15 National Geographic Photo Contest Entries From Around The World

I always look forward to seeing the new entrants for the annual National Geographic Photo Contest. This wonderful competition is open to everyone and attracts submissions from all over the world, and viewing the pictures is always certain to open up your eyes to new worlds and stir your feelings of wanderlust. The competition is currently accepting new entries and you can submit your own pictures here. In the mean time, marvel at this selection of 15 amazing photos that have already been put forward by photographers from across the globe.

1. Sunset Mountain Work (taken in Nepal) by Jonathan Abdipranoto

Image rights: Jonathan Adripanoto for National Geographic Photo Contest

The photographer says: “Nepal is a special place to me for a number of reasons and I was fortunate enough to go back to see the Himalayas on a trek that offers amazing views of Mount Dhaulagiri and Mount Annapurna. The mountain landscape continued to blow my mind! After a strenuous and exhausting 6 hour trek to Kopra Ridge, I took this photo of Mount Dhaulagiri at sunset. In the foreground, a local Nepalese man is helping usher his mules up the ridge to a nearby eco-lodge that was in the middle of construction.”

2. Ben Youssef Madrasa College (Marrakesh) by Takashi Nakagawa

Image rights: Takashi Nakagawa for National Geographic Photo Contest

The photographer says: “Even though there were a lot of people in Ben Youssef, still here was more quiet and relaxing compare to the outside of street in Marrakesh. I was waiting the perfect timing to photograph for long time.”

3. Winter Spectacle (Japan) by Sho Shibata

Image Rights: Sho Shibata for National Geographic Photo Contest

The photographer says: “Mt. Hakkoda is snowy mountains to watch the rime in Aomori Japan. All around is covered with white world.”

4. The Fire Down Below (Florida) by John Moran

Image rights: John Moran for National Geographic Photo Contest

The photographer says: “The effect is entirely natural but decidedly surreal as the swirling tannins of the Santa Fe River mix with clear spring water as Lesley Gamble begins her dive at of Devil’s Ear Spring in North Florida. The Land of a Thousand Springs, Florida is home to the largest collection of freshwater springs in the world.”

5. Calbuco, The Awakening (Chile) by Francisco Negroni

Image rights: Francisco Negroni for National Geographic Photo Contest

The photographer says: “Calbuco Volcano is located in the lakes region south of Santiago, Chile’s capital city and is one of the 10 most dangerous volcanoes in the country. After more than 40 years of inactivity, the day April 23 the volcano erupts, spewing more than 200 million tons of ash and causing the evacuation of more than 2,000 people. In the picture is seen one of the most violent moments of the eruption, which occurred in the early hours of April 24.”