The ten best images from the National Geographic Traveler Photo contest
- Published
If you've been stuck behind a desk all day, it's easy to forget that there's a whole huge world out there. So why not have a flick through these amazing images from the National Geographic's 2014 Traveler Photo contest to give yourself an all-natural boost? The irritated commuter next to you on the train home will seem like small fry after seeing these life-affirming shots...
1. Are You Here For The Winery Tour?
Photo and caption by Greg Snell / National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest
Location: Adelaide Hills, South Australia, Australia
The photographer says: "This is a Western Grey Kangaroo caught lounging in the wineries of the Adelaide Hills in South Australia. This past Autumn has been a spectacular time for wildlife viewing and I got lucky to spot this guy while mountain biking in the hills. Such a funny stance it just begs the question... Have you been drinking? ...and or... Are you here for the Winery Tour? Such a spontaneous moment I figured it would be perfect for an entry. I hope you like it! Cheers."
2. An Alien World
Photo and caption by Chris Miller / National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest
Location: Hang Son Doong, Quang Binh, Vietnam
The photographer says: "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."
3. Sunrise at Seoraksan, South Korea
Photo and caption by Ka Shim / National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest
Location: Seoraksan National Park, South
The photographer says: "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."
4. Gentoo Walking On Water
Photo and caption by Shanu Subra / National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest
Location: New Island, Falkland
The photographer says: "A returning Gentoo on the shores of New Island, Falklands with a belly full of Krill for its young ones."
5. Liquid Emerald
Photo and caption by Barry Hodgert / National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest
Location: Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada
The photographer says: "I stood at the base of Niagara Falls in Ontario Canada with my camera, tripod and ND filter and 10 million gallons of water per minute. My camera was soaking when I was done and didn't think I had achieved the effect I wanted, but later found out it was worth taking an involuntary shower compliments of mother nature to get this photo."
6. Happy Camping
Photo and caption by David Whyte / National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest
Location: Southern Iceland
The photographer says: "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."
7. Oceanic Flight
Photo and caption by Eduardo Lopez Negrete / National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest
Location: Baja, Mexico. Pacific Coast
The photographer says: "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."
8. Don't Leave Any Food On Your Plate
Photo and caption by Gavin Werbeloff / National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest
Location: Giraffe Manor, Nairobi, Kenya
The photographer says: "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."
9. Birds in the morning light
Photo and caption by QING SONG LIU / National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest
Location: Shenzhen city, Guangdong province, China
The photographer says: "In Shenzhen Bay,very close to the city,there is a big reserved area for the birds.It is very precious in such a big city."
10. Small Squale
Photo and caption by bru gregory / National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest
Location: French Polynesia, Moorea, Tiahura