The National Geographic Photo Contest

A Daybreak by Hidetoshi Kikuchi
Shizuoka, Japan

The National Geographic Photo Contest is back!  The submission deadline has closed for this year, the winners will be announced next month and with over 7,000 entires  from over 150 countries the entries really do vary. As a kid we used to get a hard copy of National Geographic  (aka the physical magazine)  and the winner would be in the magazine along with the top three runners up from the three categories: people, places and nature.  These photos are stunning and are proof that it does not matter whether they are professionals or amateurs, these photos are moments of pure genius. 

I honestly do not envy the judges of this contest.  On some of my favorite reality TV shows, including Chopped and America’s Next Top Model, the judges always tell the contestants “this is the hardest decision we have had to make” but on Chopped there are maximum of four chefs and on ANTM there are only ever a dozen girls, and that is at the beginning.  How are these judges going to pick from over 100 pictures that could very well win the prize?  I have no idea but I wish them luck and I will definitely check back next month to see who won, I hope it is one of these photos! 

I have included the title the photographer submitted the piece under, their name, and the location the photography was taken.  Here are my favorites from the Nature and Places categories – people just might deserve its’ own post!

Giraffe Spray by Donald Gutoski
Nxai Pan National Park, Botswana

Winter Wonderland by Jan Lepamaa
Viru Bog, Estonia

I Win by Swan Bird
Toronto, Canada

Morning Awakening by Susan Metz
Lahaina, Hawaii

Physalia Physalisby Matthew Smith
Shellharbour, NSW, Australia

Window to the Heavens by Rachna Niranjan
Page, Arizona, United States

Kleine Scheidegg by Douglas Croft
Kleine Scheidegg, Switzerland 

Siberian by Michel Zoghzoghi
Bozeman, Montana, United States 

Silence by Hiroshi Tanita
Kamishihoro Hokkaido, Japan

A Ride Over the Reef by Wayne Pope
Great Barrier Reef, Australia

 Arctic Hi Five by Colin Mackenzie
Svalbard

Fragile Beauty by Ben Bowes
Apo Island, Dauin, Philippines

 On the Edge by Angiolo Manetti
Namib-Naukluft Park,Namibia, Africa

Taj Mahal Sunrise by Thomas Dorleans
Agra, India

 From the Sky by Montse Grillo
Tenerfe (Canary Islands)

Through the Golden Road by Takahiro Bessho
Takashima-City, Shiga-Prefecture, Japan

Shoulder Check by Henrik Nilsson
Boundary Bay, British Columbia, Canada

Walking on Water by Dave Kan
Noosa, Queensland, Australia 

Which of these photos is your favorite?