National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest Winners Of 2012

Posted: 8/19/2012

Today is World Photography Day, a perfect day to share some of the best photographs taken this year. Every year National Geographic hosts a photography contest, this year winners have captured breath-taking images from exotic locations like Fiji, Burma, northern lights in Norway, Chile and Faroe Islands.

These photographs are inspirational to anyone who is remotely interested in photography or traveling. This was National Geographic's 24th annual contest that received more than 12,000 entries from 152 countries around the globe.

This years' first prize went to Cedric Houin for his photograph titled 'Butterfly'. Have a look at all the winners below:

FIRST PLACE WINNER: "Butterfly" (Photographer: Cedric Houin)
"This image was shot in the Kyrgyz lands of the Wakhan Corridor. The intimacy of this everyday life moment, shot inside of a family yurt, is in total contrast with the harsh environment these nomadic tribes live in"

SECOND PLACE WINNER: "My Balloon" (Photographer: Vo Anh Kiet)
"H'mong children play with their balloons on a foggy day in Moc Chau, Son La province.This picture is like a dream, and it’s timeless not only because it’s black and white and there’s no sense of modernity, but also because it depicts an activity that children everywhere on the planet do with balloons. The fog and soft background make it feel like a memory."

THIRD PLACE WINNER: "Devotees" (Photographer: Andrea Guarneri)
"During the Easter holy celebration called “Misteri” in Trapani, the devotees carry the scenes of Christ’s passion on their shoulders all night long. When the day comes they take a break. The light on the icon of Jesus is as critical to the success of this picture as the varied expressions on the men’s faces after an exhausting night carrying statues depicting the Passion of Christ. "

MERIT WINNER (Outdoor Scenes) : "Looking Into Another World" (Photographer: Fred An)
"This is the great Japanese maple tree in the Portland Japanese Gardens. I tried to bring a different perspective of this frequently photographed tree."

MERIT WINNER (Sense of Place): "Lost In Time - An Ancient Forest" (Photographer: Ken Thorne)
"Near the city of Morondava, on the West coast of Madagascar lies an ancient forest of Baobab trees. Unique to Madagascar, the endemic species is sacred to the Malagasy people, and rightly so. Walking amongst these giants is like nothing else on this planet. Some of the trees here are over a thousand years old. It is a spiritual place, almost magical."

MERIT WINNER (Sense of Place): "Underwater Surf" (Photographer: Lucia Griggi)
"Taken at Cloud Break at an outer reef in Fiji, a surfer duck dives his board to clear the rolling waves of the raw ocean."

MERIT WINNER (Sense of Place): "Bagan Bliss" (Photographer: Peter DeMarco)
"More than 2,000 Buddhist temples and pagodas fill the plains of Bagan. Once the capital of the Pagan Empire, farmers now raise their livestock within the centuries old complex. The best way to see Bagan, apart from a ride on a hot air balloon, is by bicycle. It's easy to get off the beaten path and live out your wildest Indiana Jones fantasy."

MERIT WINNER (Outdoor Scenes): The Village of Gásadalur (Photographer: Ken Bower)
"It was a rare sunny day in the Faroe Islands and I had to wait until the clouds rolled in to provide some softer light. I decided to go with a long exposure (1 minute 10 seconds) to illustrate the force of the wind and a serene sea among the isolated islands."

MERIT WINNER (Sense of Place): "Swimming in the Rain" (Carnila Massu)
"My sister in the south of Chile. We are sitting at home next to the fireplace in our southern lake house when it suddenly began to pour uncontrollably. Had to rush into the lake to take this snapshot!"