In This Article, The Top 30 Images Of The 2019 National Geographic Travel Photography Contest Are Collected And Displayed.

Each year, National Geographic opens its creative doors to highlight talented professional photographers from around the world through the National Geographic Travel Photography Contest and more.

 The competition invites artists to help National Geographic explore and experience the world through their travel photographs. Beautiful pictures of this contest have been published in 2019, which caress the eyes of every viewer. 

The submission of images to the National Geographic Travel Contest ended on May 3, and each of the submitted entries capture stunning moments from the exciting world in which we live.

According to Bored Panda, these images fall into three categories: nature, cities and people. Each of the works submitted by the artists tells a story from a place, shows us the natural world or shares the views of people all over the world. In this article, you can see the top entries of the National Geographic Travel Photography Contest.

 The grand prize winner will receive $ 7,500. Separate category prizes for first to third place winners are $ 2,500, $ 1,500 and $ 750, respectively.

Nature

Tip Of The Iceberg by David Edgar

I took this photo of a juvenile humpback whale in the South Pacific, a few miles off the coast of Tongatapu, Tonga. I managed to capture such an image by immersing half of my camera in water and the other half out of it. This playful whale came right up to me and looked me straight in the eye; While the tip of his snout shines in the afternoon sun. If you look closely at the picture, you can see Looney, our expert captain, taking a picture of this extraordinary collision from inside the diving boat.

Nature

Motherhood by Sonalini Khatrapal

We were lucky to find a newborn cub in the Masai Mara Plain of Kenya. The mother was very careful with her puppy and often hid it behind a bush away from predators. In this photo, while the puppy was unknowingly walking very close to a cliff, the mother lion quickly tried to pick it up again to avoid falling. It seems to be dangerous; But it is a kind and loving thing to take the milkmaid to a safe place.

cities

Milky Way From Chureito Pagoda by Yukihito Ono

I could see the Milky Way when the cherry blossoms bloomed at the Chorito Pagoda. This made it possible for me to take pictures from a rare perspective.

Nature

Polar Bear Cubs by Michel Theal

I boarded an icebreaker along the Beaufort Sea in Cactus, Alaska, to photograph the two puppies playing in the snow. I was lucky to record this moment among many others. It is difficult to photograph bears in the snow at close range; Because when the water freezes, the season of small boats ends. If you go earlier, you can only shoot polar bears in the mud.

cities

Glitz And Grit by Gonzalo Lobo Pinheiro

The old quarters contrast with the lavish Grand Lisboa Hotel in Macau.

People

Leviathan by Eric Seidner

Xiapu is a large mud hill in Fujian, China. The area, known for its bamboo clusters that extend to the horizon and are used to hang and dry seaweed, has preserved traditional coastal practices. After visiting an ancient forest, we got lost on the rural roads to the highway. I looked out the window at the apprentice and saw these huge nets in the wind, like floating tentacles clinging to boats. I parked, went down a muddy ground and took a picture.

Nature

Close Up Of The Dalmatian Pelican by Damilis Mansour

During my recent trip to Lake Kerkini in Greece, I became closely acquainted with the Dalmatian pelican. These birds, known as the largest species of pelicans in the world, are amazing; Especially in winter when their red and orange colors make the photo brighter.

 Nature

Let The Fire Fall by Daniel Yi

Yosemite National Park’s famous “waterfall of fire” is a natural phenomenon that occurs when the Horsetail Falls glows  orange due to the angle at which sunlight hits the water, and occurs only at specific times and conditions of the weather. Some fire waterfalls are yellow; While others glow like flames. I was lucky to see the second one with strong winds that created a spectacular view to watch. To capture this image, I went too far from the snowy mountain and took the photo.

Nature

Valley of Dreams by Gokol Kanagaraje

Sunset of the Alpine meadows in the Dolomites of Italy. For sunset I had to walk 5 km upstairs from the hotel; Because at the last minute I realized that visitors are not allowed to drive in this protected area; But it was worth it.

Nature

The Odd One by Tihomir Trikkov

Some places, such as El Resario National Park in Mexico, evoke a sense of humility, gratitude for life, and the beauty of nature, and awaken the child within you like a time machine. I took several photos; But after a while I realized that the best images can not be recorded, but must be kept in my heart. I set my camera aside, sat down, and looked up quietly. These butterflies gather in Michoacan to spend the colder months between November and March. Some of them come all the way from Canada.

Nature

The Dream by Serikantachari

It was a quiet morning in the Nagarahole Tiger Reserve . The sun was rising and the fog was disappearing last night. While driving in the forest, we saw this beautiful leopard sitting on its favorite tree. Ever since I started photographing wildlife, I have wanted to photograph a leopard on a tree. It took more than three years to find the subject of this image. I like everything about this picture; A wandering leopard, a beautiful tree with white flowers, the gentle sunlight, everything was ready to capture such an image.

Nature

Pachyderm Afire by Greg Davison

Mother Phil did not like our jeep to be so close to him; So at sunset it lifted some dirt and dust into the air.

People

We Ride Together by Tihomir Trikkov

Participants in the annual Golden Eagle Festival showcase their skills. The festival is held in Western Mongolia. Eagle hunters celebrate their Kazakh heritage and compete for small animals such as rabbits and foxes. Eagle hunting has been practiced in Central Asia for thousands of years; But today such a ceremony can be observed only in the culture of Kazakhstan, where the traditions are still alive.

