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The National Geographic has always been a showcase for the world's best photography. Each year it holds prestigious competitions, attracting the most talented photographers from around the world, and this year is no exception. The 2016 Travel Photographer of the Year has been named, and both the winner and runners-up have captured spectacular and memorable photos. The photos were selected from more than 10,000 entries. Check out their breathtaking photos below, along with the photographer's brief explanation on how the photo was taken: Click on the images to view them in their full size. |
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1. Winter Horseman, Inner Mongolia |
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"The winter in Inner Mongolia is very unforgiving. At a freezing temperature of minus twenty and lower, with constant snowy winds from all directions, it was pretty hard to convince myself to get out of the car and take photos. When I saw Inner Mongolian horsemen showing off their skills and commanding the steed from a distance, I quickly grabbed my lens and captured a moment, when one of the horseman charged out from morning mist." Photographer: Anthony Lau, Grand Prize Winner |
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2. Ben Youssef, Marrakesh, Morocco |
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"Marrakesh, Morocco, is an exciting city for any traveler, but I was tired of walking on the crowded street and being asked for money from local people, so I was looking for a place to settle down. Even though there were a lot of people in the Ben Youssef Madrasa, it was still more quiet and relaxing than outside. Suddenly a beautiful reflection appeared on the shallow pool when I was taking a rest." Photographer: Takashi Nakagawa, First Place Winner, Category: Cities |
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3. Wherever You Go, I Will Follow You, Hokkaido, Japan |
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"It was when I drove back home feeling disappointed by the fact that I had finished the day in vain without any anticipated subject that I heard the joyful voice from the car window: 'quick, quick!' There they were - red foxes. Around the end of the winter, they meet the season of love - they care for and love each other enough to make us jealous." Photographer: Horoki Inoue, First Place Winner, Category: Nature |
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4. Divide, Manhattan, New York, United States |
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"This photo was taken from the helicopter looking south on Central Park West – dividing the architecture and Central Park, on November 5th 2014, a day before my 27th birthday. The flight was my birthday gift." Photographer: Kathleen Dolmatch, Honorable Mention, Category: Cities |
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5. Bears on a Berg, Nunavut, Canada |
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"This photo was taken far out at sea ice in the Davis Straight, off the coast of Baffin Island. This mother polar bear and her yearling are perched atop a huge snow covered iceberg that got 'socked in' when the ocean froze over for the winter. To me, the relative 'smallness' of these large creatures when compared to the immensity of the iceberg in the photo represents the precariousness of the polar bear’s reliance on the sea and ice for its existence." Photographer: John Rollins, Honorable Mention, Category: Nature |
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6. Rooftop Dreams, Varanasi, India |
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"I arrived at my guest house in Varanasi at 5.30am. I instinctively climbed seven sets of stairs to the rooftop (which happened to be the highest in the vicinity) to see the sunrise over the famous Ganges River. As the sun was rising, I looked over the right-hand-side of the balcony and my jaw dropped with disbelief. Below were families – mothers, fathers, children, brothers, sisters and dogs all sleeping on the top of their houses. It was midsummer in Varanasi and sleeping without air conditioning was difficult." Photographer: Yasmin Mund, Second Place Winner, Category: People |
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7. Lagunas Baltinache (Atacama Desert) Antofagasta, Chile |
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"The Baltinache Ponds, also called Hidden Ponds, are a set of seven salt ponds located in the area of the Salt Cordillera, near San Pedro de Atacama, in the second region of northern Chile, in the Atacama desert. The foreground was illuminated by the moonlight." Photographer: Victor Lima, Third Place Winner, Category: Nature |
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8. Remote Life at -21 Degree, Himachal Pradesh, India |
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"An old Kinnaura tribeswoman in a remote village in Himachal Pradesh carrying a big log back home to warm up her house." Photographer: Mattia Passarini, Third Place Winner, Category: People |
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9. Silenced, Guangdong Sheng, China |
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"This photo was taken on my last trip to Guangzhou, China. It features the school dormitories of South China Normal University. When I was hanging around, most of them were taking a break. After lunchtime, they needed to go back to studying." Photographer: Wing Ka H, Second Place Winner, Category: Cities |
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10. Double Trapping, Brazilian Pantanal |
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"This picture was taken in the Brazilian Pantanal." Photographer: Massimiliano Bencivenni, Second Place Winner, Category: Nature |
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11. Celestial Reverie, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia |
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"Lightning seemingly strikes Komtar Tower, the most iconic landmark in George Town, capital of Penang state in Malaysia. It is symbolic of the rejuvenation that the city, famous for a unique blend of centuries-old buildings and modern structures, has enjoyed in recent years. While many of its old neighborhoods fell into neglect in the 1990s and early 2000s, a UNESCO World Heritage listing in 2008 sparked a transformation. Today, they are all part of a vibrant tourist destination." Photographer: Jeremy Tan, Third Place Winner, Category: Citiesv |
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12. Muscle Beach Gym, Venice Beach, California, United States |
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"A weightlifter lifts a barbell loaded with heavy plates while a bodybuilder performs an aerial handstand at the Muscle Beach Gym in Venice Beach, CA." Photographer: Dotan Saguy, Honorable Mention: People h/t: boredpanda.com |
