The 2016 National Geographic Travel Photographer of the Year Contest is underway *Last call for entries! Contest closes May 27, 2016*

National Geographic invites photographers to submit photos for the opportunity to be named the 2016 National Geographic Travel Photographer of the Year.

The grand-prize award winner will earn the prestigious title and also receive a seven-day Polar Bear Photo Safari for two at Churchill Wild–Seal River Heritage Lodge, a National Geographic Unique Lodge of the World.

Our friends at National Geographic have let us share some highlights from this year’s contest. Visit the official contest page for more information.

 

Edge of the world

download

Photo and caption by Federica Violin / National Geographic Travel Photographer of the Year Contest

This photo was taken on a summer morning. The weather is not prefaced any good, the mountains were completely shrouded by clouds. Only 5 short minutes the clouds have left to breathe a bit ‘mountains before covering all again.
Location: Ortisei, Trentino-Alto Adige, Italy

Mystical Forest

081 The 2016 National Geographic Travel Photographer of the Year Contest (15 Photos)

 

You don’t need to travel far from cities to visit Narnia. This 7 gill shark was photographed in a kelp forest just off the shore of Simonstown near Cape Town. Location: Simon’s Town, Western Cape, South Africa.

Location: Simonstown, South Africa

 

 

River Delta 6

071 The 2016 National Geographic Travel Photographer of the Year Contest (15 Photos)

 

One of a series of aerial shots taken from a helicopter over the fabulous river deltas in South Iceland. This one depicts the end of the journey for one river as it winds its way to the ocean. The brilliant colors are a result of mineral deposits picked up by the glacial waters. We were lucky to shoot on a gorgeously sunny day which really brought out the colors.

Location: Southern Iceland

 

 

Colorful Market

041 The 2016 National Geographic Travel Photographer of the Year Contest (15 Photos)

 

Colorful market in Bangkok city, Thailand.

Location: Bangkok, Thailand

 

 

…but I am not the only one

18 The 2016 National Geographic Travel Photographer of the Year Contest (15 Photos)

 

A lonely zebra in the midst of a field full of flowers.

Location: Near Serengeti National Park, Tanzania, Africa.

 

 

Midnight Thirst

051 The 2016 National Geographic Travel Photographer of the Year Contest (15 Photos)

 

In the still of a star lit night, buffalo cautiously approach to quench their thirst. A long exposure with light painting allows me to capture the moment forever.

Location: South Africa

 

 

Time To Go Home 07

121 The 2016 National Geographic Travel Photographer of the Year Contest (15 Photos)

 

The youngsters are having fun at the roof top of the train. There are too many people who rushing home after the Bishwa Ijtema at Tongi train station of Bangladesh.

Location: Bangladesh

 

 

The Colourful Ho Chi Minh City

22 The 2016 National Geographic Travel Photographer of the Year Contest (15 Photos)

 

This is taken from the 12th floor of a hostel. Me and my friends were amazed how beautiful is the night view, let alone the vibrant side of Ho Chi Minh City in the morning.

Location: Cây Bàng Một, Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam

 

 

Bears on a Berg

 

This photo was taken far out on the sea ice in the Davis Straight off the coast of Baffin Island. This mother and her yearling are perched atop a huge snow covered iceberg that got “socked in” when the ocean froze over for the winter. To me, the relative “smallness” of these large creatures when compared to the immensity of the iceberg in the photo represents the precariousness of the polar bear’s reliance on the sea and sea ice for its existence.

LOCATION:

Qikiqtarjuaq, Nunavut, Canada

 

 

First Light – Two Medicine Lake

031 The 2016 National Geographic Travel Photographer of the Year Contest (15 Photos)

 

Two Medicine Lake, Glacier National Park, Montana – We drove early morning from St. Mary’s Lodge to see the sunrise at Two Medicine lake in Glacier National Park. There were no clouds but the lake water was so calm, it created perfect reflection of the red light kissing the Sinopah Mountain. As there was no wind in the morning, the colorful rocks in the foreground were visible. Location: Two Medicine Lake, Glacier National Park, Montana

 

 

Gentle Giants

19 The 2016 National Geographic Travel Photographer of the Year Contest (15 Photos)

 

Elephants hold onto each others tails as they walk the fields of The Crags Elephant Sanctuary, Plettenberg Bay. Location: Plettenberg Bay, Western Cape, South Africa

 

 

On fire @ Pinnacles WA

20 The 2016 National Geographic Travel Photographer of the Year Contest (15 Photos)

 

Fire on the ROCKS!

 

 

Rain in the Desert

16 The 2016 National Geographic Travel Photographer of the Year Contest (15 Photos)

 

Over the last 7 years I had one aim – photograph rain in the driest desert of Africa. In 2015 finally I found the rain. In the breathtaking scenery of the Namibrand-Park right at the border of the Namib Naukluft Nationalpark. An enormous thunderstorm came in and the setting sun created a wonderful rainbow. The challenge was, to not have my shadow in the picture.

Location: Namib Naukluft Nationalpark

 

 

On the Top of the World

151 The 2016 National Geographic Travel Photographer of the Year Contest (15 Photos)

 

The shot is the result of a magical, powerful instant seen from the top of Sonchaux (CH), a day when the clouds were particularly low. I though I was like immersed in a fairytale, out of every human scale.

Location: Sonchaux, Switzerland

 

 

Golden sunrise

101 The 2016 National Geographic Travel Photographer of the Year Contest (15 Photos)

 

A beautiful sunrise in Tuscany.

Location: San Quirico d’Orcia, Tuscany, Italy

 

 

Horse Foal with Rim Light

091 The 2016 National Geographic Travel Photographer of the Year Contest (15 Photos)

 

In the Pavlodar region of northeast Kazakhstan, horsemen drive their herd to a corral where they’ll spend the night. Kazakhs must guard their animals at all times against horse thieves (a time-honored tradition in Kazakshtan) and predators like the steppe wolf. Pastoralists have lived in this region of Kazakhstan for at least 5,000 years. Archeologists have discovered the oldest-known remains of a domesticated horse at a sight located about 100 miles from where I took this picture.

Location: Pavlodar, Pavlodar, Kazakhstan

 

 

Antarctic companions

8275634_1600x1200Photo and caption by Roger Pimenta / National Geographic Travel Photographer of the Year Contest

Describing Antarctica is something I have difficulty with. The scale, the isolation, the sounds, and the light! It is a photographers dream. This image was captured in the very late afternoon as our ship left Wilhelmina Bay in the Antarctica Peninsula. The low cloud cover just added a mood I loved. The strange deep blue painting like image on the side of the iceberg is what initially drew my attention. Then it was a matter of waiting and some luck to have it framed against the other two.

Location: Snow Hill, Antarctica (general), Antarctica

 

Jonas Blizzard and the Flatiron Building

7662264_1600x1200Photo and caption by Michele Palazzo / National Geographic Travel Photographer of the Year Contest

While walking through the Jonas Winter Storm that swept across the East Coast last week, I captured this shot of the Flatiron Building against a backdrop of swirling snow. With the exception of a few minor details like logos and a food cart, the image looks like an impressionist right out of another another century. The cloudy atmosphere and gusty winds creates patterns that appear uncannily like brush strokes. Took this photo with a little amazing camera: Ricoh GR

Location: New York, New York

Unofficial Networks Newsletter

Get the latest snow and mountain lifestyle news and entertainment delivered to your inbox.

Hidden
Newsletters
This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.