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“Sports Stars”. In Lenin Park, set against the backdrop of Cột cờ Hà Nội (Hanoi Flag Tower) which forms part of the Hanoi Citadel, Vietnamese children sparring in a game of badminton. On the weekends, Lenin Park become makeshift sporting grounds for badminton and futsal for both the young and old. This is symbolic of the freedom enjoyed by the locals of modern Vietnam post Soviet style communism of the 80s. Photo location: Hanoi, Vietnam. (Photo and caption by Justin Tiew/National Geographic Photo Contest)

“Pain”. A player on Pacific Lutheran University's soccer team clinches his face in agony after a hard hit with a player from the opposing team. Taken September 25, 2012. Photo location: Parkland, Washington, United States. (Photo and caption by Thomas Soerenes/National Geographic Photo Contest)

“My Girl”. It would have been my parents 50th wedding anniversary but my dad didn't make it by two months only. I was spending some precious time with the two of them last summer when my dad, now bed-bound, got hold of my mum's hand and with great affection said: “my girl”. I promptly got my camera to capture this bitter-sweet moment. It was to be the last time I ever took photos of dad. He was, amongst many things, a keen photographer. I think I got the bug from him. Photo location: Burgas, Bulgaria, Europe. (Photo and caption by Adelina Iliev/National Geographic Photo Contest)

“Don't move”. While doing a photo shoot with my daughter and her friend in a skate park, one of the skateboarders, surprisingly, traveled to our side of the ramp with nothing other than a “Don't move”, yelling across the way as a head's up! I heard him, the girls did not. Keeping their back-to-back cool ballerina pose, they didn't realize he was flying their way until he actually hit the ramp behind them. This picture is as real as they come. They were truly shocked and scared at that exact moment. Such a cool moment. Two pretty, pretty ballerina's, shocked and appalled at the actions of an urban skateboarder. Priceless! Photo location: Philadelphia, PA 19147 South Philadelphia, FDR park. (Photo and caption by Dana Theil/National Geographic Photo Contest)

“Road Bowling Spectators”. Road Bowling is played with a 28 oz. (793.8 grams) solid iron bowl with a circumference of approximately 18 centimetres. Contestants match their individual skills in throwing the bowl with optimum speed, controlled delivery, and international accuracy along a carefully considered and tactically selected path over a predetermined course distance of normal roadway. The winner is the player to reach the finishing line in the least number of throws or shots. This photograph was taken during the 29th King and Queen of the Roads tournament in Ballincurrig, Co. Cork, Ireland. Photo location: Ballincurrig, Co. Cork, Ireland. (Photo and caption by Wojciech Ryzinski/National Geographic Photo Contest)

“Playing with Pandas”. This picture was taken during my trip to Hamburg, Germany. When I went to the city center, suddenly I saw 1600 styrofoam panda bear sculptures stand on display in front of Hamburg City Hall by a nature conservation organisation. This is part of the campaign to draw the attention to the fact that only 1600 panda bears remain in the wild. The display have traveled to 25 other cities in Germany. Photo location: Hamburg, Germany. (Photo and caption by Teuku Firman/National Geographic Photo Contest)

“Hold My Hand”. Westley Wade was born pre-maturely at 28 weeks due to complications with pre-eclampsia. In this image, his adoring parents were just told that depending on test results their baby who weighed less than 2 pounds could potentially need heart surgery. As his parents emotionally looked down at him through cords and wires, this warrior new born (4 day old) baby boy Westley shot his hand up straight for them as if to let them know, that everything would in fact, be alright. Gratefully, it was and is. Westley is now 10 pounds 9 oz at 4.5 months and continues to amaze everyone who crosses his path. Photo location: BC Womens Hospital, Vancouver, BC. (Photo and caption by Erin Wallis/National Geographic Photo Contest)

“A boy and his Dog”. Our two year old son playing in the dirt with our dog Raine. Photo location: Bryson City, NC, USA. (Photo and caption by Christopher Port/National Geographic Photo Contest)

