The 2012 National Geographic Photography Contest ends on November 30th, and participants can submit photos in all or one of three categories: people, places and nature. The grand prize winner will win a $10,000 prize and a trip to the National Geographic headquarters in Washington, DC. Here is a look at a few of the many breathtaking entries.
During a lovely morning in July I was out photographing Great White Sharks in False Bay, South Africa. We had two days when the sea was so still you could barely see a ripple. (Photo and caption by Tonya Herron/National Geographic Photo Contest)
This small red eye frog playing at the edge of the leaf that may look like some acrobatic move,it curve the edge of the leaf and seem enjoying it little acrobatic move. it look like it can stand with it both back legs and form very significant pose as walking.it really enjoy it time in nature,playing with the leaf and making some acrobatic moves. it can blend well with the leaf and form some disguise from the predator and it can leap quite fast from one leaf to another. those big red eyes really catch my attention to observe and photograph it's move. (Photo and caption by Shikhei Goh/National Geographic Photo Contest)
Sunset Cloud Village is one of the most picturesque places in Red Land, China. As its name indicates, it's best to see before sunset. The reddish brown soil turns redder after raining and after farmers plow the land. (Photo and caption by Peng Jiang/National Geographic Photo Contest)
Nursing Mama: This female brown bear came into the Lake Clark National Park area in late July with her triplet Spring cubs and seemed quiet relaxed as she sat nursing two of her cubs. (© Ruth Steck/National Geographic Photo Contest)
The Matterhorn: Night Clouds #2 -- The Matterhorn, 4478 m, at full moon. (© Nenad Saljic/National Geographic Photo Contest)
Waterfall Fisherman of Si Phan Don: Around the turbulent waterfalls of Si Phan Don in Southern Laos a select few fisherman risk their lives daily to catch fish from the swollen Mekong River. The fisherman use small bamboo traps to catch migratory fish making their move through the falls. Here the fisherman holds on for his life knowing that one mistake here would result in certain death. The raging Mekong pulls at his body as his weary arms cling desperately to hold him on the rope. Times like these rely on full concentration and both hands on the rope at a time, any extra luggage has to go in the mouth, knives included. (© Jacob James/National Geographic Photo Contest)
Swimming with a Turtle: After observing this turtle, I swam with him for a few minutes. (© John Peterson/National Geographic Photo Contest)
Water Magic: In a world of a million water pictures, it's easy to dismiss this as "just another reflection shot". Still, this unedited image proves how unreal water can behave under certain circumstances. Here I stand at the narrowest point of a small lake, and as usual I have thrown objects into the water to see how it behaves visually. Because the lake was so narrow, only a few meters, the circles start to recoil from land. The effect is called, to my knowledge, interference, but I have yet to see anything similar, even after all these years of throwing rocks into the water. (© Jorgen Tharaldsen/National Geographic Photo Contest)
Catching Fish: Fishermen use fire to draw fish close to the boat and then catch them. (© Chang Ming Chih/National Geographic Photo Contest)
Libyan Rebel at the Old Shipyard of Benghazi: During the Libyan revolt against Moammar Qaddafi, the city of Benghazi was liberated early on, and became the base for the rebels and the transitional governing body. Armed rebels were seen all over the place. Many of them had no previous war experience but joined the revolt willingly to get rid of the regime. This rebel, with his spick & span boots and outfit, was guarding the old shipyard. (© Mohannad Khatib/National Geographic Photo Contest)
Glacial Cave: Hikers under the Mendenhall Glacier near Juneau, Alaska. When conditions are right, streams melt holes into the glacier. At times they are large and stable enough for exploration. The ice filters out most colors of light except for the blue wavelengths leaving a stunning blue glowing from the ice above. (© Mark Meyer/National Geographic Photo Contest)
Leaping Hare at Sunset: For a couple of weeks a year the sun sets over this hill near where I live. I knew the field was favored by a few hares and had previously photographed them on this ridge with the sun setting behind. For this particular image I had been tracking this individual hare as it wandered along the ridge and was set up to capture it as it leaped in the air. (© Kevin Sawford/National Geographic Photo Contest)
The Godfather: He is big -- 4 meters tall and over 4 tons in weight. He is the "Godfather". I have visualized this scene many times. I have checked and rechecked my equipment and decided upon the camera and lens combination. I now relax and control my breathing as they come in to view. The next ten minutes are a bliss of forgetfulness as I zone in to the task at hand; only one moment stands out. He stands still before me in all his magnificence, raising his trunk filled with the red Kalahari dust. In one fluid movement he sprays his forehead and for one brief moment he is covered in the magic of dust and light. (© Peter Delaney/National Geographic Photo Contest)
