2010 National Geographic Photography Contest Galleries

Rainy day. China Town, New York

Photo and caption by Matthew Goddard-Jones

Reflections on the road after a wet afternoon. China Town, New York.

London rain

Photo and caption by Normunds Spakovskis

As londoners say - it is fairly typical weather for England. Photo taken this spring during double decker bus ride on a Bond street.

Road to Pasu

Photo and caption by João Roberto Tajara

In the Kashmir region, Pakistan, trails between villages often include the crossing of hanging bridges like this, which is at least 200 meters long. The fierce wind blowing very strong and the weight they carry on their backs do not make the journey easier for the two women on the photo.

Manhawkin NJ Marsh Spirit Figure

Photo and caption by Peter Stern

This photograph, taken from my ultralight aircraft on 10/02/2010, shows a strong human figure in the shapes of the tidal estuaries. The straight lines running through the marsh, which are man-made drainage channels, create the impression of a cave-painting, or heiroglyph, painted by a giant hand into the marsh.

Climbers start their ascent to the Matterhorn near Zermatt/Switzerland

Photo and caption by Matthias Taugwalder

The Matterhorn (4478m/14692ft) near Zermatt/Switzerland is well-known for its unique and beautiful form, its importance in the history of alpinism and the dramatic story of its first ascent.

The ascent over the classic Hörnli ridge takes two days from Zermatt; one to approach the Hörnli Hut, the second to climb the route and return to Zermatt.

This is a stitched 360 degree panoramic image, shot on August 9, 2010 around 4:30am in the morning. In the picture you can see the light trails of the headlamps of the 80 climbers that day, starting their 4-5 hour ascent to the summit.

Climate Change Consequences

Photo and caption by Mike Curry

Taxidermy deer photographed in front of Battersea Power Station. Both the deer and the power station are dead and in the city. Consequences of climate change?

The Great Glen

Photo and caption by Angus Taylor

While driving through the Great Glen, the clouds broke and a few rays of sunshine hit the ground, revealing the history and majesty of possibly one of the UK's most spectacular landscapes.

Girl With A View

Photo and caption by Sam Miller

A young girl looks west over Chicago from the Skydeck on Willis Tower.

Illuminations

Photo and caption by philipp spalek

Places tell stories. Urban landscapes interlace, and histories meet. As stories can be set at different places, one place can tell different stories. As I walked through the Old City of Cairo, I felt, that it conserves the present and the past, and tells its stories side by side.

Stilt fishermen fishing under the coming heavy storm

Photo and caption by Weixin Shen

Stilt fishermen fishing under the coming heavy storm at Koggala beach in Sri Lanka.

Thunder Head Over Battrum SK

Photo and caption by Mike Stobbs

A thunder Storm rolls over the grain elevators at Battrum Saskatchewan

Geometry in the sky

Photo and caption by Pascal Beaudenon

June 2010. Flying from Beirut to Paris, while others are already on the way back.

Ahu Tongariki, Easter island

Photo and caption by Pierre Lesage

December 31 at sunrise, a gentle southwest wind was blowing, our Delta kite was already above the moai before sunrise, as soon as the sun was out we lofted our camera 65 meters above the statues and had a 3 minutes window to record the shadows and the volcanoe Ranu Rarako.

The Exorcist

Photo and caption by Alessandro Pugi

During my visit of Marrakech (Morocco), one night I immersed myself in the reading of a book about some black magic rituals of old Moroccan witchcraft. I read also how dried chameleons were used by local exorcists to ward off evil spirits.

The day after I was wandering in the medina and I accidentally discovered a cluster of dried chameleons strung and hung at the back door of an herbalist. I wondered if I could take a picture that could express the emotional impact provoked by the reading of the night before. I think this picture does.

Preservation

Photo and caption by Denen de Silva

Inside the UK Pavilion at Expo 2010 Shanghai, visitors witness a spectacular expression of the preservation of the world's seeds. Raising awareness of the the Kew Millennium Seed Bank Partnership, the Pavilion is a beautiful yet haunting reminder of mankind's power over, and impact upon planet earth.

Indonesia, Java, Volcano Ijen: sulfur mines

Photo and caption by pierpaolo mittica

These Indonesian miners,in primitive conditions not seen in most places for more than a century,often wear no protection,carrying up to 100 kilos of sulfur on their shoulders,climbing steep rocky paths and descending the volcano for 3 kilometers,bare foot,twice daily,choking from stinking,toxic fumes.For this shortened, blinding, gagging life in hell,they are paid 6 Euros a day. These conditions destroy their lungs, eyes and other tissues.“We work in hell,” said the miners,“our eyes and lungs burn the whole day, but there’s nothing we can do. Otherwise, we’re scared we’ll have nothing to eat.”

Reed Flute Cave

Photo and caption by Denis Ananiev

Reed Flute Cave near Gilin, China, is a fantastic natural phenomenon aptly enhanced by artificial lighting.

Kites In A City

Photo and caption by Goh Pei Hao

Girl participating in an ancient game of kite flying in front of the modern Singapore business district.

Iowa Thunderstorm

Photo and caption by Igor Kovalenko

Thunderstorm over one of Iowa's wind farms

Memories of the Wailing Wall

Photo and caption by Guo Lei

April 19-26, 2008. is the annual Passover in Jewish calendar. Every night this week, thousands of Jews from all corners of Israel and the world gathered in the Old City of Jerusalem outside the walls of Jaffa. The old faces on the wall reflected an important Jewish historical moment.

Waiting to be torn down

Photo and caption by Wu Junsong

A village of Shenzhen waiting to be torn down