Photos: National Geographic Travel Photographer of the Year 2017

This spectacular view of Frankfurt is the perfect example of the modern city at night. (Pic: Vitaly Pankratov)

[Yahoo News}- Cities can often be looked at negatively, full of unsightly buildings and coloured by smog.

However, they can also be dazzling, scenic sights that provide stunning backdrops good enough to be framed.

National Geographic has compiled a group of photos taken in cities across the globe – and the sights on display are jaw-dropping.

From sprawling urban jungles to dazzling lights to incredible examples of modern architecture, each photo is vying to be crowned the cities photo of the year.

Here are just some of the entries in this year’s contest:

There are only 2-3 times to capture this view of the tallest building – ICC Mal – in Hong Kong every year. (Pic: CP Lau)

Sea fog at the Kwai Chung Container Terminal in Hong Kong makes only the tops of buildings visible. (Pic: Edward Tin)

This all island in Greenland is home to just 1,200 people – and what lucky people they are to live somewhere this beautiful. (Pic: Rayann Elzein)

Taken from the highest residential building in Asia – the Zenith in Busan – the photographer had to hang over the edge to capture this incredible view. (Pic: Albert Dros)

This spectacular view of Frankfurt is the perfect example of the modern city at night. (Pic: Vitaly Pankratov)

Siena in Tuscany provides this filmic, sepia-toned shot that captures the morning sunlight. (Pic: Takeshi Ishizaki)

The new city in the desert in Muhafazat al Buraymi, Oman, shows the same design repeated across the entire area. (Pic: Andrzej Bochenski)

A New York sunset is captured from Queens across the East River, with the central building blocking out the light. (Pic: Lars Sivars)

Winners Of National Geographic International Photography Contest for Kids 2016

Jennifer Jayne Evans Koumbatis, 10, from the Netherlands, had an honourable mention in the Amazing Animals category. (Picture: Jennifer Jayne Evans Koumbatis/National Geographic)

(Yahoo! News) – Kids these days are much more adept with technology than adults.

Need proof? Then just take a look at these wonderful photos.

These are the winning entries in the National Geographic Photography Contest for Kids, and they are a cut above your average holiday snaps.

The winning images include stunning pictures of lizards on netting and camels on beaches.

You can check out all the winning images on the National Geographic Kids website.

Ryan Hughes, 13, from the US, took this adventure-packed picture that was second in the Wild Vacation category. (Picture: Ryan Hughes/National Geographic)

This image from Kate Anderson, 12, of a baby ostrich was the US grand prize winner. (Picture: Kate Anderson/National Geographic)

Alexia Saigh, 14, took this image of an archway in the Czech town of Cesky Krumlov. (Picture: Alexia Saigh/National Geographic)

Life’s a beach Piers Nicklin, 12, took this photo of camels on Galu Beach in Kenya. (Picture: Piers Nicklin/National Geographic)

This image of a mother prairie dog greeting its young pup with a kiss was taken by 12-year-old Freya Youssef. (Picture: Freya Youssef/National Geographic)

David Hopkins, 13, won first place in the US Amazing Animals category for this image. (Picture: David Hopkins/National Geographic)

First place in the Wild Vacation category went to India’s Sanya Jain, aged 12, for this picture of parading camels. (Picture: Sanya Jain/National Geographic)

A game of underwater basketball was captured in this image by 13-year-old Josephine Goldman. (Picture: Josephine Goldman/National Geographic)

Riley Harlan, 12, from the US, came second in the Dare to Explore category with this picture of gates in Japan. (Picture: Riley Harlan/National Geographic)

Dewi Baggerman, 11, from the Netherlands, won the international grand prize for her picture of tulips from the ground up. (Picture: Dewi Baggerman/National Geographic)

 

National Geographic Traveller’s Photography Competition 2017: Finalists

The town of Oia in Santorini clings to the hillside under an inky blue sky. (Matt Parry)

(Yahoo! News) – National Geographic Traveller Magazine has revealed the amazing finalists for its 2017 photography competition.

The pictures were submitted in six categories: action, urban, people, video, portfolio and nature, and depict scenes of exceptional beauty from all corners of the world.

From glorious Irish sunsets to packed Indian trains, here are the jaw-dropping images.

Thick purple clouds hang over the sea in County Antrim. (Rashid Khaidanov)

The judges picked this striking image of a fire-breather as a finalist in the action category. (David Candlish)

Atmospheric black and white images of a pride of lions earned Miguel de Freitas a finalist gong in the portfolio category. (Miguel de Freitas)

A lizard launches itself away from the jaws of a hungry snake. (Sajith Buddhika Withanage)

New Forest horses drink from a glassy lake under a sunset. (Daren Baker)

In the Rub Al Khali desert, a horse trainer sticks out in black in front of a setting sun. (Stuart Dunn)

This image of the lush greenery of Botswana’s Okavango Delta was part of a portfolio submitted by photographer Daniel Burton. (Daniel Burton)

The town of Oia in Santorini clings to the hillside under an inky blue sky. (Matt Parry)

A man in Nepalese national dress proudly sells beads from his small shop. (Francis Cox)

National Geographic’s Best Images of 2016

Lightning forks across the purple sky as hundreds of thousands of cranes roost in the shallows of the Platte River, Nebraska. (Randy Olson/National Geographic)

National Geographic Magazine has selected its most striking and evocative photos from 2016.

