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National Geographic will shutter its ‘Your Shot’ photography platform in October

05 Sep

Following a report late last month from Variety that claimed Disney layoffs would impact National Geographic, NatGeo has officially shuttered its ‘Your Shot’ platform. The announcement was made on the National Geographic website’s ‘Your Shot’ page, where a new notice advises photographers that the program will now take place through the company’s ‘Your Shot’ feed on Instagram.

The National Geographic ‘Your Shot’ platform was a photo community that offered photographers advice from experts, as well as assignments, the opportunity to get one’s work featured on digital and print platforms, and to engage with the wider community of photographers.

According to the notice on the National Geographic website (above), the ‘Your Shot’ platform will be shuttered on October 31, after which point all of the assignments, promotions, and engagement opportunities will be discontinued. Photographers will be able to find the continued version of the platform on the National Geographic Instagram Your Shot account.

Though the message suggests that the ‘Your Shot’ program will continue with assignments on Instagram, both the National Geographic website and the company’s Instagram account lack details on how the process will proceed beyond October 31. Users of the current ‘Your Photo’ platform will soon receive the ability to download their images from the community before it closes next month.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

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Slideshow: Winners of the 2019 Australian Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year

24 Aug

2019 Australian Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year Winners

The South Australian Museum has announced the 2019 Australian Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year and also shared the winning images from each of the ten categories offered in this year’s contest.

In total, 2,219 images were submitted and judged by Justin Gilligan, Glenn McKimmin and Tui De Roy. In the end, the 2019 Australian Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year award was handed out to Mat Beetson of Western Australia for the above image of a beached Fin Whale being circled by sharks on Cheynes Beach in Albany, Western Australia. The winning image was captured with a DJI Phantom 4 Pro drone, marking the first time a drone-captured photograph has won the competition.

‘It was unreal, arriving at a peaceful coastal town with a pristine beach and then seeing this huge whale not even five metres from shore – we then noticed the thrashing close by and realised that a few sharks had also stopped by,’ Beetson told the Southern Australian Museum about the capture. ‘I launched the drone to see the aerial view and captured a sequence of photographs, this shot was one of the last ones I took and I was very lucky that the shark came back for a look.’

Beetson received a $ 10,000 cash prize as well as a Coral Expeditions cruise for winning.

The remainder of the images in this gallery are the ten winners in each of this year’s categories.

You can find out more information about the Australian Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year competition and the South Australian Museum by visiting their respective websites.

Above Image:

Overall Winner

Fin Whale, Balaenoptera physalus

The fin whale is sighted regularly in this region; seeing one beached, however, is rare. The whale sits less than 5m from shore and 100m from residential homes, giving whale researchers access to an unusual occurrence for this species. Bronze whalers and great whites feasted over the remains before removal.

Location: Cheynes Beach, Albany, Western Australia

Gear: DJI Phantom 4 Pro Drone, 24mm, 1/500, f/5.6, ISO 100, 118m high, filmed with permission DPAW

Photographer: Mat Beetson, Western Australia

Photo credits: Images owned by their respective creators, used with the permission of the South Australian Museum.

Winner, Animal Portrait

Decorator crab, Achaeus spinosus

Typically, decorator crabs attach pieces of sponge and seaweed to themselves to camouflage and hide from predators (which makes them very poor photographic subjects). However, Achaeus spinosus attaches stinging hydroids to itself to ward off potential predators (making it a very attractive subject for photography).

Location: Lembeh Strait, North East Sulawesi, Indonesia

Gear: Canon EOS 7D Mk II, Canon EF 100mm, f/2.8 macro USM, 1/250, f/16, ISO 200, INON Z240 strobe with Retra Pro light shaping device, handheld

Photographer: Ross Gudgeon, Western Australia

Winner, Animal Behaviour

Humpback whales, Megaptera novaeangliae,
Dolphins, unidentified species

The heat run is the ultimate wildlife encounter – multiple whales competing for a female. The chase can last for hours or even days and males can display bubble netting, open mouth gulping, physical contact, loud acoustic sounds, and breaching. Even after 16 years documenting humpback behaviour in the region, it is still truly heart-thumping and adrenaline-pumping action.

Location: Tonga, South Pacific

Gear: Canon 1DX Mk II, Canon 8–15mm fisheye, 1/320, f/8, ISO 200

Photographer: Scott Portelli, New South Wales

Winner, Animal Habitat

Commensal amphipod living in solitary ascidian

I was searching for miniature pygmy seahorses on the reefs of West Papua when I happened across this tiny amphipod crustacean. Just 0.5–1cm long, this male is sitting at the mouth of the sea squirt to guard the females and young within. According to an amphipod expert, this is likely a new species.

