10 Winning Shots from the 2015 National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest

Michael Zhang

Whale whisperers

After receiving nearly 18,000 photo submissions, National Geographic Traveler magazine has selected the winning shots for this year’s Traveler Photo Contest. It’s a series of images of our world that dazzles your eyes and stirs your imagination.

The grand prize winner is Anuar Patjane Floriuk of Tehuacán, Puebla, Mexico, who captured a magical underwater photograph of divers swimming near a humpback whale.

Grand Prize: “Whale Whisperer”

Photo and caption by Anuar Patjane Floriuk/National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest. Diving with a humpback whale and her newborn calf while they cruise around Roca Partida ... in the Revillagigedo [Islands], Mexico. This is an outstanding and unique place full of pelagic life, so we need to accelerate the incorporation of the islands into UNESCO as [a] natural heritage site in order to increase the protection of the islands against the prevailing illegal fishing corporations and big-game fishing.
Diving with a humpback whale and her newborn calf while they cruise around Roca Partida … in the Revillagigedo [Islands], Mexico. This is an outstanding and unique place full of pelagic life, so we need to accelerate the incorporation of the islands into UNESCO as [a] natural heritage site in order to increase the protection of the islands against the prevailing illegal fishing corporations and big-game fishing. Photo and caption by Anuar Patjane Floriuk /National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest.

“The photo wasn’t planned,” says Floriuk. “I was taking photos near the head of the whale, and all of a sudden she began to swim toward the rest of the diving team. The divers gave the whale and her calf space, and I just clicked at the moment when the flow and composition seemed right.”

The grand prize of this year’s National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest was an eight-day National Geographic Photo Expedition to Costa Rica and the Panama Canal for two.

Second Place: “Gravel Workmen”

[This] gravel-crush working place remains full of dust and sand. Three gravel workmen are looking through the window glass at their working place. Chittagong, Bangladesh. Photo and caption by Faisal Azim/National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest
[This] gravel-crush working place remains full of dust and sand. Three gravel workmen are looking through the window glass at their working place. Chittagong, Bangladesh. Photo and caption by Faisal Azim/National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest

Third Place: “Camel Ardah”

Photo and caption by Ahmed Al Toqi /National Geographic Traveler Photo ContestCamel Ardah, as it called in Oman, is one of the traditional styles of camel racing ... between two camels controlled by expert men. The faster camel is the loser ... so they must be running [at] the same speed level in the same track. The main purpose of Ardah is to show the beauty and strength of the Arabian camels and the riders' skills. Ardah [is] considered one of the most risky situations, since always the camels reactions are unpredictable [and] it may get wild and jump [toward the] audience.
Camel Ardah, as it called in Oman, is one of the traditional styles of camel racing … between two camels controlled by expert men. The faster camel is the loser … so they must be running [at] the same speed level in the same track. The main purpose of Ardah is to show the beauty and strength of the Arabian camels and the riders’ skills. Ardah [is] considered one of the most risky situations, since always the camels reactions are unpredictable [and] it may get wild and jump [toward the] audience. Photo and caption by Ahmed Al Toqi/National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest

Seven other photographs were selected as merit winners:

“A Night at Deadvlei”

The night before returning to Windhoek, we spent several hours at Deadveli. The moon was bright enough to illuminate the sand dunes in the distance, but the skies were still dark enough to clearly see the milky way and magellanic clouds. Deadveli means "dead marsh." The camelthorn trees are believed to be about 900 years old, but have not decomposed because the environment is so dry.
The night before returning to Windhoek, we spent several hours at Deadveli. The moon was bright enough to illuminate the sand dunes in the distance, but the skies were still dark enough to clearly see the milky way and magellanic clouds. Deadveli means “dead marsh.” The camelthorn trees are believed to be about 900 years old, but have not decomposed because the environment is so dry. Photo and caption by Beth McCarley/National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest

“Catching a Duck”

2 boys are trying to catch a duck at the stream of the waterfall
2 boys are trying to catch a duck at the stream of the waterfall. Photo and caption by Sarah Wouters/National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest

Kushti, Indian Wrestling

Kushti is the traditional form of Indian wrestling. Wearing only a well-adjusted loincloth (´†langot†ª), wrestlers or ´†Pelwhans†ª enter a pit made of clay, often mixed with salt, lemon and ghee (clarified butter). At the end of a workout, wrestlers rest against the walls of the arena covering their heads and bodies with earth to soak up any perspiration and avoid catching cold. This relaxation ceremony is completed with massages to soothe tired muscles and demonstrate mutual respect.
Kushti is the traditional form of Indian wrestling. Wearing only a well-adjusted loincloth (´†langot†ª), wrestlers or ´†Pelwhans†ª enter a pit made of clay, often mixed with salt, lemon and ghee (clarified butter). At the end of a workout, wrestlers rest against the walls of the arena covering their heads and bodies with earth to soak up any perspiration and avoid catching cold. This relaxation ceremony is completed with massages to soothe tired muscles and demonstrate mutual respect. Photo and caption by Alain Schroeder/National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest

White Rhinos

The night before this photo, we tried all day to get a good photo of the endangered white rhino. Skulking through the grass carefully trying to stay 30 feet away to be safe, didn't provide me the photo I was hoping for. In the morning however, I woke up to all three rhinos grazing infront of me.
The night before this photo, we tried all day to get a good photo of the endangered white rhino. Skulking through the grass carefully trying to stay 30 feet away to be safe, didn’t provide me the photo I was hoping for. In the morning however, I woke up to all three rhinos grazing infront of me. Photo and caption by Stefane Berube/National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest

Sauna in the Sky

A sauna at 2.800 mt high, in the heart of Dolomites. Monte Lagazuoi, Cortina, eastern Italian Alps.
A sauna at 2.800 mt high, in the heart of Dolomites. Monte Lagazuoi, Cortina, eastern Italian Alps. Photo and caption by Stefano Zardini/National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest

Highlanders

Traditional haymaking in Poland. Many people continue to use the scythe and pitchfork to sort the hay.
Traditional haymaking in Poland. Many people continue to use the scythe and pitchfork to sort the hay. Photo and caption by Bartłomiej Jurecki/National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest

Romania, Land of Fairy Tales

Whitefrost over Pestera village in Romania
Whitefrost over Pestera village in Romania. Photo and caption by Eduard Gutescu/National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest
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