National Geographic 2015 Photo Contest

[Carmen Elsa Irarragorri Wyland]

You should 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 some of the amazing photos that have already been put forward by photographers from across the globe.

Sunset Mountain Work (taken in Nepal) by Jonathan Abdipranoto 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."    Ben Youssef Madrasa College (Marrakesh) by Takashi 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."  Winter Spectacle (Japan) by Sho Shibata The photographer says: "Mt. Hakkoda is snowy mountains to watch the rime in Aomori Japan. All around is covered with white world." The Fire Down Below (Florida) by John Moran 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." Calbuco, The Awakening (Chile) by Francisco Negroni 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." Daasanach Fisherman (Lake Turnana) by Christena Dowsett The photographer says: "A young Daasanach fisherman guts and cleans a fish on the Eastern shore of Lake Turkana near the boarder of Ethiopia and Kenya. The Daasanach are Kenya’s second smallest tribe with between 60,000-80,000 members. They are traditionally nomadic, roaming between the two countries although with continued drought over the last 20 years about 30% have looked to the lake for food and income in fishing." Dunes' Picture (Namibia) by Stas Bartnikas The photographer says: "This aerial shot was taken from a small plane over Namib desert, Namibia." Terrace Paddies in North Vietnam by Qu'nh Anh Nguyen The photographer says: "Terrace rice paddies in Tu Le Valley, Yen Bai province, north Vietnam at the beginning of new season. The Hmong people are crossing the fields on their way home at the end of the working day." Flamingo by Yu Huiping The photographer says: "Flamingos are going to fly!" Aurora over Kirkujufell (Iceland) by Jonathan Zdziarski The photograher says: "The Aurora Borealis making a grand appearance over Kirkjufell Mountain."