[Faline]

National Geographic invites photographers from around the world to enter the 2013 National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest. The grand-prize winner will receive a 10-day National Geographic Expedition to the Galápagos for two aboard the National Geographic Endeavour. The contest, which is open now, ends Sunday, June 30, at 11:59 p.m. Coordinated Universal Time (UCT) (6:59 p.m. ET, US).

Eligible contestants can visit http://travel.nationalgeographic.com...-contest/2013/ to submit photographs in any or all four categories: Travel Portraits; Outdoor Scenes; Sense of Place; and Spontaneous Moments.

“Our photo contest turns 25 this year, making it, we believe, the longest-running travel photo contest in the world,” said Keith Bellows, National Geographic Traveler magazine editor in chief. “In the last few years it seems as if the quality of shots has taken a quantum leap forward. The pictures increasingly reflect a more sophisticated way of seeing and interpreting the world, making the judging process more difficult. We encourage photographers to enter their work and compete against the best.”

Judging consists of two rounds of evaluation based on creativity and photographic quality. The second-prize winner will receive a seven-day National Geographic Photography Workshop for one in Santa Fe, N.M.; the third-prize winner will receive a six-day cruise for two on a Maine windjammer schooner. Seven merit prize winners will receive a print of their photo, matted and framed by the National Geographic Imaging Lab, and a $200 gift certificate to B&H Photo.
National Geographic Traveler photo editors will showcase their favorite entries every week at http://travel.nationalgeographic.com.../2013/Visitors to the site can view all entries and share them with family and friends through Twitter and Facebook as well as download wallpapers and complete jigsaw puzzles featuring contest entries.

The Galápagos Expedition, in which the grand-prize winner will participate, is a unique experience to join National Geographic aboard the National Geographic Endeavour or National Geographic Islander and experience up close encounters with unique species such as flightless cormorants, marine iguanas and domed giant tortoises. The trip is part of National Geographic Expeditions, the travel program of the National Geographic Society, which provides guided trips spanning all seven continents and more than 60 destinations.





Below you will find a gallery of some of the National Geographic Editors’ favorite animal images to date.

[Faline]

I will post them all here as they get uploaded each week on Nat Geo (The Editors favourites).

Week1

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Week 2

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Week 3

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Week 4

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Week 5

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Week 6

[butterfly]

What a wonderful thread Kelly... Can't want til more updates

[kellyhound]

luv that thunderstorm pic. also the little penguins and the elephant vs hyenas and the owl in the tree trunk.

[Darkest Angel]

Thankyou!