Location: Raja Ampat, West Papua, Indonesia

Gear: Nikon D800, Nikkor 105mm macro, 1/125, f/14, ISO 100, twin INON Z240 strobes, handheld, Subal underwater housing

Photographer: Richard Smith, United Kingdom

Winner, Botanical

Ghost fungus, Omphalotus nidiformis

The elusive ghost mushroom show starts after dark, when the green light of its bioluminescence glows across the pine forest on the Bellarine Peninsula. It seems like magic but the glowing works to attract insects that then help disperse the spores and spread the mushroom.

Location: Ocean Grove, Victoria

Gear: Canon 5D Mk IV, Samyang 14mm, 30, f/2.8, ISO 3200, Manfrotto tripod

Photographer: Marcia Riederer, Victoria

Winner, Landscape

When Barron Falls (Din Din) is in flood, the usually tranquil scene is transformed into a tumultuous cataract as huge volumes of water make their way to the coastal plain below. The sheer violence of this display, coupled with the deafening roar, makes it an unforgettable experience.

Location: Barron Falls, Kuranda, Queensland

Gear: Pentax X-5, 28.3mm, 1/320, f/5, ISO 100, handheld

Photographer: Neil Pritchard, Queensland

Winner, Monochrome

Honeycomb moray eel, Gymnothorax favagineus
Maze coral, Leptoria sp.

I came across this amazing juxtaposition of a honeycomb moray eel and a textured brain coral. It screamed monochrome to me, but one of the significant disadvantages of shooting underwater is that you cannot just change your lens to suit the subject. Still, I slowly moved as close to the eel as possible, increased the depth of field, and adjusted my strobes to light up the coral and the eel.

Location: Banda Sea

Gear: Nikon D850, Nikonos 13mm RS, 1/200, f/16, ISO 400, Seacam housing, Ikelite 161s strobe

Photographer: Tracey Jennings, United Kingdom/Malaysia

Winner, Junior

This night was the most amazing display of lightning that I have ever seen, with constant flashes of lightning lasting hours. For the composition, I decided to focus on a man standing at the edge of the water with an umbrella to add a sense of scale to the image.

Location: Fingal Bay, New South Wales

Gear: Canon EOS 5D Mk lll, Canon 17–40mm f4 L, 15, f/4, ISO 200, tripod

Photographer: Floyd Mallon, New South Wales. Age 17

Winner, Our Impact

The Menindee Lakes were deliberately drained in 2016–17 and New South Wales has experienced a lengthy drought. Animals and birds desperately seek food and water and there is very little left due to these human-made and natural events. Lake Cawndilla is now just a drying lakebed scattered with the remains of our native animals.

Location: Cawndilla Creek, Menindee, New South Wales

Gear: DJI Phantom 3 Advanced, 20mm, 1/640, f/2.8, ISO 200, ND4 filter

Photographer: Melissa Williams-Brown, South Australia

Threatened Species Winner

Winner, Threatened Species

Mertens’ water monitor, Varanus mertensi

STATUS: ENDANGERED

Mertens’ water monitors are highly inquisitive. This extremely bold specimen ostentatiously approached me to investigate the good-looking lizard in my dome port while I observed another nearby pair engaged in courtship – sadly for him he was staring at his own reflection, not the mate of his dreams.

Location: Adelaide River, Northern Territory

Gear: Olympus OMD EM-1 Mk II, Olympus 8mm f1.8, 1/125, f/11, ISO 64, two Sea & Sea YS-D2 strobes, manual flash output, handheld, Nauticam underwater housing

Photographer: Etienne Littlefair, Northern Territory

Portfolio Prize

Portfolio Prize (best portfolio of size or more images)

Artist: Charles Davis, (NSW)

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

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National Geographic announces winners of its 2019 Travel Photographer of the Year contest

15 Jun

2019 National Geographic Travel Photographer of the Year winners

Cities 1st place – and Grand Prize winner
Photo and Caption by Weimin Chu / National Geographic Travel Photographer of the Year Contest | GREENLANDIC WINTER

National Geographic has revealed the Grand Prize winner of this year’s Travel Photographer of the Year contest. Photographer Weimin Chu has taken home the Grand Prize award—as well as 1st place in the Cities category—with a moody image from a small fishing village in West Greenland. The caption of the winning photo reads:

Upernavik is a fishing village on a tiny island in west Greenland. Historically, Greenlandic buildings were painted different colors to indicate different functions, from red storefronts to blue fishermen’s homes—a useful distinction when the landscape is blanketed in snow.

In addition to Chu’s winning photograph, National Geographic has announced the winners, runner-ups and honorable mentions in three other categories: Cities, Nature and People.

