Winners of the 2015 NatGeo Traveler Photo Contest

Last Updated on August 5, 2015 by PixelPluck

This year’s NatGeo Photography contest received more than 17,500 entries from photographers around the world. There were four categories: Travel Portraits, Outdoor Scenes, Sense of Place and Spontaneous Moments. Judging consisted of two rounds of evaluation based on creativity and photographic quality. Some of the photographs will inspire you to the next level.

 

  Winners of the 2015 Nat Geo Traveler Photo Contest

Grand Prize: Whale Whisperers © Anuar Patjane Floriuk

Second Place: Gravel Workmen © Faisal Azim

Third Place: Camel Ardah © Ahmed Al Toqi

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Grand Prize: Whale Whisperers © Anuar Patjane Floriuk

Diving with a humpback whale and her newborn calf while they cruise around Roca Partida in the Revillagigedo Islands, Mexico. This is an outstanding and unique place full of pelagic life, so we need to accelerate the incorporation of the islands into UNESCO as a natural heritage site in order to increase the protection of the islands against the prevailing illegal fishing corporations and big-game fishing. This gravel-crush working place remains full of dust and sand. Three gravel workmen are looking through the window glass at their working place. Chittagong, Bangladesh.

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2nd Place: Gravel Workmen Photo and caption by faisal azim

  Camel Ardah, as it is called in Oman, is one of the traditional styles of camel racing … between two camels controlled by expert men. The faster camel is the loser … so they must be running at the same speed level in the same track. The main purpose of Ardah is to show the beauty and strength of the Arabian camels and the riders’ skills. Ardah is considered one of the most risky situations, since always the camels reactions are unpredictable and it may get wild and jump toward the audience.

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3rd Place: Camel Ardah Photo and caption by Ahmed Al Toqi

The night before returning to Windhoek, we spent several hours at Deadvlei. The moon was bright enough to illuminate the sand dunes in the distance, but the skies were still dark enough to clearly see the Milky Way and Magellanic Clouds. Deadvlei means “dead marsh.” The camelthorn trees are believed to be about 900 years old but have not decomposed because the environment is so dry.

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A Night at Deadvlei Photo and caption by Beth McCarley

Two boys are trying to catch a duck at the stream of the waterfall. Nong Khai Province, Thailand.

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Catching a Duck Photo and caption by sarah wouters

Kushti is the traditional form of Indian wrestling. Wearing only a well-adjusted loincloth (langot), wrestlers (pelwhans) enter a pit made of clay, often mixed with salt, lemon, and ghee (clarified butter). At the end of a workout, wrestlers rest against the walls of the arena, covering their heads and bodies with earth to soak up any perspiration and avoid catching cold. This relaxation ceremony is completed with massages to soothe tired muscles and demonstrate mutual respect.

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Kushti, Indian Wrestling Photo and caption by alain schroeder

The night before this photo, we tried all day to get a good photo of the endangered white rhino. Skulking through the grass carefully, trying to stay 30 feet away to be safe, didn’t provide me the photo I was hoping for. In the morning, however, I woke up to all three rhinos grazing in front of me. Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, Uganda.

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The power of few Photo and caption by Stefane Berube

A sauna at 2,800 meters high in the heart of Dolomites. Monte Lagazuoi, Cortina, eastern Italian Alps.

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Sauna in the Sky Photo and caption by Stefano Zardini

Traditional haymaking in Poland. Many people continue to use the scythe and pitchfork to sort the hay. 09-merit Romania, land of fairy tales. White frost over Pestera village.

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Romania, Land of Fairy Tales Photo and caption by Eduard Gutescu

  Winners of the 2015 NatGeo Traveler Photo Contest. Follow on Facebook for more..

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