, 2013, the National Geographic Society will celebrate its 125th anniversary and its evolution from a small scientific body founded “to increase and diffuse geographic knowledge” to one of the world’s largest educational and scientific organizations, committed to inspiring people to care about the planet.
Renowned for its storytelling, photography, maps and support of exploration and conservation, the Society will mark its anniversary reaffirming its role at the forefront of discovery and adventure and looking forward to “A New Age of Exploration.”
Here's a look back at some of Geographic's iconic photographs. Do you remember the touching moment between primatologist and NG grantee Jane Goodall and a young chimp at Tanzania's Gombe Stream Reserve? Or perhaps the striking photograph of a young Afghan girl in a Pakistan refugee camp?
1985 | Afghanistan
Steve McCurry’s iconic photograph of a young Afghan girl in a Pakistan refugee camp appeared on the cover of National Geographic magazine’s June 1985 issue and became the most famous cover image in the magazine’s history.
Photo © Steve McCurry/National Geographic
1909 | CANADA
National Geographic funded Cmdr. Robert E. Peary’s 1909 expedition to the North Pole. Whether Peary and his assistant, Matthew Henson, reached the Pole or not, they came closer to that goal than anyone before them.
Photo © Robert E. Peary Collection, NGS
1969 | THE MOON
Astronaut Buzz Aldrin walks on the Moon’s Sea of Tranquility, his visor reflecting Neil Armstrong and the lunar module Eagle. The Apollo 11 astronauts carried the National Geographic Society flag with them on their journey to the Moon.
Photo credit: NASA
1909 | ALASKA, UNITED STATES
Washing his films in iceberg-choked seawater was an everyday chore for photographer Oscar D. Von Engeln during the summer months he spent on a National Geographic-sponsored expedition in Alaska.
Photo © Oscar D. Von Engeln
1964 | TANZANIA
A touching moment between primatologist and National Geographic grantee Jane Goodall and young chimpanzee Flint at Tanzania’s Gombe Stream Reserve.
Photo © Hugo van Lawick
1931 | AFGHANISTAN
In his favorite picture, legendary National Geographic photojournalist Maynard Owen Williams marveled how, in this Herat, Afghanistan, bazaar, no one blinked during the three seconds required to make the exposure.
Photo © Maynard Owen Williams
1926 | DRY TORTUGAS
Using a brassbound waterproof camera and dragging a raft rigged with a pound of explosive flash powder — the equivalent of 2,400 flashbulbs — marine biologist William Longley and National Geographic photographer Charles Martin stalked the shallows around the Dry Tortugas, making the first natural-color underwater images.
Photo © W. H. Longley and Charles Martin
1938 | EGYPT
Three figures on camelback behold the pyramids of Giza.
Photo © B. Anthony Stewart
1991 | NORTH ATLANTIC
Rusted prow of the R.M.S. Titanic, which sank in the North Atlantic after hitting an iceberg in April 1912.
Photo © Emory Kristof
ANTARCTICA
An emperor penguin, outfitted with a Crittercam system designed by marine biologist and National Geographic staff member Greg Marshall, becomes an unwitting cameraman for a National Geographic documentary.
Photo © Greg Marshall
BRITISH COLUMBIA, CANADA
In a moss-draped rain forest in British Columbia, towering red cedars live a thousand years, and black bears have white coats. They are known to the local people as spirit bears.
Photo © Paul Nicklen
1963 | NEPAL
The first American team to summit Mount Everest in 1963 included National Geographic’s Barry Bishop.
Photo © Barry Bishop
UGANDA
A lion climbs a tree to sleep, in Uganda’s Queen Elizabeth Park.
Photo © Joel Sartore
National Geographic - 1st Magazine cover
The first issue of National Geographic magazine was sent to 200 charter members in October 1888.