The above gallery takes a look at the final photographs from each of the categories alongside the photographer, title and caption of each image. In addition to a full gallery of images on its own site—which allow you to download the winning photographs as wallpapers—National Geographic has a feature on the winning image and the photographer behind the camera.

Photo credit: images used with permission from National Geographic

2019 National Geographic Travel Photographer of the Year winners

Cities 2nd Place
Photo and Caption by Jassen Todorov / National Geographic Travel Photographer of the Year Contest | IN THE AGE OF AVIATION

There are four runways at San Francisco’s International Airport (SFO). This is a rare look at the approach end of runways 28 left and right. I had dreams of documenting the motion at SFO and [arranged] permission to fly directly overhead. What a windy day it was. Winds atSFO were 35-45 miles per hour, which meant a bumpy flight, and itwas much harder to control the plane while photographing. The flight was challenging, but it was also so thrilling that I couldn’t sleep for several days afterward.

2019 National Geographic Travel Photographer of the Year winners

Cities 3rd Place
Photo and Caption by Sandipani Chattopadhyay / National Geographic Travel Photographer of the Year Contest | STREETS OF DHAKA

People pray on the street in Dhaka, Bangladesh during Ijtema. Bishwa Ijtemais one of the major Islamic religious gatherings which is [observed] annually in Dhaka and millions of Muslims visit [during this time]. Dedicated prayer grounds are not [large] enough to handle this huge number of people, so large numbers of people come to [Tongi], the main street of Dhaka. All the ground transportation and [pedestrian crossings] are suspended during that time.

2019 National Geographic Travel Photographer of the Year winners

Nature 1st Place
Photo and Caption by Tamara Blazquez Haik / National Geographic Travel Photographer of the Year Contest | TENDER EYES

A gorgeous griffon vulture is seen soaring the skies in Monfragüe National Park in Spain. How can anyone say vultures bring bad omens when looking at such tenderness in this griffon vulture’s eyes? Vultures are important members of the environment, as they take care of recycling dead matter. Vultures are noble and majestic animals—kings of the skies. When looking at them flying, we should feel humbled and admire them.

2019 National Geographic Travel Photographer of the Year winners

Nature 2nd Place
Photo and Caption by Danny Sepkowski / National Geographic Travel Photographer of the Year Contest | Geometry of the Sun

What happens before a wave breaks? That question has been my assignment this past year. On this particular day, I decided to shoot the sunset on the east side of Oahu, Hawaii. About 100 photographers were out in the morning, but I had the evening to myself. The textures from the trade winds [created] subtle colors from the west and blended well using my 100mm lens. I had to look into my viewfinder while this wave was breaking. Not an easy task when a wave is about to crush you.

2019 National Geographic Travel Photographer of the Year winners

Nature 3rd Place
Photo and Caption by Scott Portelli / National Geographic Travel Photographer of the Year Contest | DUSKY

Dusky dolphins often travel together in great numbers in the deep canyons of the Kaikoura, New Zealand in search of food. They glide through the ocean effortlessly, coming up only to breathe. Dusky dolphins are fast and will often keep pace with a speeding boat. I waited on the bow of the boat as the Dusky dolphin almost broke [through the surface]. Their elegance and streamlined bodies are built for speed and maneuverability—accentuated by the smooth, clear water of the New Zealand coastline.

2019 National Geographic Travel Photographer of the Year winners

Nature Honorable Mention
Photo and Caption by Jonas Schafer / National Geographic Travel Photographer of the Year Contest | KING OF THE ALPS

A herd of ibexes in Switzerland’s Bernese Oberland cross a ridge above Lake Brienz. Their powerful and impressive horns show who the king of the Alps are. Ibexes are ideally adapted to live at dizzying heights. The continuing ridge path and the rising fog show the natural habitat of these animals. After a few hours of observing the animals, I spotted the ibex herd on one side of the ridge. Several ibexes stopped at the transition [to view the world around them].

2019 National Geographic Travel Photographer of the Year winners

People 1st Place
Photo and Caption by Huaifeng Li / National Geographic Travel Photographer of the Year Contest | SHOWTIME

Actors prepare for an evening opera performance in Licheng County, China. I spent the whole day with these actors from makeup to [stage]. I’m a freelance photographer, and the series “Cave Life” is a long-term project of mine. In China’s Loess Plateau, local residents dig holes in the loess layer [to create cave living spaces, known as yaodongs] and use the heat preservation properties to survive cold winters. This series mainly records the life, entertainment, belief, labor, and other [daily] scenes of the people living in the caves.

