Selection Of Amazing Photos From The National Geographic 2015 Photo Contest
The annual National Geographic Photo Contest is now accepting entries. Every year photographers from around the globe share photographs that transport us to another place, connect with us emotionally, or stir us to action.
Official categories are People, Places, and Nature. Visit weekly to see photo galleries featuring the top entries and download stunning wallpapers of your favorite photos.
Have you taken the winning picture? Show us your best and submit your photos for a chance to win $10,000.
Mystical light in magical Machu Picchu
After a hard and demanding 5 day trek to this wonder, we rested our weary legs while patiently waiting for the clouds to part and the sun’s rays to hit the sweet spot in the the centre of the ceremonial palace in the complex and we were not disappointed, we were greeted with some magical light. Just Divine. Location: Machu Picchu, Cusco, Peru
Photo and caption by Kannan V. / 2015 National Geographic Photo Contest
Innocence of a Queen
Beautiful lioness capturing during an heli flight over the Okavango Delta, Botswana. We were quite lucky to find this lioness by helicopter walking in this beautiful green grass of the delta. She was then looking at me and there’s nothing in Africa so intense as a lion looking right at you. Believe me, zoo lions can’t do this.
Photo and caption by Chris Schmid / 2015 National Geographic Photo Contest
Crazy Journey
Bangladeshis sleep on the roof of a moving train as they rush home to their respective villages to be with their families, in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Location: Mymensingh, Dhaka, Bangladesh
Photo and caption by A.M. Ahad / 2015 National Geographic Photo Contest
Life and Line
Electricians are working on a wire above the ground without any safety measures in Dhaka, Bangladesh on 14 May 2014. All linemen, especially those who deal with live electrical apparatus should use personal protective equipment as protection against inadvertent contact. Most of the times in Bangladesh, electricians work without any safety measures like rubber gloves, rubber sleeves, bucket liners and protective blankets etc. Location: Dhaka, Dhaka, Bangladesh
Photo and caption by Probal Rashid / 2015 National Geographic Photo Contest
The Secrets of Cady Creek
A year ago I discovered a place that glows with hundreds of fire flies on warm summer evenings. With the perfect weather I set out to capture what I had envisioned a year earlier. Waiting for darkness to consume the valley I watched as the fire flies began to come to life. Glowing here and there like the stars burning in the sky. With a group of hundreds of fire flies glowing in front of me I waited for our Milky Way galaxy to get in the right position. Arching just above the bluffs. Location: Elmwood, Wisconsin, United States
Photo and caption by Adam Dorn / 2015 National Geographic Photo Contest
Kyrgyz Hunter
High up in the Kyrgyz mountains, the almost extinct eagle hunters are found. The eagles are captured as a hatchlings and are trained to hunt. Once a bond forms with its handler, the bond last forever. Together, the hunter and the eagle hunts, becoming a silent form of death for its preys.
Photo and caption by Shimri Lim / 2015 National Geographic Photo Contest
Oxford Circus
Crowd Taken immediately after Jessie J’s performance, when the tube station was closed due to overcrowding. Members of the public could be seen entertaining themselves in various ways at the entrance to Oxford Circus Station. A raremoment in an ever-bustling city. Location: London, England, United Kingdom
Photo and caption by Yifei Zheng / 2015 National Geographic Photo Contest
After the Race
Cx rider just after the finish line
Photo and caption by Bram Paulussen / 2015 National Geographic Photo Contest
Buffalo Race
Traditional buffalo racing in west Bali. Hundreds of pairs of buffaloes are teamed up together with their jockeys riding the traditional wooden ploughs that are slightly modified for the competition
Photo and caption by Bram Paulussen / 2015 National Geographic Photo Contest
Godafoss
The big waterfall in Iceland this is Godafoss. “You should have been there”
Photo and caption by Fortunato Matteo / 2015 National Geographic Photo Contest
Evening streeeetch
This was one of the most curious interactive squirrels I have ever come across. We sat down to enjoy the view and have a snooze and we were interrupted by this little guy scurrying over our camera bags. He was trying to reach for a friends camera that was also taking pictures just out of my frame.
Photo and caption by Ian Duncan / 2015 National Geographic Photo Contest
The Blue Universe
I took this picture at Hitachi Seaside Park in Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan last year. The flowers are baby blue eyes and the whole number of them in the park are 4.5 millions. The best season is usually from the end of April to the first week of May. I am going to the blue universe again this year to photograph. It’ll be worth just visiting the world. Camera shutter or your eye’s shutter. You would be happy in this world. Location: Mawatari, Ibaraki, Japan
Photo and caption byHiroki Kondo / 2015 National Geographic Photo Contest
Rapa das Bestas
Rapa das Bestas is the name of an operation that involves cutting the manes of the wild horses who live free at the mountains in a semi-feral state and that are performed in the curros (enclosed which retain the horses) held in various locations in Galicia,Spain.The best known is the Rapa das Bestas of Sabucedo, in the city hall of A Estrada, which lasts three days: the First Saturday, Sunday and Monday in July. Location: Sabucedo, Galicia, Spain
Photo and caption by Javier Arcenillas / 2015 National Geographic Photo Contest
Golden Gate Crossings
I was very fortunate to be given the opportunity to take a “tower tour” of the Golden Gate Bridge south tower. Just as I was about to take the long elevator ride back down, I saw an approaching cargo ship and I quickly set up my tripod for what was my very last shot atop the iconic bridge. Location: San Francisco, California, United States
Photo and caption by Ross Barringer / 2015 National Geographic Photo Contest
“In the realm of cotton grass marsh”
Sunset evening in the forest at the cotton grass marsh . Vaginal cotton grass – a perennial herb , typical of peat bogs . The photo was taken in the forest . Tyumen region, Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous District. August 2014. Location: Novyy Urengoy, Yamalo-Nenetskiy Avtonomnyy Okrug, Russia
Photo and caption by Kamil Nureev / 2015 National Geographic Photo Contest
The Reckoning Days XI
Andrew climbs to dizzying heights inside the new bin that they hope will soon be full of grain, if only the rain will stop falling and the combines could whirl, cut and spit. Location: New Raymer, Colorado, United States
Photo and caption by Elliot Ross / 2015 National Geographic Photo Contest
A P-3 Orion submarine hunting aircraft takes off on a mission. Operational since 1954, the P-3 still performs antisubmarine warfare in locations around the world. Set to phase out by 2020, this aircraft will be over 65 years old. Location: Kailua, Hawaii, United States
Photo and caption by Aaron Rosa / 2015 National Geographic Photo Contest
Here, humans are the minority…
This was shot in South Georgia in december ’14. It was probably the most intense moment of my whole trip to antarctica – it’s just overwhelming standing in there between hundreds of thousands of penguins – it’s not a bad “minority feeling”, but more of a peaceful reassurance that – at least in some places – our planet is still as beautiful as it was before mankind started having a go at it. THANK YOU to all those countries and individuals involved in keeping places like these intact!