From raging storms to glowing cityscapes, the photographs are some of the finest published by the magazine in the last 12 months.

Here are some of the very best images, selected from this year’s archive of 2,290,225 photographs taken by 91 photographers for 107 stories.

Photographer Stephen Wilkes stitched together more than 1,000 pictures to create this image of Yosemite National Park, with the sky morphing from day to night. (Stephen Wilkes/National Geographic)

Rhinos gather to feed on a South African ranch. (Brent Stirton/National Geographic Magazine.)

The Grand Prismatic Spring in Yellowstone National Park smokes and glows, as pictures form above. (Michael Nichols)

Daredevil Steven Donovan flips into a pool in Glacier National Park. (Corey Arnold/National Geographic)

Purple twilight hangs over the sanctuary of Athena Pronaia at Delphi. (Vincent J Musi/National Geographic)

Norwegian research vessel “Lance” drifts along with the Arctic sea ice, tracking the changes to the environment. (Nick Cobbin/National Geographic)

The city lights of Taipei burn in multicolour after dark. (Dina Litovsky/National Geographic)

A fleck of blood drips from the tip of a vulture’s beak. (Charlie Hamilton James/National Geographic)

National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest 2014

Photo and caption by Nicholas Roemmelt / National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest — The Wave after a heavy thunderstorm with a small pond granting a perfect mirror for the reflection of the hiker. A calm and solemn place at a perfect day.

The 26th annual National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest is open until June 30, 2014.

The grand prize winner will receive a National Geographic Expedition to Alaska.

Submit you photos now!

Here are some submissions of the contest…

(Please click the photos for larger images)

Photo and caption by Sam Morris / National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest — Like a scene from a different time on earth, or a completely different planet altogether. Passed down through Jökulsárlón lagoon through an outlet of the Vatnajökull Glacier, Icebergs enter into the North Atlantic. Shaped and polished by the ocean, the tide leaves a magnificent gallery of huge iceberg sculptures on the volcanic black beaches of Iceland. Photographed here at sunset, just after a rain storm. For scale, this Iceberg is about the size of a Jeep.

Photo and caption by Nicholas Roemmelt / National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest — Aurora Borealis over the forest of the Pyhae Luosto National Park, Finland.

Photo and caption by Sausse David / National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest — Typical red rorbu huts with sod roof in town of Reine on Lofoten.

2014 National Geographic Traveller Competition Finalists

Jenny Downing’s reflective image of Oslo’s Opera House is a finalist in the Modern category. (Jenny Downing/ National Geographic Traveller Photography competition/ Telegraph Outdoor Adventure and Travel Show)

Which of these beautiful photos will win the 2014 National Geographic Traveller Competition?

Photographers from all over the world submitted images in six categories: Action, City, Iconic, Modern, Natural and People.

The winner will be announced on February 15, at the Telegraph Outdoor Adventure and Travel Show inside London’s ExCel Centre.

Please click the photos for larger images:

The bright lights of cars and motorbikes form a ring around the Trailokya Mohan Narayan Temple om Durbar Square, Kathmandu, Nepal. The spectacular image is by Ian Trower who is a finalist in the City category. (Ian Trower/ National Geographic Traveller Photography competition/ Telegraph Outdoor Adventure and Travel Show

Dylan Camilleri, finalist in the Modern category of the 2014 National Geographic Traveller Photography competition, with an image taken at the Cube in Birmingham. (Dylan Camilleri/ National Geographic Traveller Photography competition/ Telegraph Outdoor Adventure and Travel Show)

‘Times Square in Blue’ by Lynda Cosgrove, a finalist in the City category. (Lynda Cosgrove/ National Geographic Traveller Photography competition/ Telegraph Outdoor Adventure and Travel Show)

The Cutty Sark in Greenwich looks almost unrecognisable. By David Strearne, a finalist in the Iconic category. (David Strearne/ National Geographic Traveller Photography competition/ Telegraph Outdoor Adventure and Travel Show

A runner gets a much needed drink after a Colour Run in Colombia, an event where the participants are showered with coloured powder at stations along the run. By Jonathan Carvajalr, a finalist in the Action category. (Jonathan Carvajalr/ National Geographic Traveller Photography competition/ Telegraph Outdoor Adventure and Travel Show

Jenny Downing’s reflective image of Oslo’s Opera House is a finalist in the Modern category. (Jenny Downing/ National Geographic Traveller Photography competition/ Telegraph Outdoor Adventure and Travel Show)

A girl plays in the water in Ankor Watt, Cambodia, by Georgia Turnball, finalist in the People category. The winner will be announced on Saturday at the Telegraph Outdoor Adventure and Travel Show at the ExCel Centre in London. (Georgia Turnball/ National Geographic Traveller Photography competition/ Telegraph Outdoor Adventure and Travel Show) less 6 / 8 Share to FacebookShare to TwitterShare to Pinterest ClosePrevious imageNext image

Your Shot: A Sneak Peek At National Geographic’s Contest Submissions

National Geographic magazine turned 125 this month.