2019 National Geographic Travel Photographer of the Year winners

People 2nd Place
Photo and Caption by Yoshiki Fujiwara / National Geographic Travel Photographer of the Year Contest | DAILY ROUTINE

This photo was taken at a public park at Choi Hung House in Hong Kong. When I visited during the afternoon, it was very crowded with many young people taking pictures and playing basketball. But when I visited at sunrise, it was quiet and a different place. [The area] is [designated] for neighborhood residents in the early morning, and there was a sacred atmosphere. I felt divinity when I saw an old man doing tai chi in the sun.

2019 National Geographic Travel Photographer of the Year winners

People 3rd Place
Photo and Caption by José Antonio Zamora / National Geographic Travel Photographer of the Year Contest | HORSES

Every year on the feast of Saint Anthony the ceremony of the purification of animals, called Las Luminarias, is celebrated in Spain. In the province of Avila, horses and horsemen jump over bonfires in the ritual that has been maintained since the 18th century. The animals [are not hurt], and it is a ritual that is repeated every year. To make the photo, I moved from Seville to San Bartolomé de Pinares because I am very interested in photographing ancestral rites.

2019 National Geographic Travel Photographer of the Year winners

People Honorable Mention
Photo and Caption by Navin Vatsa / National Geographic Travel Photographer of the Year Contest | MOOD

I captured this layered moment during sunrise along the banks of the Yamuna River in Delhi, India. This boy was thinking silently, and visitors were enjoying the loud musical chirping of thousands of seagulls. The early morning golden light from the east mixed with the western blue light, creating a [ethereal atmosphere]. I am a regular visitor [here] and have photographed this place for the past three years. Now, many national and international photographers have begun visiting [too].

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

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National Geographic is now accepting entries for the 2019 Travel Photo Competition

29 Mar

Entries are now being accepted for National Geographic’s 2019 Travel Photo contest, with a top prize of $ 7500 on the line for the overall winner.

The competition is broken down into sections for Nature, Cities and People, and those coming out on top for these subject areas will win $ 2500. Second place winners will get $ 1500 and those in third position will come away with $ 750.

Seemingly to encourage photographers to enter now rather than at the last minute, the cost of submitting an image raises every week from $ 10 in week one to $ 35 in week six – which is the final week to enter before the May 3rd deadline.

The competition requires images be taken within two years of the date of entry, and only minor digital manipulations are allowed. The rules also state that anyone identifiable in the images will need to sign a release form:

‘If any persons appear in the photograph, the entrant is responsible for obtaining, prior to submission of the photograph, any and all releases and consents necessary to permit the exhibition and use of the photograph in the manner set forth in these Official Rules without additional compensation. If any person appearing in any photograph is under the age of majority in their state/province/territory of residence the signature of a parent or legal guardian is required on each release.’

Entrants will also need to obtain permissions from the owner of any private property shown in the pictures – ‘each entrant must be prepared to provide (within five (5) calendar days of receipt of Sponsor’s request) a signed written license from the owner of any private property included in the Submission’. Entry requirements can be studied in full on the Rules page of the website. Residents of 42 of the world’s 195 countries are eligible to enter the contest.

For more information, and to see those images already entered, visit the National Geographic Travel Competition website. For inspiration take a look at our coverage of the 2018 Travel Photo Contest winners.

Official announcement

National Geographic Travel Photo Contest Now Open

The National Geographic Travel Photo Contest is accepting entries from March 18 through May 3. Harness the power of photography and share your stunning travel experiences from around the globe. Enter your most powerful photos for a chance to win the 2019 National Geographic Travel Photo Contest. We are looking for images that show us the world: its people, places, and cultures. Photos that tell the story of a place and travel moments that reveal what inspires you.

Need inspiration? See the 2018 winners gallery and discover which photos took home top prizes.

Visit weekly to see photo galleries of the top entries and see if your photo is featured. Think you have the winning picture? Show us your best.

Categories
Submit to three categories: nature, cities, and people.

Official Prizes
The grand prize winner will receive $ 7,500. Their winning image will be featured on the @natgeotravel Instagram account. Individual category prizes include:

First place winners will receive $ 2,500.
Second place winners will receive $ 1,500.
Third place winners will receive $ 750.

How to Enter and Pricing
Starting March 18, visit the entry page to upload your photo and join the competition. Hurry! Enter early—prices increase every Monday. There is no limit to entries.

Week 1 entry fee: $ 10
Week 2 entry fee: $ 15
Week 3 entry fee: $ 20
Week 4 entry fee: $ 25
Week 5 entry fee: $ 30
Week 6 entry fee: $ 35

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

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Friday Feature: 2018 National Geographic Photo Contest entries

17 Nov

2018 National Geographic Photo Contest (Week 1 and 2 entries)

Photo and Caption by Brian Hammonds / National Geographic Photo Contest

CLIMBERS OVER SEOUL

Rock climbers can be seen from Bukhansan’s Peak outside of Seoul, South Korea. The size of the South Korean mega-city is hard to imagine without visiting.