Guardians of the Forest: Deep in the Colombian Amazon, Yucuna indians stand dressed in traditional tribal attire for the Baile del Muñeco, or puppet dance, a celebration of the abundance of the Chontaduro fruit. While traditional indigenous customs are fast being lost throughout the Amazon jungle, here, far down the Caqueta river and few miles from the Brazilian border, traditions are still very much intact. The costumes are still made entirely from natural materials, predominantly tree bark, during this three day festival. (© Piers Calvert/National Geographic Photo Contest)
Rolling Coals: I went on a kayaking camping trip with my best friend on a remote lake in NW Ontario, DeCourcey Lake. Staying on a little, rocky island we listened to the waves, and watched the stars, sitting by the fire. When it was time to put the fire out, my friend began kicking the coals down the rocky slope to the water below. I ran down to the waters edge to catch the motion of the burning coals. Little comets streaming to the lake to be extinguished with a hiss. (© Christopher Merkley/National Geographic Photo Contest)
Charging Black Drongo: The Black Drongo selects a good perch near a water body, and takes off when an insect is sighted on the surface, skimming across the water and back to its perch. I spent almost 10 days (1 hr daily morning -- sitting quietly and motionless) and on October 25, 2012, this was clicked. I was lucky to get this just before any skimming action started. I like the concentration level in its eyes, wing position and wide open mouth ready to catch the insect by surprise, and the same action in reflection. (© Vinayak Parmar/National Geographic Photo Contest)
Ventisquero Colgante Falls, Chile. (© Dario Caballes/National Geographic Photo Contest)
Luzmila: Luzmila, 12 years old, carries to her house the barley that she harvested by herself on her family's little farm situated on the mountain behind their house in a rural village in the Andes Mountains called Sotopampa, in Peru. Once a year, they harvest the barley and then they consume it during the following year. In these communities of indigenous peoples, children work helping their families. It is very hard for the government to maintain a balance between child labor laws and the ancient traditions of these populations that include some difficult tasks for kids. (© Alejandro Kirchuk/National Geographic Photo Contest)
The Location: The iron and steel bars are located in their correct position. Perhaps it is not deliberately made by somebody, but naturally positioned unknowingly by the shop owner over time. (© Noh Keun Park/National Geographic Photo Contest)
Hello World: A tiny mantis larva in an American poppy flower. (© Fabien Bravin/National Geographic Photo Contest)
Silence Voice: Sunset time, a peaceful burnt woods just surround you quietly. Together with your heart beating, you can feel the smooth breeze and hear the sounds of emerging exuberance underneath. The perfect ending is in the endless. The picture was taken in Yellowstone National Park. Turning themselves into such strong remainders, the woods have given hopes to their next generation through a wildfire. (© Chaoying Zhao/National Geographic Photo Contest)
Lucky Bay: Beautiful Lucky Bay in Esperance, Western Australia, is home to many kangaroos. Not only is the turquoise water and white sand a sight to see but at sunset the kangaroos bounce their way across the sand looking for dinner. (© Mandy Wilson/National Geographic Photo Contest)
Chapel on Klimsenhorn: I took this picture while I was in an aerial cableway going down from the Mt. Pilatus in Central Switzerland. It was the end of a nice day spent hiking, including a stop by the beautiful little white chapel on Klimsenhorn on the way to the top. (© Agne Subelyte/National Geographic Photo Contest)
Bats at Golconda Fort: This is the third shot with a flash, waking all of the bats up and seeing them all stare at the camera. (© Bill Thoet/National Geographic Photo Contest)
Early Morning Sunrise Flamingo: Lake Manyara, Tanzania - early morning game drive. (© Sheila Jones/National Geographic Photo Contest
Under the Sacred Place: Under the sacred mountain of Muqattam lives a population of Coptic Christians dedicated to recycling of garbage in the city of Cairo. (© Nacho Guadaño/National Geographic Photo Contest)
Dusty Hands: Aluong lives in Duk Payuel, a small village in South Sudan. The dust on her hands is from shoveling maize from one bag provided by WFP, into another to take for her family. Her mother has been diagnosed with Tuberculosis. As part of a feeding program the family receives a small amount of food to supplement the temporary loss of a care giver. In between cupped hands full of maize, as sweat grew on her forehead, Aluong looked at me cheekily with her hands pressed together. In the face of such challenges for her family, the spirit of determination and excitement still flashed in her eyes. (© Kristopher Schmitz/National Geographic Photo Contest)
