2010 National Geographic Photography Contest Galleries

Don't Mess with Texas

Photo and caption by Michael Lax

Although difficult to portray the sheer size of this full-grown Texas Longhorn, I used a fixed 14mm lens to compose a horn-to-horn shot to give the viewer a dramatic "in-your-face" composition.

Rhino battle at sunset

Photo and caption by Johan Aucamp

This photo was taken in Kruger National Park just before sunset on my way back to camp.

Earthstar and Spores

Photo and caption by Steve Irvine

The impact energy of raindrops hitting an Earthstar mushroom will cause it to eject millions of spores into the air. The spores will find a hospitable environment to start developing in the rain soaked forest.

Liquid Planet

Photo and caption by freddy cerdeira

Another picture from the Liquid Vision Series, which shows a different point of view of waves. An angle that people are not used to see.

Foot and Thistle, Mountain Gorilla of Rwanda

Photo and caption by Jim Edwards

I was fortunate to visit the rare and endangered Mountain Gorillas in Rwanda, February of 2010. This young gorilla had fallen asleep with a thistle grasped in his foot. The thistle is one of their food sources. They learn to extract the pith from the spine-defended inedible stem. This particular gorilla demonstrates syndactyly of the third and fourth toes, a common congenital malformation also found in humans.

Face to face with a soldier beetle.

Photo and caption by Thomas Maassen

I spotted this common red soldier beetle (Rhagonycha fulva) on a blade of grass on the side of a field. As I began photographing, it turned its head towards me. This simple look revealed the astounding personality of the creature.

the pelican glide

Photo and caption by joshua kast

A flock of Brown Pelicans trace the up draft of a perfect early morning wave in Newport Beach, California.

Dappled Grey On Gold

Photo and caption by Mary Beth Jarrosak

I took this photo on a beautiful grey morning. I was out photographing the autumn foliage and this beautiful horse came over from a field to see what I was doing.

In a sea of grass

Photo and caption by Karen Allen

While visiting Chincoteague NWR in Virginia, it rained one entire day of the trip. I was determined to not let the rain ruin the day. I spotted this lone Great Egret in a large area of marsh grass. The rain, colors, and contrast just brought it all together.

Proxy Falls

Photo and caption by Ryan Hellard

The pure glacial waters of Oregon's Proxy Falls flows over the moss covered columnar basalt.

Apple in the flower?

Photo and caption by Erika Techoniuk

Greenwich

COMING HOME

Photo and caption by Jose Manzanilla

TURTLES EGGS ARRIVAL NESTING OSTIONAL COSTA RICA GUANACASTE BEACH SEA SHORE TORTUGA LORA ARRIVADA PLAYA NIDOS HUEVOS

sea of rain

Photo and caption by Patrick Lienin

While hiking at Jasmund National Park in Northernwest Germany, a rain storm passed by and created a stunning scene! The sea was completely flat and the only thing out there was the tiny sailing boat.

The Mountain Who Wasn't There

Photo and caption by Roberto Bertero

Sunset view from Mount Rocciamelone summit (3,538 m - 11,603 ft)
On the left you can easily see the huge shadow of the mountain's conical shape projected to the infinite
a "sunset illusion"

mountain was there, but only as an immaterial presence
sunset was there, but only in its colors
the day was there, just because it was leaving
the night was there, with appearing shadows and dissolving details

Morning Tu(fa) Remember

Photo and caption by Mark Shephard

We spent about 12 hours on the road on our way back to Canada and our second last destination was Mono Lake. We arrived at the lake around 5pm and I tried to capture as many images as i could until the light was just about gone.I was very happy with the images I dl'd to my laptop and thought I'd go back for morning sunrise. The next morning I woke up with a pounding headache and nearly crawled back into bed. Finally I talked myself into heading to the lake and am I ever glad I did. What an amazing place to witness a sunrise.

Mt Everest with halo

Photo and caption by J Lee

First ray of sunlight lights up the bottom of cloud which happens to touch the 8848m peak of Mt Everest. Viewed from Base Camp on Tibet/China side, the reflected light on peak looks like Moses receiving Ten Commandments from God at the peak of the world.

Lightning Crashes

Photo and caption by Michael Siward

A lightning bolt strickes the antenna of The Center building in Central, Hong Kong during a storm on September 13, 2009.