National Geographic has shared the first collection of entries from its 2018 photography contest. The photographs, which fall under the categories of ‘wildlife, people, and places’ showcase beautiful scenes and subjects from all over the world. To see more editor-selected entries, head over to National Geographic’s website.

2018 National Geographic Photo Contest (Week 1 and 2 entries)

Photo and Caption by Eduard Gutescu / National Geographic Photo Contest

THE SHEPHERD FROM TRANSYLVANIA

On the Carpathian mountains in the region of Bran village i found this authentic shepherd. His name is Nea DAN. It was a real joy to listen to his life story as a shepherd .

2018 National Geographic Photo Contest (Week 1 and 2 entries)

Photo and Caption by Eduard Gutescu / National Geographic Photo Contest

FLY OVER TRANSYLVANIA PARADISE

Fundatura Ponorului is a remote village from Transylvania in the Carpathian mountains where people have been living in harmony with nature for hundreds of years . The main activity is animal breeding. The hay gathering is the main activity that takes place during the summer and is the main source of food for animals during winter time .

2018 National Geographic Photo Contest (Week 1 and 2 entries)

Photo and Caption by Yaron Schmid / National Geographic Photo Contest

BABY TEETH

We spotted a pride of lions sleeping on top of the kopjes in the Serengeti, and as we got closer to the rocks, we saw that there were quite a few cubs in that pride. The best moment was when 3 of the young cubs started chasing, playing and biting their mom’s tail as if they were kittens that were playing with yarn. I can’t remember when was the last time that I laughed so hard as I did watching these guys.

2018 National Geographic Photo Contest (Week 1 and 2 entries)

Photo and Caption by Mo Wu / National Geographic Photo Contest

MOONLIGHT

Wanaka Tree is the most famous tree in New Zealand. At a summer night, I captured the shadow of the tree in the golden moonlight on Wanaka Lake.

2018 National Geographic Photo Contest (Week 1 and 2 entries)

Photo and Caption by Marcus Hennen / National Geographic Photo Contest

CURIOSITY

A creative portrait of a little curious burrowing owl. This owl was pretty cute and sat on a small branch in a front yard. I cropped the photo a bit to support this moment of curiosity.

2018 National Geographic Photo Contest (Week 1 and 2 entries)

Photo and Caption by Istvan Ladanyi / National Geographic Photo Contest

THE ALWAYS WATCHING EYE OF A BLACK SWAN

The always watching eye of a black swan. I toke this shot as I noticed the sleeping black swan and he noticed me and open his deep ruby red eye. It was a magic moment because the contrast of the black feathers and the red eye catched me from the first time.

2018 National Geographic Photo Contest (Week 1 and 2 entries)

Photo and Caption by Laura Wood / National Geographic Photo Contest

UNSEEN (SELF PORTRAIT)

It isn’t always obvious – your identity as a mother. It’s clouded by expectations, demands and sleep deprivation. For the most part, you live out your day and your duties behind doors with only children looking on who don’t fully understand the sacrifices you make. Seven pm rolls around and you breathe a big breath as your children go to sleep, you pour a glass of wine and your identity changes again. Always a mother, but sometimes more than others.

2018 National Geographic Photo Contest (Week 1 and 2 entries)

Photo and Caption by Karen Donnelly / National Geographic Photo Contest

SOARING

Taken in the rising morning aboard a hot air balloon, Maasai Mara National Reserve, Kenya. Water buffalo scatter on the mara below.

2018 National Geographic Photo Contest (Week 1 and 2 entries)

Photo and Caption by Ana Luiza Sampaio / National Geographic Photo Contest

WINTER IN PINGYAO

This picture was taken during the winter in the ancient city of Pingyao, province of Shaanxi, China. In this season, the skyline of Pingyao changes completely. The use of charcoal to heat up the houses makes the sky deeply smoggy. At the streets, the only color one can distinguish is the red from the national flags and lanterns of Chinese New Year. The dust and soot modify the life of the residents, who strive daily to cope with the cold and the air pollution.

2018 National Geographic Photo Contest (Week 1 and 2 entries)

Photo and Caption by Alison Langevad / National Geographic Photo Contest

A NEW LOOK

‘Sporting a new look’ These rhinos were dehorned in an effort to save them from poachers. The poaching of rhinos in South Africa has reached crisis level.

