2010 National Geographic Photography Contest Galleries

Painted Hills Joined by the Badlands

Photo and caption by Julian Bunker

On an excursion through the South Dakota Badlands, i hiked to several placed, some i probably should not have, to find a great angle where i might be able to position the painted hills directly in front of the looming Badlands it the background. I'm very glad i was so fussy about the composition of this shot and the extensive technical set up i went through before i was happy. One of the most strange yet beautiful views i have ever seen, although i would like to see many more!

Lovely view of Paris

Photo and caption by Carolina Perez

I was visiting the city in just few day, when I went to Eiffel Tower. That day started to rain but for one moment the rainy day turns in this lovely view, such a magic moment.

Oimara

Photo and caption by Tor Ivan Boine

"Oimara" is the name of the ship that has been stranded here for almost 100 years. The ship was built in England, and was used as a russian cargoship. After the revolution in Russia the ship came with refugees from Murmansk to Tromsø. And later was abandoned at Tomasjordneset sometime between 1917-1927

Boat on Ganges

Photo and caption by ulrich lambert

A boat on the Ganges river in Varanasi at early morning.

Expo night

Photo and caption by Weizhong Qian

2010 Shanghai Expo

Windy beach

Photo and caption by marcus lamkin

I had been trying to get a good photograph of the dunes all week while at our stay on Emerald Isle, NC but with no luck . On the morning we were leaving, I got up before sunrise to take a photo of an erosion fence on the beach and while doing that I looked down and to my left and saw this site which was created during the night with the high winds. Making yourself get up early and getting out there usually leads to surprises.

Morning colours, Sanur, Bali

Photo and caption by Katerina Korfiati

I was in Bali in August and everybody told me that Ι should not miss the beautiful sunrise in Sanur. So, I woke up one morning very early and decided to go to the beach to watch the sunrise; it was indeed rewarding. I took this shot just before sunrise at around 6:00 am. The calm and mirror-like waters, the rich colours of the sky and the beautiful silhouette of a Balé that stands on an outcrop of rocks reaching out into the sea created a magical atmosphere.

Honolulu Sunset Colors

Photo and caption by Paul Fisher

As the sun set a storm moved down the Koolau mountain range creating a rainbow and lighting up the city. The shot was taken from the water at Ala Moana Bowls in Honolulu, Hawaii. 7D, 24-105mm.

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.

Untitled

Photo and caption by Alessandra Hartkopf

A late, summer sunset lights up the New York skyline over the Hudson River in Battery Park City Park.

Footsteps above me / Pegadas acima de mim

Photo and caption by André Guimarães

A day in the municipal market of Sao Paulo looking up and waiting for the decisive moment.

Ceramic Jenga

Photo and caption by scot gapen

This was in a market place that I perused while on a mission trip to Guatemala. How you would pick just one item out without bringing down the whole pile, I will never know. I am certain, however, that they would have made a "special deal, just for me".

Blue water magrove

Photo and caption by Joao Paulo Krajewski

One of the most spectacular places to dive in the world are the blue water mangroves of the Raja Ampat Archipelago, Indonesia. Unlike most mangroves, the water is crystal clear and is it possible to see an amazing reef structure among the mangrove trees.

Slum Dogs

Photo and caption by Phua Li Ling

At a slum in the highlands of Nuwara Eliya, Sri Lanka, a dog and her cub take refuge in a basket.

Light in the Kasbah

Photo and caption by Parker Murff

I took this picture in Tangiers, Morocco, and later my photograph teacher suggested that I make minor adjustments in lighting to the original picture, but besides those subtle alterations this is very true to the original.

Nostalgic Cairo

Photo and caption by jesus oranday

Beautiful memories of one of the most interesting cities of the world. The picture brings me an intense desire to come back to Cairo.

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.

Rural Busstop on a cold morning

Photo and caption by Dinah Junker

One autumn morning I was travelling through Kitee / North Karelia / Finland and I stopped to enjoy the morning sun melting the icy fog from the night away. The light illuminating the birch leaves and the loneliness of the bus stop made it a very peaceful moment.

Basketball Hoop in Shishmaref

Photo and caption by Brian Adams

Shishmaref, Alaska, March 2010
Shishmaref feels as though it may as well be the edge of the world. For most of the year, the Inupiat village lies muffled beneath an eclipse of snow and ice, enclosed by a frozen sea. Brightly colored homes nestle in a blue and white landscape before a seemingly endless crystalline expanse pitted against muted motions of village life. In the quiet hum of winter, the promises of distant summer stand stark and deserted-- a lone basketball hoop in a canvas of ice and snow, boats docked in wait for thawing waters.

Morning Glow

Photo and caption by Danielle Lefrancois

Niagara Falls, Canada on a chilly February morning.

Blue Calm

Photo and caption by yurian quintanas nobel

Banyoles lake is the main lake in Catalonia (Spain). Located in a natural tectonic depression his history is full of legends and mysteries about how it was formed and the monster who allegedly sleeps in it.
The day after the big snowfall that Catalonia suffered in January 2010 I woke up early to try to photograph the unusual landscape that snow had left. The snowy mountain in the background surrounded by fog, the traditional lake cottage and the abandoned boat gave me the feeling of calm after the storm I was searching. January 2010, Banyoles (Spain).