2014 Winners of the National Geographic Photography Contest

Above: Grand-Prize Winner and People Winner
Photo and caption by Brian Yen
Location: Hong Kong
“In the last ten years, mobile data, smartphones and social networks have forever changed our existence. Although this woman stood at the center of a jam-packed train, the warm glow from her phone told the strangers around her that she wasn’t really there. She managed to slip away from “here” for a short moment; she’s a node flickering on the social web, roaming the Earth, free as a butterfly. Our existence is no longer stuck to the physical here; we’re free to run away, and run we will.”

National Geographic announces the 2014 winners and honorable mentions for their annual photography contest. Participants spanned 150 countries from around the globe and submitted images under three categories: people, places, and nature. The acclaimed travel magazine received more than 9,000 entries from professional photographers to amateurs alike all vying for a chance to win the grand prize: $10,000 and a trip to the National Geographic headquarters in Washington , D.C. to take part in a behind-the-scenes photography seminar in 2015. To get a chance to see all the amazing entries submitted, check them out here.

Nature Winner
The Great Migration by Nicole Cambré
Location: North Serengeti, Tanzania
Jump of the wildebeest at the Mara River

Places Winner
Bathing in Budapest by Triston Yeo
Location: Budapest, Hungary
The thermal spas in Budapest [are] one of the favorite activities of Hungarians, especially in winter. We were fortunate to gain special access to shoot in the thermal spa thanks to our tour guide, Gabor. I love the mist, caused by the great difference in temperature between the hot spa water and the atmosphere. It makes the entire spa experience more surreal and mystical.

Honorable Mention Nature
Photo and caption by Christian Miller
Location: Cairns, Great Barrier Reef, Flynn Reef, Australia
On a windy day right after a Cyclone passed the far northern Great Barrier Reef I took some friends out to the reef. Never before I saw that many glass fish on this particular coral ‘bommie’ . Just when i setup my camera, this Napoleon Wrasse swam right through the school of fish building a living frame.

Honorable Mention Nature
Photo and caption by Prashant Meswani
Location: Richmond Park, London, UK
Stag Deer Bellowing in Richmond Park

Honorable Mention Nature
Shoulder Creek by Henrik Nilsson
Location: Boundary Bay, BC, Canada
A wild short-eared owl completes a shoulder check in case something was missed. Northern harriers were also hunting in the field and these raptors will often steal a kill from the owls.

Honorable Mention Nature
Dragon by Maie Kirnmann
Location: Estonia Tabasalu
Ice art on the window

Honorable Mention Nature
Muscle Power by Archna Singh
Location: Bandhavgarh National Park, Madhya Pradesh, India
This playful fight amongst two young sub adult Tigers was indeed a brilliant life time opportunity that lasted exactly 4-5 seconds. The cubs were sitting in the grass as dusk approached when suddenly one of them sneaked up behind the other and what happened next is captured in this image.

Honorable Mention Nature
Photo and caption by Zik Teo
Location: Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Tanzania
Ngorongoro Crater, Tanzania, is the world’s largest inactive volcanic caldera. It is a collapsed volcano that harbours a range of African wildlife that live in relatively close proximity and competition of each other. Zebras are amongst the most common animals in the crater along with wildebeest, gazelles, hyenas, and lions. On a clear day, a 360º view of the crater rim can be seen whilst being inside.

Honorable Mention People
Children in the darkness by Abdullah Alghajar
Location: Syria – Termanin
Disabled children living in Syria war

Honorable Mention People
Biltigiri by Mattia Passarini
Location: India, Chhattisgarh
The chef of Ramnami people in Chhattisgarh, India. Ramnami tattoo the name of the lord “Ram” on their body. Their entire focus is on the name of Ram, the name of God that is most dear to them. The Ramnami Samaj is a sect of harijan (Untouchable) Ram. Formed in the 1890s, the sect has become a dominant force in the religious life of the area. The tattoo is the result of their devotion and also, a gift and an acknowledgement from Ram

Honorable Mention People
Temper by Adam Birkan
Location: Bangkok, Thailand, Southeast Asia
A young girl throws a temper tantrum in a Bangkok shopping mall. June, 2014

Honorable Mention People
Dead Sea Mudbathing by Nick Riley
Location: Dead Sea, Israel
Seekers of eternal youth coat themselves in mineral-rich mud, at the Dead Sea in Israel

Honorable Mention People
Tea Time in the Hut by K
Location: Paris
Little discussion with a doll in a plastic box, not inherently beautiful. But with this slice of light, it looks like a bubble invented to dream in an imaginative world.

Honorable Mention People
Waiting by Roberto Fiore
Location: Village of Sarbi, Maramure (Romania)
He was waiting on the bed, lost in thoughts, while his wife was preparing the bread to be blessed for the orthodox Eucharist.

Honorable Mention People
My brothers and I by Tyler G
Location: Blue Ridge Parkway
Our road trip down to Miami traversed this outlook on the Blue Ridge Parkway. We rested on this ridge overlooking the mountains. Though we argued consistently throughout the journey, here we were reminded of our brotherhood.

Honorable Mention Places
Destroyed Homs by Sergey Ponomarev
Location: Homs, Syria
Birds fly over the destroyed houses in Khalidiya district in Homs, Syria. In the vast stillness of the destroyed city center of Homs, there are large areas where nothing moves. Then, suddenly, wind blows a ripped awning, or birds fly overhead.

Honorable Mention Places
The Storm by Aytül AKBAŞ
Location: Kocaeli, Turkey
During I was taking photo with my nephew, the storm came and I caught this beautiful moment.

Honorable Mention Places
Tokyo – Shinagawa Station by Peter Franc
Location: Shinagawa Station, Tokyo, Japan
I was up at an ungodly hour to make it to the Tsukiji Fish Market, in Tokyo. With so many amazing things to see in the city, I had hardly slept, and managed to get off at the wrong station. Wave after wave of people kept coming through the station passageway. I spied a coffee shop with a vantage point and managed to snap a free shots, camera resting on the ledge. After the caffeine kicked in, i was ready to brave the river of people…