2018 National Geographic Photo Contest (Week 1 and 2 entries)

Photo and Caption by Roger Chen / National Geographic Photo Contest

SISTERHOOD

A quiet moment backstage as dancers of the classical Indian Kuchipudi dance form, which is focussed on rhythmic hand gestures and eye movements, support each other in preparation for the performance.

2018 National Geographic Photo Contest (Week 1 and 2 entries)

Photo and Caption by Vladimir Kushnarev / National Geographic Photo Contest

FATHER AND SON

The family of nomadic herders living at the Polar Urals. Father and son Tiberi.

2018 National Geographic Photo Contest (Week 1 and 2 entries)

Photo and Caption by Leighton Lum / National Geographic Photo Contest

LAND ON FIRE

Recently the Kilauea volcano erupted causing thousands of gallons of lava to flow into the ocean. It was an incredible sight to witness such power of this eruption!

2018 National Geographic Photo Contest (Week 1 and 2 entries)

Photo and Caption by Camille Niel/ National Geographic Photo Contest

LAS COLORADAS

A Salt evaporation pond located in Yucatan, Mexico. This pink color come from the plankton, shrimps and roots of red plants

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

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2018 National Geographic Travel Photographer of the Year winner announced

29 Jun

2018 National Geographic Travel Photographer of the Year winners

Nature 1st Place – and Grand Prize winner
Photo and Caption by Reiko Takahashi / National Geographic Travel Photographer of the Year Contest | MERMAID

Reiko Takahashi’s image of a humpback whale calf’s tail has been named Grand Prize winner of this year’s National Geographic Travel Photographer of the Year contest. Her caption for the photo reads:

I was fortunate to have encountered a humpback whale with her calf on my first day snorkeling near Japan’s Kumejima Island. Most of the time, the calf stayed close to her mom. At one point, the calf began jumping and tapping its tail on the water near us—it was very friendly and curious. Finally, the mother, who was watching nearby, came to pick up the calf and swim away. I fell in love completely with the calf and it’s very energetic, large and beautiful tail.

Winners in three categories have also been chosen, from over 13,000 total entries. Takahashi’s photo, titled Mermaid, also took first place in the Nature category – Cities and People round out the categories.

Take a look through the winning images above and see more outstanding photos from the weeks leading up to this announcement at National Geographic’s website.

2018 National Geographic Travel Photographer of the Year winners

Nature 2nd Place
Photo and Caption by hao j. / National Geographic Travel Photographer of the Year Contest | FLAMINGOS TAKING OFF

Thousands of flamingos are seen taking off from the colorful Lake Natron in Tanzania. Before taking off, flamingos need to take a short run on water to build up some speed. At that moment, their long, red legs create a series of water ripples on the surface of the lake. Looking down from the helicopter, these ripple lines look like giant aquatic plants flowing in the water. This photo was taken from a helicopter.

2018 National Geographic Travel Photographer of the Year winners

Nature 3rd Place
Photo and Caption by Marco Grassi / National Geographic Travel Photographer of the Year Contest | MARS

These natural sand towers, capped with large stones, are known as the Earth Pyramids of Platten. They are situated in Northern Italy’s South Tyrol region. Formed centuries ago after several storms and landslides, these land formations look like a landscape from outer space and continuously change over the years and, more accurately, over seasons. This natural phenomenon is the result of a continuous alternation between periods of torrential rain and drought, which have caused the erosion of the terrain and the formation of these pinnacles. As the seasons change, the temperatures move between extremes and storms affect the area, pyramids disappear over time, while new pinnacles form as well.

2018 National Geographic Travel Photographer of the Year winners

Cities 1st Place
Photo and Caption by Hiro Kurashina / National Geographic Travel Photographer of the Year Contest | ANOTHER RAINY DAY IN NAGASAKI, KYUSHU

This is a view of the main street from a tram in Nagasaki on a rainy day. The tram is vintage, but retrofitted with modern ticketing equipment. A conductor is no longer on board—only the lone driver. The quiet streetscape seen through the front windshield of the tram somehow caught my attention. This view presents quite a contrast to busy urban centers in Japan, such as Tokyo and Osaka. The ride on a vintage tram through the relatively quiet main street was a memorable experience during our week-long visit to the historic city of Nagasaki.

2018 National Geographic Travel Photographer of the Year winners

Cities 2nd Place
Photo and Caption by Enrico Pescantini / National Geographic Travel Photographer of the Year Contest | Geometry of the Sun

Teotihuacan means ‘the place where the gods were created,’ and that’s the exact feeling visitors have when they walk along the Avenue of the Dead at this Mexican archeological site. This pyramid was dedicated to the god of Sun, and I found it mesmerizing how the rising sun in the picture conquered just half the image, while the other half is in the shadows. I have always loved archeology and ancient civilizations, so I couldn’t wait to visit Mexico and explore the remains of the pre-Columbian civilization. I planned my visit to Teotihuacan at sunrise, to get a combination of golden sunlight, play of shadows, and few crowds around. I flew my drone to see if the image I had in my mind was really out there: luckily for me, this frame was just waiting for my camera!