“Sunrise at the lake spa”. The name of the nun is Suor Rosalba, which literally could mean Pink Sunrise. The hot sulphur waters of this lake made for an ideal early morning natural spa. I met Suor Rosalba as she was standing in the spa waters in the dark well before sunrise, we talked for a while and then the picture shows her leaving to go the first Mass of the day. Photo location: Sirmione, Lake Garda, Italy. (Photo and caption by Sergio Amiti/National Geographic Photo Contest)

“Water for People,Water for Life”. Water for People, Water for Life. A Good idea for live in Central Asia. Photo location: Seven Lake in Tajikistan-Sugd. (Photo and caption by Mehdi Bemani Naeini/National Geographic Photo Contest)

“The Batik Merchant of Glockenbach”. One of the colourful characters in the Glockenbach neighbourhood of Munich, which is widely regarded as the city's alternative neighbourhood with artists, crafts people and a vibrant gay community. Photo location: Munich, Germany. (Photo and caption by Philippe Deniger/National Geographic Photo Contest)

“Playing Ball Among the Dead”. Boys playing basketball among the tombs of the Navotas Cementery. Photo location: Navotas City, Metro Manila, Philippines. (Photo and caption by Larry Louie/National Geographic Photo Contest)

“Lucky Man”. The Saidai-ji Eyo festival, considered one of the three strangest festivals of Japan, is a Buddhist ritual in which 9000 men compete to grab just a pair of sacred wooden batons to decide who will be the “Blessed man” for the year. The over 500 year-old tradition of Eyo is based on an underlying understanding of the state of human life, greater than the ideals and trends of a single generation, and this idea has been cherished and passed down through the centuries. Photo location: The Saidai-ji in Okayama, Japan. (Photo and caption by Yosuke Kashiwakura/National Geographic Photo Contest)

“Monk's Roof”. Some students from a Monk's school in Luang Prabang, laos. They maintain the roof temple. There are so many young Monks now, that they are a part of tourism attraction. The politic peoples ask them to show them self for tourism. It's a business. Photo location: Luang Prabang, Laos. (Photo and caption by Julient Tardent/National Geographic Photo Contest)

“The designer”. Man of the Ooty market 2012,from the gallery “a job in the world”. Photo location: Ooty, India, 2012. (Photo and caption by Flafle Flifloflu/National Geographic Photo Contest)

“Old Man Bowler”. A man, taking respite from playing lawn bowls in the hot November sun. This was the first time I had asked a stranger permission to take their photo. It was a special moment. I so appreciated his “stillness” and the quiet energy about him. Photo location: North Stradbroke Island. (Photo and caption by Karin Pihl/National Geographic Photo Contest)

“Skaters in San Francisco”. The short length of a 2-days stop in San Francisco motivated me to visit the city by foot only, trying to get higher chances to capture street instants. I came across those two skaters while walking through the Mission District. Photo location: San Francisco, USA. (Photo and caption by Matthieu Moors/National Geographic Photo Contest)

“Solitary Photographer”. Life Photographer journalist during protests in Brazil, in this case the photographer hid in a shower of stones was thrown against the city of Campinas. In the Month of June and July the Brazilian population prostestou because of $0.20 cents in pssagem the bus. Photo location: Campinas, São Paulo, Brasil. (Photo and caption by Carlos Rincon/National Geographic Photo Contest)

“Una moneta...” This photograph was taken during my walk in Venice (Italy). The beggar ask for coins, but everyone was ignoring him. Una Moneta – Only one coin, please, was the sentence he was continuously repeating... Photo location: Venice, Italy, EU. (Photo and caption by Charles Hodossy/National Geographic Photo Contest)

“Dead Christ”. Members of the Carretería Brotherhood bear a figure of a dead Christ on the cross (carved in the early 17th century by an unknown artist) in a procession previous to Easter. Photo location: Seville, Andalusia, Spain. (Photo and caption by Felipe Rodríguez/National Geographic Photo Contest)

“Locusts & Men”. Oppression, interaction, collaboration. In the life cycle of nature nothing is lost, but the coexistence of different species is sometimes difficult. In Madagascar periodically returns the archaic antagonism between man and the migratory locust, in a circle of life where the two species are looking for space and food for their survival. At the end of the day a man walks home carrying on his shoulders the heavy bag which contains the locusts captured during the day. The insects provide nutritious meals for the man and his family. Photo location: Madagascar, 2013. (Photo and caption by Michele Martinelli/National Geographic Photo Contest)

