2010 National Geographic Photography Contest Galleries

Timeless

Photo and caption by graham lavery

A US 101st Airborne gunner looks out over the landscape in north-eastern Afghanistan, just outside Jalalabad.

The landscape is timeless, rugged, and unforgiving. To sit and watch it unfold from this unique perspective is a gift. These are the valleys Ghengis Khan travelled among other invaders over the millennia - little has changed since those days.

tibetan devotion

Photo and caption by konstantino hatzisarros

Tibetans walk and crawl for up to two years over the high mountain passes to reach Lhasa and pray at Jokhang, their most sacred temple. This is a scene inside the temple.

Sand Dune at De Hoop Nature Reserve

Photo and caption by Fred Turck

De Hoop Nature Reserve in the Southern Cape area of South Africa is known to travelers for it's whales (during the breeding season), it's fine collection of fynbos vegetation, and sand dunes - all protected by He Hoop's status as a Conservation area. De Hoop is also isolated and far off the "beaten track" - it is a spectacular area located some 50km from Cape Agulhas "as the crow flies" but the drive from Agulhas is much longer - about 200km over tortuous roads.

Cyrene Reef Exposed

Photo and caption by Goh Pei Hao

Nature lovers exploring parts of a submerged reef exposed at low tide. Cyrene reef is a one kilometre long reef sandwiched precariously between a busy container vessel terminal and offshore petrochemical refineries. It is amazing how such a pristine ecosystem can coexist in a channel buzzing with shipping activities.

urban path of light

Photo and caption by mihai iacob

I happenned to be in the right place at the right time when I took this picture. The place was Nichols Bridgeway leading to The Modern Wing of The Art Institue of Chicago, with beautiful views of downtown Chicago, while the time was sunset. I love the architecture, the vibrant city life and the light, all captured in the same frame.

Pumpkin and Burnt Wall

Photo and caption by Carl Lukasewich

My dad and I were out shooting one day in the foothills west of Calgary. We came across an abandoned, burnt-out gas station. This was strange enough, but what really set this situation apart was the carefully crafted pumpkin sitting happily IN the wall.

The Umayyad Age

Photo and caption by Ahmed AlShuaib

photo of The Umayyad Mosque at the sun set time

100 South 4th St, Brooklyn.

Photo and caption by Rebecca manson

An unexpected heart on a cold, snowy Brooklyn street.

edge of contemplation

Photo and caption by Christopher Walter

A local Yemeni sits on a cliff contemplating life about 2 hours outside of Saana. In the distance and two thousand feet below are the terraced farmlands of Saana - truly spectacular site.

Borobudur Temple In The Mist

Photo and caption by ANDREY KURNIAWAN

The sun was just rising and the mist is just slowly lifting up to reveal the grand temple at its pristine condition. This photo was taken from punthuk setumbu, Magelang, Central Java, indonesia.

Home

Photo and caption by Andy Aungthwin

The village of Studor below is where I live. The mountain top where I shot this from has the same name.

This region of Slovenia, called Bohinj, is made up of two parts - the upper valley and the lower valley. Studor is in the upper valley and you can see parts of the lower valley.

Being such a small village in an equally small country there are many jokes, and my favorite goes like this:

"Bohinj is at the end of the earth and Studor is at the end of Bohinj".

Jokes aside, I'm often reminded by just how beautiful my home is.

Mississippi

Photo and caption by Ziwen Meng

This photo was shot in Vicksburg National Military Park, Vicksburg, Mississippi.

Builder & Undertaker

Photo and caption by Mike Hollman

An historic building from the gold-mining days in Clyde, Central Otago, New Zealand.

Urban Vibes

Photo and caption by Haley Roberson

An obscure alleyway embellished with a local hipster's hammock evinces one of the many rich facets of San Francisco diversity. Graffiti is one of the many forms of highly valued individualism and artistic expression ingrained in the city's walls; its eclecticism and vibrance is a tangible articulation of a inexhaustibly vivid culture.

Oia, The Kingdom of not so far away..

Photo and caption by Rheanna Go

Taken from the Highest part of Oia Santorini, Greece

Galleria Principe di Napoli

Photo and caption by cesare naldi

Galleria Principe di Napoli, Naples, Italy.
While I was taking this picture, my brother stepped in front of the camera and tried to scare the pigeons.
Except for pigeons this great architectural site, built at the end of 1800, is usually empty.

Enchanted Rock State Natural Area, Texas

Photo and caption by Rolando Cangiullo

During our summer holiday, we found this enchanted place, an outcropping of granite located in the Hill Country near Austin, Texas.

Lake Louise

Photo and caption by Ricky Li

A lovely house on a beautiful lake!

Chicago

Photo and caption by andrew Burks

Checking out the Bean in Chicago.

Panama Red

Photo and caption by John Rizzuto

Taken in the Casco Viejo section of Panama City, Panama. Casco Viejo is the old town section of Panama City and was built in 1671 after the destruction of Panama Viejo by Captain Henry Morgan. Casco Viejo contains many original buildings from 16th and 17th which are fine examples of French and Spanish Colonial architecture.

South West Norway

Photo and caption by Jan Folke Rorvik

I'm very happy with this shot, and I hope you like it too. I sure could need 10 000 to upgrade my equipment and pay the rent.

Resort World Sentosa

Photo and caption by KW Phua

This is the underground car park of the Resort World Sentosa, one of the two IRs that created 20 thousand job vacancies for Singapore. These attractions also attracted record high visitors to Singapore.
Brighter the future for Singapore. Up up all the way.