2018 National Geographic Travel Photographer of the Year winners

Cities 3rd Place
Photo and Caption by Gaanesh Prasad / National Geographic Travel Photographer of the Year Contest | REFLECTION

On an early morning, I wanted to photograph the fog, which is epic in Dubai every year from December to January—and almost every photographer’s dream in this part of the world. Sadly, I could not get access to the rooftop and so I peeped through the glazed window on a lower floor. I was overwhelmed and excited to see how beautiful the city looks, and my excitement was quadrupled as soon as I saw the reflection of the road and building on the building that I was in. I immediately opened the window to the maximum permissible amount and clicked a single shot with stretched hands.

2018 National Geographic Travel Photographer of the Year winners

Cities Honorable Mention
Photo and Caption by Gary Cummins / National Geographic Travel Photographer of the Year Contest | ALONE IN THE CROWDS

In this photo, I tried to bring the intense and stacked living conditions that Hong Kong is famous for into perspective for the viewer. With so many people living in small spaces, it’s strange to see all these amenities empty. As a solo traveler, I’m often alone in crowds and this photo resonates with me. I barely scratched the surface of this incredible urban environment, but this image really summarizes my experience here.

2018 National Geographic Travel Photographer of the Year winners

People 1st Place
Photo and Caption by Alessandra Meniconzi / National Geographic Travel Photographer of the Year Contest | TEA CULTURE

For a long time, I have been fascinated by the ancient Mongolian method of hunting with Golden Eagles. In early 2018, I followed one family of eagle hunters during their migration from winter camp to spring camp. Mongolia is sparsely populated, but the inhabitants have a very hospitable and welcoming culture. Tea for Kazakh culture is one of the attributes of hospitality. Tea isn’t just a drink, but a mix of tradition, culture, relaxation, ceremony, and pleasure. Damel, seen here wrapped in heavy fur clothes, drinks a cup of tea to keep warm from the chilly temperatures in Western Mongolia.

2018 National Geographic Travel Photographer of the Year winners

People 2nd Place
Photo and Caption by TATI ITAT / National Geographic Travel Photographer of the Year Contest | LEIDA AND LAELLE – I WILL LIFT YOU UP

Since 2016, I’ve been involved with Haitian immigrants and refugees living in my city, Estrela. I have become friends with some families, and especially with twin sisters, Leïda and Laëlle. They say living in Brazil is like living in paradise—very different from the reality of their country of origin. They dream of becoming models and teachers, as a way to earn money to bring their other relatives from Haiti to Brazil, to live all near one another. On this day, they were playing in front of their home, improvising exercises to develop their imagination and creativity, as if they were actresses, and playing an imitation game with poses. Laëlle reached for Leida’s face and lifted her head up, showing her where she should look. At this brief moment, I took the photo.

2018 National Geographic Travel Photographer of the Year winners

People 3rd Place
Photo and Caption by MD Tanveer Hassan Rohan / National Geographic Travel Photographer of the Year Contest | CHALLENGING JOURNEY

This photograph was taken from Dhaka’s airport rail station during the Eid vacation. People were returning to their village homes to spend Eid with families, and the rush at the last hour was immense. One man caught my attention: he was dangling on a train’s handle with his family, trying to get inside the train. At that time, rain started and the train began to slowly move. The family had tickets to board the train, but couldn’t get to their seats. There are many people like him, who come to Dhaka for work—leaving their families and home villages—so when they get vacation, they don’t want to miss the opportunity to spend time with dear ones, no matter what.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

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Disney’s 21st Century Fox acquisition means it will now own National Geographic

16 Dec

Earlier this week, a major entertainment industry merger was announced: Disney is planning to buy 21st Century Fox for a whopping $ 52.4 billion. But while this might seem unrelated to the world of photography at first blush, a closer look reveals something pretty important.

If the purchase is allowed to go through, Disney will be the majority stake holder in National Geographic, taking over the 73% controlling share that Fox purchased in September of 2015.

In the scope of the entire deal, Fox’s share in National Geographic might seem like small potatoes—the entertainment giant bought Nat Geo for just $ 725 million (less that 1/50th what THEY are being bought for) and immediately set about cutting costs further by slashing 9% of Nat Geo’s workforce. But fans of the iconic brand will pay close attention to see what Disney plans to do with it.