Tune in to the Hangout featuring Robert Ballard, James Cameron and Jane Goodall on Air this Sunday, January 13 at 1 p.m. ET (6 p.m. UTC). http://on.natgeo.com/WEBZcd
In this Jan. 4, 2013, photo provided by the Holmes family, Tammy Holmes, second from left, and her grandchildren, two-year-old Charlotte Walker, left, four-year-old Esther Walker, third from left, nine-year-old Liam Walker, eleven-year-old Matilda, second from right, and six-year-old Caleb Walker, right, take refuge under a jetty as a wildfire rages near-by in the Tasmanian town of Dunalley, east of the state capital of Hobart, Australia. The family credits God with their survival from the fire that destroyed around 90 homes in Dunalley. Record temperatures across southern Australia cooled Wednesday, Jan. 9, 2013, reducing the danger from scores of raging wildfires but likely bringing only a brief reprieve from the summer’s extreme heat and fire risk. (AP Photo/Holmes Family, Tim Holmes)
As a leader in capturing our world through brilliant imagery, National Geographic sets the standard for photographic excellence. More than 22,000 entries were submitted from over 150 countries, with professional photographers and amateur photo enthusiasts across the globe participating. Photographs were submitted in three categories: people, places and nature. The competition was judged on creativity and photographic quality by a panel of experts comprised of natural history photographer Christian Zeiglerand documentary photographers Gerd Ludwig and Debbie Fleming Caffery. Here are some of the winning images and honorable mentions–plus the Viewers' Choice winners.
The Grand Prize Winner will receive $10,000 and a trip to National Geographic headquarters in Washington, D.C., to participate in the annual National Geographic Photography Seminar in January 2013.
First Place for People: Amongst the Scavengers
Photo and caption by Micah Albert/National Geographic Photo Contest
At the end of the day women are allowed to pick through the dumpsite.
Honorable Mention: East of Iceland
Photo and caption by Eric Guth/National Geographic Photo Contest
Glacial ice washes ashore after calving off the Breiamerkurjˆkull glacier on Iceland's eastern coast. During the waning light of summer this image was created over the course of a 4 minute exposure while the photographer backlit the grounded glacial ice with a headlamp for 2 of those 4 minutes.
Honorable Mention: Chinese traditional dragon boat racing
Photo and caption by关嘉城/National Geographic Photo Contest
Dragon boating is a chinese traditional entertainment. As an acquatic sport to memorise qu yuan, a patriotic poet in ancient china, it is usually held in festivals, which can be traced back to two thousands years ago.
Honorable Mention: Captive
Photo and caption by Wendell Phillips/National Geographic Photo Contest
Yayasan Galuh Rehabilitation Center is and impoverished mental health facility based in Bekasi, Indonesia that hosts over 250 patients. Most come from poor families no longer interested in managing their condition, or are unable. Some patients are homeless, deposited after being taken off streets by police The only medical treatment received is for skin conditions. No assessments, psychotherapy or psychiatric medications is available. Over one third of the patients are shackled in chains. These measures are implemented to those thought to be violent, uncontrolable and dangerous.
Honorable Mention: Eerie Eiffel
Photo and caption by Indra Swari Wonowidjojo/National Geographic Photo Contest
The winter gloomy day worked to my advantage to create this eerie feeling of the famous landmark Eiffel tower.
Viewers’ Choice for People: Expedition Amundsen
Photo and caption by Kai-Otto Melau/National Geographic Photo Contest
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 the conquering of the South Pole. The group in the picture used the race as preparations for an attempt to cross Greenland.
Viewers’ Choice for Places: Iceberg Hunters
Photo and caption by Adam Coish/National Geographic Photo Contest
Chipping ice off an iceberg is a common way for the Inuit community to retrieve fresh drinking water while on the land. During a weekend long hunting trip, we came upon this majestic iceberg frozen in place. It was a perfect opportunity to grab enough ice and drinking water for the remainder of the trip.
Honorable Mention: Stilt Fishing
Photo and caption by Ulrich Lambert/National Geographic Photo Contest
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 shot shows how unstable their position is.
Grand-Prize: The Explosion!
Photo and caption by Ashley Vincent/National Geographic Photo Contest
The subject's name is Busaba, a well cared for Indochinese Tigress whose home is at Khao Kheow Open Zoo, Thailand. I had taken many portraits of Busaba previously and it was becoming more and more difficult to come up with an image that appeared any different to the others. Which is why I took to observing her more carefully during my visits in the hope of capturing something of a behavioural shot. The opportunity finally presented itself while watching Busaba enjoying her private pool then shaking herself dry. In all humility I have to say that Mother Nature smiled favourably on me that day!
For more winning images in the Nature category, please visit the Daily Beast blog.