Nature

Caught In The Act by Michel Theal

During the safari in Mara, these Masai men wanted to dance for us in the morning; But before that, I saw that one of them was taking a selfie with his smartphone. Technology seems to have invaded all parts of the world.

Nature

The Importance of Marine Reserves by Rachel Stewart

When my best friend was photographing from above and I was photographing from outside a sea cave, he was surrounded by a group of blue Mao Mao fish. In April 2019, we were lucky enough to visit this place on the east coast of New Zealand. With numerous caves, tunnels and abundant aquatic animals, the Poor Knights Marine Area is home to many underwater species. This place is also popular for divers. My photo reminds us that we need to protect the oceans more.

Nature

The Great Migration Of Wildebeest by Penny Higgie

The whole of Yaldari, who is migrating, jumps into the river and tries madly to reach the shore on the other side of the water. Many passengers survive; But some of them are eaten by crocodiles.

Nature

Winter Branch by Anna Onshi

Winter Mountain. The leaves were dead and it was snowing. The branches and the contrast of the snow were very impressive and artistic.

Nature

Ascend by James Vodika

A sea turtle approaches the surface near Heran Island to breathe.

Nature

Exhausted by Taylor Albright

Days are much shorter in winter and different heights in Yellowstone National Park have early sunsets. As the sun went down and the temperature dropped, a herd of American buffaloes climbed the icy hills in search of their next meal. As I watched them go one by one, one of the buffaloes paused for a moment and turned his head toward me. Then he took a breath and as he exhaled he made a thick vapor and finally continued on his way, accompanied the rest of the group and left.

cities

Taj Mahal by Rainer Walder

How can one photograph one of India’s most iconic and photographed places and still create a special work? I went there early in the morning and wandered in the reeds across the Yamuna River, looking for a spot where I could only see the Taj Mahal. I did not intend to reveal all its greatness; Rather, I was looking for a mysterious and unknown state to show its dazzling beauty. Of course, a giant python also needs to know what I do in its habitat.

cities

Petra By Candlelight by Enrico Pascantini

Petra is a 2,000-year-old city located on the cliffs of Jordan and is considered one of the most beautiful of its kind. It used to be a gateway to the Silk Road and is now one of the Seven Wonders of the World. The best experience to see this place is the valley walk that leads to the pink city at night; Just like the old merchants. In the dark, this place can be seen with hundreds of lighted candles. This is one of the closest events to time travel and is truly an unforgettable experience in a lifetime.

Nature

Sogi-No-Taki Waterfall by Wijong Deng

On this day, the temperature had dropped below freezing. At first, I was disappointed that the whole place was covered in thick fog before dawn. While capturing the main scene with an ultra-wide lens, I chose an 85mm lens for photo framing. As the sun rose (outside the frame on the right), it lit up the waterfalls beautifully and removed some of the fog. The final image was taken with a circular polarizer and a tripod camera.

cities

Sunrise Behind The Taj Mahal by his soul

In this photo, taken from the north side of the Yamuna River, the sun has risen behind the Taj Mahal. This place was built to pay homage to the privileged place in Agra and its construction took almost 20 years. The grounds of this building are quite relaxing, which is a beautiful contrast to the busy life of Indians.

cities

Notre Dame (La Flèche De Notre Dame) by Florent Serfati

Notre Dame Arrow: A flaming arrow fell on the lower part of the building, causing an explosion.

Nature

Lava Under Plumes Of Smoke by Michael Priya

This image shows Kilauea eruption lava flows as it enters the ocean, showing the newly formed island below.

People

Frozen land? (? Frozen Land) by Alessandra Maniconzi

In the winter of 2019, the beautiful Lake Khwusgol in Mongolia, dubbed the “Dark Blue Pearl” by the locals, showed signs of climate change. The icy surface melted faster than usual and the ice was not too thick. The sounds made by the thinning ice (such as cracking and shaking) were frightening; But the locals still use this section as their passage through the ice.

Nature

Gathering Of Kukeri by Christine Taylor

At sunset, a group of Bulgarian cockerels gathered on the hill above their village. This ancient festival of Pegan is still held in the villages of Bulgaria and is attended by all members of the community.

cities

Dramatic Literature by Thomas Martin McShane

An abandoned theater has been revived as a crowded bookstore. This is an inspiring example of urban development that has been done right and has had tremendous results. This bookstore is located deep in the inner city of Buenos Aires and is now a popular place to relax, drink coffee, flip through various books and is without a doubt one of the most beautiful bookstores in the world.

cities

Sherbert Density – The Block Tower by Toby Harriman

Hong Kong is one of the most populous regions in the world and its total density is estimated at 6300 people per square kilometer. I do not want to say I can live here; But I love the colors in the original Japanese designs.

Nature

What will happen after this? (What Will Happen Next?) By Rita Klug

On my last day in Antarctica, I released my latest video update, listened to what I was expecting, and recorded what was to come. The leopard seal was eating a penguin. I was in a 7mm diving suit to have more flexibility to change position quickly. A normal encounter with these underwater animals takes 20 minutes or more and I do not get very cold after that; But that day was different; Because we swam with three different leopard jaws. I felt safe because I was close to these animals with my team. It felt amazing.

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What do you think about the selected images of this contest? Which work did you like the most?