These 12 incredibly beautiful images are the latest batch from the 2014 National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest.
The final date for submissions is June 30. Official categories include travel portraits; outdoor scenes; sense of place; and spontaneous moments.
The prizes are drop-dead exciting.An eight-day National Geographic Expedition to Alaska for two, a five-day National Geographic Photo Workshop for one in Santa Fe, New Mexico and a six-day cruise for two on a Maine windjammer schooner and then there are the bragging rights of being featured on National Geographic’s website, which is priceless.
An Alien World
Location: Hang Son Doong, Quang Binh, Vietnam
Photo and caption by Chris Miller / National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest: “Hang Son Doong is located in central Vietnam and is the world’s largest cave. It was only explored for the first time in 2009 and is just now opening up to very limited tourism.
“This photo shows some members of our party beginning the climb up one of the two collapsed roof sections or dolines that are prominent features in the cave.
“The vegetation that can be seen is entirely inside the cave, with the real jungle floor some 150m further above. Two-way radios and a laser pointer were used to get people in position and to ensure their headlamps provided just the right amount of illumination.”
Travelling Girl
Location: Hatton, Sri Lanka
Photo and caption by Ante Badzim / National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest: “She was shy at first and barely visible peering out the window, I simply waved and smiled and we shared many small moments and giggles.
“If I am able to somehow express how incredible the Sri Lankan people are it can be seen through this girl’s smile.”
Karo man with body paint
Location: Omo Valley Ethiopia
Photo and caption by Sean Caffrey / National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest: “Fierce Karo warrior with body paint.”
Small Squale
Location: French polynesia, Moorea, Tiahura
Photo and caption by bru gregory / National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest: “Nikon D3100 Obj : tokina 10-17 fish eye Housing : liquid eye + Big dome.”
Oceanic Flight
Location: Baja, Mexico. Pacific Coast
Photo and caption by Eduardo Lopez Negrete / National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest: “While on a trip to unhook live sharks from fishermen’s longlines, we were lucky enough to run into a massive school of mobula rays.
“The rays were moving quite fast and it was hard enough keeping up with them from the surface, let alone dive down to take a closer look. This photo was taken freediving to a depth of about 60 ft.”
Kilauea Rules
Location: Big Island – HI
Photo and caption by Alexandre Socci / National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest: “The most extreme place we put ours kayakers to paddle till now.”
Sunrise at Seoraksan, South Korea
Location: Seoraksan National Park, South Korea
Photo and caption by Ka Shim / National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest: “After hiking for twelve hours out of a nineteen hour trek, it was time to watch the sunrise at Dinosaur Ridge.
“When we first looked out, the mountains were completely covered by clouds, but within an hour the clouds dropped and this was what we saw.
“It felt like heaven, and you could hear everyone present for this moment screaming and shouting for joy! I’d never seen something so incredible, I had to meditate and have gratitude to have experienced this. Some locals said that they’d never seen the mountains like this, even in their 40+ years of hiking there.”
Sami Children at the Jokkmokk Winter Market in Swedish Lapland
Location: Jokkmokk, Swedish Lapland
Photo and caption by Joyce Le Mesurier / National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest: “The Samis, the indigenous people of Scandinavia, traditionally are reindeer herders. The Jokkmokk Winter Market, now going for more than 400 years, is a traditional festival and popular meeting place for the Sami people.
“Here, a charming and vivacious Sami girl pulls her brother onto her lap as he tries to wander off on his own. The wooden sleigh was later pulled by reindeers herded by her family and paraded through the market streets.
“Three generations of her family, all decked out in colourful Sami costumes, proudly walked alongside the sleigh.”
Happy Camping
Location: Southern Iceland
Photo and caption by David Whyte / National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest: “Camping beneath the beauty of the Aurora Borealis in Southern Iceland in the Fall of 2013.
“An odd sort of reflection with the tent and the sky happening.”
Hidden Village
Location: Nepal, Everest region, Dole
Photo and caption by Max Slastnikov / National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest: “Nepal, Everest region, Amazing view of Milky-Way in Dole. Dole is a small village in the Khumbu region of Nepal.
“It lies in the Dudh Kosi River valley just north of Khumjung and south of Machhermo at an altitude of 4038m.”
The Flying Ball
Location: Barakoa, Cuba
Photo and caption by Dana Caspi / National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest: “Children of the streets.”
Don’t Leave Any Food On Your Plate
Location: Giraffe Manor, Nairobi, Kenya
Photo and caption by Gavin Werbeloff / National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest: “The giraffes at Nairobi’s Giraffe Manor are totally at home with humans.
“They will eat out of your hand, or even off your plate.”
