2010 National Geographic Photography Contest Galleries

A sunset hailstorm over Beckwith Ranch, Westcliffe, Colorado

Photo and caption by David Haltom

My brother and I were driving along the western side of the Sangre de Cristo range, south of Salida, Colorado. The sun was setting, with an explosion of rays through the clouds, and a violent hailstorm rolled down from the mountains within minutes. In the moments before the rain and hail came down on us, we drove past Beckwith Ranch. I was captivated by the two red-roofed barns, and the complex geometry of the cattle pens. It seemed that every color in the rainbow saturated the scene.

Street in Port-au-Prince

Photo and caption by Andreas Symietz

At night the streets of Port-au-Prince fall into absolute darkness where only a candle or a doorway provides a little illumination until a car passes by and throws a short flash of light unto the street. I took this picture from my wife's family home in late December 2009 only weeks before the earthquake shattered the whole city into another world of despair and darkness.
Port-au-Prince, December 2009

Slum Fire

Photo and caption by Marcela Beltrão

A man throws buckets of water in an attempt to reduce the fire that ended more than 300 shacks in the slum Royal Park, in Sao Paulo

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.

Lombard Street

Photo and caption by Josh Edelson

Dubbed ‘the world’s most crooked street,’ San Francisco's Lombard street is as much a destination as it is a road. But It wasn’t always so bent; before automobiles, it plunged straight down the hill.

Sunrise over Bagan

Photo and caption by marina vernicos

Bagan is home to over 2000 pagodas. Given that there is no high point of observation, the best way to see them is from a hot air balloon at sunrise.

Moon Landscape

Photo and caption by Christian Aslund

Fernie, British Columbia, Canada.
Skier Adam Falk jumping in the backcountry terrain of Fernie.

Rest In Peace

Photo and caption by Miroslav Beka

Small old graveyard on hill next to holiday destination Baška in Croatia. This gravestone stands against weather for years, partially damaged. With beautiful views of the surrounding is this the best final resting place.

San Marcos

Photo and caption by James Leocadi

Time seems to stand still whilst we wait for a boat to take us to the other side. It seems impossible not to be hypnotized by the tranquility and great beauty of Lago de Atitlan. Its true what they say, it never looks the same twice.

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.

Cicloturismo

Photo and caption by Emerson Diniz

Cicloviajem realizada no caminho da fé em julho de 2010 no Brasil, foram 430km pedalados em 6 dias.Esta foto foi tirada entre Paraisopolis(Minas Gerais) e Luminosa(São Paulo),no periodo das 8h as 10h(AM).

103 REGT RA(V) LIGHT GUNS AT THE PAGEANT OF POWER 2010

Photo and caption by peter linley

This picture was taken at cholmondeley castle pageant of power 2010 at the night time concert playing the 1812 overture and the L118 light gun firng in sync to the tune.
It was a impressive sight and sound to attend.

The Point

Photo and caption by Roy Barnett Jr

Medium format film is a wonderful thing. Denver Art Museum against the Denver public library.

Curious House

Photo and caption by Bernardo Borges

The old car in fornt of the tiny house with the curious entry/door call my eyes and my fingers to captured. Was taken in Uyuni Salar in south of Bolivia

Door way to the past

Photo and caption by MIKE MCCORMICK

In Staunton Va. there is a living history musuem.(the frontier culture museum) the spring is a great time to see it to catch all the animals with their young. This pictre I liked because it is liking looking through a door way to the past.

Tunda Vala

Photo and caption by David Ligeiro

Tundavala Chasm Situated on the southern plain at a height of 2,225 meters with an impressive decline, this is one of the most spectacular sights of the Mumuilas with natural stone arenas and splendid belvedere from where the village of Bibala (ex. Vila Arriaga) can be seen. Huíla - ANGOLA

Al-Saleh (The President's) Mosque, Sana'a, Yemen

Photo and caption by Nick Ledger

The mosque was commissioned by Yemen's President Al-Saleh and completed in 2008 at a reported cost of $60 million. Each of the minarets are over 100m high, the main hall alone covers 13,500 square metres and the mosque can hold over 44,000 people. It makes for a stunning view when seen from a rooftop in the Old City of Sana'a.