For now, all we know is that National Geographic will join Pixar, ESPN, Marvel and many more well-known brands in Disney’s so-called “swollen portfolio” of entertainment assets.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

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Learning to ‘see’ light, tips from a National Geographic photographer

24 Jul

National Geographic photographer Bob Holmes takes stunning photos all over the world. But when you ask him how he captures these images, he won’t tell you about his favorite lens or any specific technique he uses. He’ll talk to you about what he sees. He’ll talk to you about light.

That was the subject of a recent conversation he had with Marc Silber of Advancing Your Photography: light. “Most people ‘look’ and don’t really ‘see.’ You’ve got to learn to see,” says Holmes. “We all look, everybody looks, but you’ve got to go beyond that and analyze what you’ve seen… to start with anyway.”

Once you acquire this ability to ‘see,’ explains Holmes, photography becomes about reacting to and capturing what’s in front of you—the camera is no longer ‘in the way.’

The duo goes on to talk about learning about light from iconic painters, and why it’s important to find work that speaks to you and try to unpack why exactly the lighting, composition, subject etc. evokes a certain emotion. The whole conversation, about 10 minutes long, is well worth your time and packed full of little gems. Check it out up top and let us know what you think in the comments.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

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National Geographic highlights early ‘People’ entries to Travel Photographer of the Year 2017 competition

12 May

Travel Photographer of the Year 2017: People entries

National Geographic’s Travel Photographer of the Year competition is open once again for entries, and its editors have shared a few of their favorite early contenders in the ‘People’ category. Submissions are being accepted until June 30th, and a Grand Prize win will get you a ten-day trip for two to the Galápagos Archipelago with National Geographic Expeditions.

Photo and caption by Brandon Kusher / National Geographic Travel Photographer of the Year Contest

Slam Dunk. A basketball player flies high through the air attempting a slam dunk in which he puts the ball between his legs first!

Travel Photographer of the Year 2017: People entries

Photo and caption by Akiomi Kuroda / National Geographic Travel Photographer of the Year Contest

M. Portrait of Miho

Travel Photographer of the Year 2017: People entries

Photo and caption by Jobit George / National Geographic Travel Photographer of the Year Contest

Bridging Generation. A beautiful photo of a father and son sitting in white traditional attire with beautiful blue sky on the day of Eid al-Fitr in a mosque in New Delhi, India. The photo shows the beautiful bond which these two generation have been building up in a very simple and lovable manner.

Travel Photographer of the Year 2017: People entries

Photo and caption by Lorraine Yip / National Geographic Travel Photographer of the Year Contest

Retro Ride. Traveling through Cuba in a vintage 1950 Chevrolet with a speedometer which no longer works. We were passing by the city of Camagey known for its winding streets. The modern American Hawaiian hula figure and yellow taxi cab sign on the dashboard adds to the time travel-esque element of the classic Chevrolet, set against the backdrop of an old and perhaps dilapidated , but not forgotten, Cuba.

Travel Photographer of the Year 2017: People entries

Photo and caption by Hua Zhu / National Geographic Travel Photographer of the Year Contest

Old and Young. This photo was taken in a small village in Wuyuan, China. It estimates that there are about 250 million countryside people living in the big cities. Many young people are making money in the cities, leaving their parents and kids at their hometown.

Travel Photographer of the Year 2017: People entries

Photo and caption by Pradeep Raja / National Geographic Travel Photographer of the Year Contest

Ramadan Prayers. This is a shot of women praying inside Istiqlal Mosque, Jakarta which is the biggest mosque in Southeast Asia during the month of Ramadan.

Travel Photographer of the Year 2017: People entries

Photo and caption by Lauren Breedlove / National Geographic Travel Photographer of the Year Contest

Lady Havana. During a recent visit to Cuba, I encountered this bold woman on the street while strolling around Old Havana. Something about her just struck me, like her eyes held a million stories. Not having any cash on me, I borrowed some change from a friend and approached the woman with it, asking to take her photograph. She nodded and posed like a boss, stogie and all.

Travel Photographer of the Year 2017: People entries

Photo and caption by Mattia Passarini / National Geographic Travel Photographer of the Year Contest

Tibetan’s soul smile. This monk was running back to his room after the afternoon prayer. I was chasing him trying to get a nice shot, but he kept covering his face. In Chinese i called after him: (pai yi zhang ba) “just one shot!” He looked back and started to laugh..
Tashi Lhunpo Monastery, Tibet

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

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National Geographic photographer shares tips for controlling light

09 May

National Geographic photographer Bob Holmes has posted a video on YouTube explaining how to control the three different types of light to give your pictures the trademark look from the famous magazine.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

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