“Cries”. Cries in the Sauce Colony of San Pedro Sula for a shot in the street. San Pedro Sula is the most violence city of the world. Photo location: San Pedro Sula, Honduras. (Photo and caption by Javier Arcenillas/National Geographic Photo Contest)

“Twins (or not) Sleeping in the waiting area”. I was waiting for my flight to Seoul North Korea and then I saw these two women sleeping on the benches in the waiting area. Nobody near them seemed to be paying attention though! I can't see their face but I wanna know if they are twins or not. They have identical dresses, body shapes, and even hair. Why are they holding hands? To make sure they do not get separated from each other? It is really interesting and entertaining to see this scene. Photo location: Guangzhou Airport, Guangzhou, China. (Photo and caption by Serious Pigeon/National Geographic Photo Contest)

“Riders in the Storm”. Africa's Longest Bridge. Photo location: Third Mainland Bridge, Lagos Nigeria. (Photo and caption by Adam Biddle/National Geographic Photo Contest)

“H'mong Ethnic”. In the lands of the north-western Vietnam, between the narrow mountainous areas between China and Laos, we find the tribes of the various ethnic groups, ranging from the colorful Hmong (or Miao), the Tay, the second largest population, with Lu The first source of livelihood for these ancient people is agriculture: tradition has it that everything is done according to the lunar cycles. The markets are full of goods, from animals to textiles, handicrafts entirely handmade. Unfortunately, the old values ​​of these centenarian tribes are giving way to new western tradition. Photo location: Vietnam. (Photo and caption by Antonio Gibotta/National Geographic Photo Contest)

“A Travelling Moment”. I was commuting in the train at Tokyo, When suddenly I notice this young girl working as a conductor, announcing our next station stop at Shinagawa station. The reflection in the glass inside the train and a slow shutter speed to blur the moving background add to a creative moments to the photo including the light ambient to the girl face find me interest to frame the scene that will last only for a second. Photo location: Train in Tokyo arriving Shinagawa station. (Photo and caption by Danilo Dungo/National Geographic Photo Contest)

“Harmonic Children ”. The childhood. Photo location: Vietnam. (Photo and caption by Antonio Gibotta/National Geographic Photo Contest)

“Divine light”. A women prostrates in a Buddhist monastery before to start a spiritual retreat. Once per year, the people from Helambu valley spend 3 days of meditation with one meal per day. Photo location: Helambu valley, Nepal. (Photo and caption by Marco Colombo/National Geographic Photo Contest)

“Narwhal Hunter”. A local hunter of Pond Inlet grasps tightly onto a 5ft 6in tusk as he reflects on his recent Narwhal Kill. Photo location: Pond Inlet, Nunavut, Canada. (Photo and caption by Adam Coish/National Geographic Photo Contest)

“I know he will watch over me from above”. This picture is of my mother embracing my granddaddy's hands one last time before we left his bedside before his passing. They had an amazing bond and I know he was squeezing her hand and telling her it was going to be ok even if he wasn't able to speak the words. Photo location: Norfolk, VA. (Photo and caption by Sara Albin/National Geographic Photo Contest)

“Frozen”. Skiing at -36'C in Central Finland. Photo location: Central Finland. (Photo and caption by Earendel Fingerson/National Geographic Photo Contest)

“Funeral and Shaving”. Hinduism religion in India it's one of the most popular religion with million of devotees. Every good Hindu, when a relative died, goes to Varanasi, the holiest city in India, to burn the dead body and put it bones into the Ganga river. The whole cremation it's guided by the entire family of the dead body, who have to look completely shaved. In fact in my portrait I show only one member of the family ( daughter), whose having her shave off. I remember the eyes of this child who who were conveying sorrow and sadness cause by the recent lost and the brutality of the impatient hairdresser. Photo location: Varanasi, India. (Photo and caption by Alessandro Iovino/National Geographic Photo Contest)