Photo and caption by Steffen Flügel / 2015 National Geographic Photo Contest
Caretaker
This is my youngest daughter, combing my middle daughter’s hair while she eats lunch on a lazy Saturday. This was an unplanned moment that illustrates how much my toddler loves and cares for her big sister. She was tenderly petting her and asking if she was O.K. in between strokes. Location: East Falmouth, Massachusetts, United States
Photo and caption by Jessica Orlowicz / 2015 National Geographic Photo Contest
Entering the Void
A climber rappels into a crevasse while exploring the Hayden Glacier on Middle Sister in the Oregon Cascades. Entering these deep dark spaces makes a person consider the immense size, age, and power of these living rivers of ice. The Hayden glacier was far more broken up then normal for this time of year and crevasses like this one were abundant. Taken on a Canon 7d with a Tokina 11-16mm f2.8 lens. June, 2015. Location: Sisters, Oregon, United States
Photo and caption by D. Briggs / 2015 National Geographic Photo Contest
Two Generations
The Chinese Opera, a custom brought over from Mainland China during the migration of The Chinese People during the 1900s, remains deeply entrenched within the Malaysian Chinese communities. The Opera performs mainly during the 7th Lunar Month of the Chinese calendar, when the souls from the Gates of Hell are released. This shot shows the evolution of the opera, of a sexily clad singer taking her selfie and a traditional artist preparing herself. Location: Kuala Lumpur, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Photo and caption by Nick Ng / 2015 National Geographic Photo Contest
Dressed for Adventure
Whilst shooting the majestic Southern Stingray in the crystal clear water of the Sandbar in Grand Cayman, I was stunned when this newly wed couple arrived, the bride was still in her wedding dress! This shot “Dressed for Adventure” for me captures the beginning of a new life together, one where a couple will brave the troubles of the world hand in hand. The couple march confidently towards the clouds in the frame ignoring the beasts at their feet, this is an adventure they will seek together.
Photo and caption by jennifer jo stock / 2015 National Geographic Photo Contest
Toss
Fishermen finished fishing and came back to a port. A man was throwing fish straight up. He had extremely precise skill to toss. It was so powerful and beautiful scene. Location: Essaouira, Marrakech-Tensift-Al Haouz, Morocco
Photo and caption by Hideki Mizuta / 2015 National Geographic Photo Contest
Lightning at horseshoe
I’ve got several lightning shots at horseshoe bend while I traveled this canyon last time but this is the most I like. The reason why I like is because the lightning has a solid line and I can actually see the lightning is hitting the hill and it also reflected in the water. It’s just amazing and beautiful. In addition, I can see the actual movement of the storm in the picture that makes this scene alive.
Photo and caption by J. Cho / 2015 National Geographic Photo Contest
Kids playing on the minaret
Reina and her friends are playing on the main minaret of the Grand Mosque in Bani during Eid al-Fitr. Location: Bani, Nord, Burkina Faso
Photo and caption by Matjaz Krivic / 2015 National Geographic Photo Contest
Follow The Leader
It’s just past 6AM, and it’s -25° on our last day in Antarctica. With wind so strong it’s difficult to walk and stay upright, I decide to lay flat on the frozen ground to watch Gentoo Penguins move from the water to their nests on Cuverville Island. As the strong winds whip up fine layers of ice and snow over the horizon, two lone penguins follow each other battling with Mother Nature in one of the harshest environments on the planet.
Photo and caption by Anthony Ponzo / 2015 National Geographic Photo Contest
Hold Tight
A woman holds her child close during a sandstorm in a Maasi village in the Monduli region near Arusha, Tanzania, Africa. Location: Monduli, Arusha, Tanzania
Photo and caption by Clay Cook / 2015 National Geographic Photo Contest
Matterhorn – Switzerland’s alpine emblem
The famous Matterhorn (14,692-foot /4,478-meter) is an iconic emblem of Switzerland and Alps , but also the most-photographed mountain in the world. I want to add an element in the image that convey the eye to the pyramid shaped mountain. The best time to photograph the Matterhorn is during the sunrise when the top become red. Location: Zermatt, Valais, Switzerland
Photo and caption by Alessandra Meniconzi / 2015 National Geographic Photo Contest