The magazine moves the birthday celebration off its pages with the October 1st public launch of a photo-sharing platform, Your Shot (NGYourShot.com), that allows photography fans to connect with photographers and editors around virtual assignments, get direct feedback on their work and participate in a unique photography-based community.

One of the magazine’s young star photographers, Cory Richards, will usher in the month as lead curator of the magazine’s first assignment on Your Shot.

Led by Richards and his magazine photo editor, Sadie Quarrier, the assignment invites photographers to share three images that convey how photography can help us explore our changing world.

Throughout the assignment, Richards and Quarrier will provide photo tips and feedback on the images that are submitted along with direction on what they feel will best help tell the story.

Their favourite photograph will be selected to appear in a future issue of National Geographic magazine.

Participants must join Your Shot, National Geographic’s free online photo community and storytelling platform, to submit photos to the assignment, which runs until today, October. 22. (National Geographic)

Please click the photos for larger images:

Master of Disguise – Photograph and caption by Graham McGeorge, National Geographic Your Shot – Eastern Screech Owls like to take over woodpecker nests that have been dug out over the years in pine trees, which are the main species of tree at this swamp. Fish and Wildlife also paint a white ring around the base of a tree that has active nests in order to avoid when conducting controlled burns. Screech owls can range in height anywhere from 8-10 inches, so you have to have a sharp eye to find these little birds of prey. 8BIM

What a sheep! – Photograph and caption by Andres Beregovich, National Geographic Your Shot – wandering through Isla Riesco, I bumped into this almost forgotten ranch. Talking to the locals was fun. Then I asked whether I could photograph some of the processes. I couldn’t believe the size of this sheep when I first saw it. I almost couldn’t take the picture cause I was so impressed. 140KG Sheep (about 300 lbs) I’ve only seen this here.8BIM

Smile From Mentawai Hunter – Photograph and caption by Mohd Ismail, National Geographic Your Shot – Smile form mentawai people .

Bromo Tengger National Park – Photograph and caption by Dennis Walton, National Geographic Your Shot – Nothing changes the landscape like a major volcano. I have visited Bromo Tengger National Park in Java, Indonesia many times. The usual drill is to climb to my favorite viewpoint in the early morning darkness and wait for sunrise. You never know what the new day will bring. This time it was an ash eruption of Mt Semeru highlighted by the warm colors of rising sun.

The Last Light – Photograph and caption by Somnath Chakraborty, National Geographic Your Shot – On a lazy eve i took this frame in unknown lane at Varanasi. A surreal light effect i got when i was walking through this lane. perhaps he was returning from his job and allowed me to take this frame on request. I took at least 5 frame out of which this one is cleared most.

Castelluccio di Norcia – Photograph and caption by Mauro Maione, National Geographic Your Shot – The Plains of Castelluccio are a karst plateau of the central-alluvial (Umbria-Marche Apennines), located in the Umbrian side of the Sibillini Mountains at the foot of Mount Carrier, within the territory of the town of Norcia, near the village of Castelluccio , and the National Park of Monti Sibillini, and that is the bottom of an ancient Apennine lake, now dried up, and known for its karst features.8BIM

Alive – Photograph and caption by Jonathan Tucker. National Geographic Your Shot – This is a self portrait I took of my self. This photo was taken under a glacier in Alaska. I hiked over two hours through swamps and up the side of a mountain to reach the Glacier itself..I spent around a hour walking on top of the glacier taking photos until I found this cave. The cave is formed from a water fall from the mountain that meets the glacier.When I first walked in the cave it took my breath away it was so amazing and scary at the same time especially when you hear the ice crack.

White Rim Storm – Photograph and caption by Klaus Priebe, National Geographic Your Shot – During a visit to the Canyon lands during the monsoon season of 2013 I chased storms during the week and had this little micro thunderstorm head right at me. It was a magical moment with the sun peaking through the clouds to the west and the storm producing rain and a few lightning bolts as it passed by me. 8BIM

Orange Liberty – Photograph and caption by Joy Acharyy, National Geographic Your Shot – These kids were playing the ghats of Ganges in Varanasi, India. The moment this kid saw me with my camera, she posed with the huge flag in her hand and made my day.