Extraordinary Entries from National Geographic’s 2015 Traveler Photo Contest

Last month, we featured some gorgeous entries in the 2015 National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest, and we're now pleased to share more great submissions with you. The competition is one of our very favorites, and it showcases some truly stunning travel photography. These images represent many unique places around the world, and it allows you to discover parts of the planet you might've never known existed.

It's not too late to enter the contest – the deadline is Tuesday, June 30 at 12 p.m. EDT. There are four categories, including: Travel Portraits; Outdoor Scenes; Sense of Place; and Spontaneous Moments. So photographers, be sure you submit your work before the end of June. The grand prize winner will receive an eight-day National Geographic Photo Expedition to Costa Rica and the Panama Canal for two. How exciting!

Check out more of these great entries below, courtesy of National Geographic.

Above: Eye for an Eye
The Yetis of Nepal – The Aghoris as they are called are marked by colorful body paint and clothes
Photo and caption by Abrar Mohsin /National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest

Jump
Boys in Clifton Beach in Cape Town jumping into the Atlantic Ocean.
Photo and caption by Slawek Kozdras /National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest

Millions of tulips
A bird s view of tulip fields near Voorhout in the Netherlands, photographed with a drone in April 2015
Photo and caption by Anders Andersson /National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest

Meditation on the rocks
Kit Mikayi is a rock formation about 40m high situated west of kisumu, western Kenya. She climbs up the rocks rocks daily to meditate.
Photo and caption by Allan Gichigi /National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest

Sakura Color
I'm looking forward to seeing “Sakura light-up” at megurogawa river every spring.
Photo and caption by Motoki Uemura /National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest

Tree of Life
Incredibly beautiful and extremely remote. Koehn Lake, Mojave Desert, California. Aerial Image.
Photo and caption by Jassen T. /National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest

I always thought hippos were vegetarian!
Lucky timing! The oxpecker was originally sitting on hippo's head. I could see the hippo was going into a huge yawn (threat display?) and the oxpecker had to vacate it's perch. When I snapped the pic, the oxpecker appeared on the verge of being inhaled and was perfectly positioned between the massive gaping jaws of the hippo. The oxpecker also appears to be screeching in terror and back-pedaling to avoid being a snack!
Photo and caption by Howard Singleton /National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest

Locks of Love
Pond de l'Archeveche – hundreds thousands of padlocks locked to a bridge by random couples, as a symbol of their eternal love. After another iconic Pont des Arts bridge was cleared of the padlocks in 2010 (as a safety measure), people started to place their love symbols on this one. Today both of the bridges are full of love locks again.
Photo and caption by Martyna Blaszczyk /National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest

‘Cape Solander' from 300 feet
This wave is situated right near the CBD of Sydney. Some describe it as the most dangerous wave in Australia, due to it breaking on barnacle covered rocks only a few feet deep and only ten metres from the cliff face. If you fall off you could find yourself in a life and death situation. This photo was taken 300 feet directly above the wave from a helicopter, just as the surfer is pulling under the lip of the barrel.
Photo and caption by Ian Bird /National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest

A View From The Top
A view of Lion's Head from Kloof's Corner in Cape Town, South Africa
Photo and caption by Neeve Terman /National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest

2015 National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest website

Sara Barnes

Sara Barnes is a Staff Editor at My Modern Met, Manager of My Modern Met Store, and co-host of the My Modern Met Top Artist Podcast. As an illustrator and writer living in Seattle, she chronicles illustration, embroidery, and beyond through her blog Brown Paper Bag and Instagram @brwnpaperbag. She wrote a book about embroidery artist Sarah K. Benning titled 'Embroidered Life' that was published by Chronicle Books in 2019. Sara is a graduate of the Maryland Institute College of Art. She earned her BFA in Illustration in 2008 and MFA in Illustration Practice in 2013.
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