October winner. “A burst of the aurora borealis over Kirkjufell, taken in September 2016. This shot has been a holy grail for me and was finally captured after many trips”. MICK RYAN, JUDGE: Iceland is a hotspot for aurora photography and this composition of the symmetric, free-standing Kirkjufell and the trident waterfall is much-sought after. If you can time your visit when the aurora “kp” index is high and know the settings for nighttime aurora images, you may end up with a beautiful photograph like this. (Photo by DВ/The Guardian)

Model, skydiver and wing-suit jumper Roberta Mancino, 33, swims with a whale shark on February 2014 in Isla Mujeres, Mexico. A female skydiver swims with whale sharks, manta rays and sailfish – the fastest fish in the sea. Model, skydiver and wing-suit jumper Roberta Mancino, 33, jumped from a boat into the ocean surrounding Isla Mujeres near the northern Peninsula of Mexico. The incredible project involved two trips to the stormy winter seas – one in February 2013 and one a year later in February 2014. (Photo by Shawn Heinrichs/Barcroft Media)

“Touring the Koko-en Gardens adjacent to the Himeji castle was an unexpected highlight of our visit”, wrote Jeff Solar, 64, of Silver Spring, Md., about his trip to Japan. “The fall colors were outstanding and the gardens were both amazing and a bargain (just a few Yen added to the cost of the Himeji Castle admission)”. (Photo by Jeff Solar/2017 Washington Post Travel Photo Contest)

Take a look at this stunning photo of Tolbachik, an active volcanic complex on the Kamchatka Peninsula in far eastern Russia. Lava fountains and rivers ran through the area for months after the eruption began with the opening of two Tolbachik fissures in November of 2012. In the midst of this activity, photographers Luda and Andrey (lusika33) took a trip down to see that stunning hell valley on earth. (Photo by lusika33)

Divers swim beside millions of silverside fish at Devil's Grotto, Cayman Islands. Swimming in unison, millions of silverside fish dwarf the divers. The fish create waves of silver light as they move around the grottos that lie beneath the surface of the Caribbean Sea. These amazing photographs were captured by Belgian photographer Ellen Cuylaerts, 44, on a diving trip to the Devil's Grotto, Cayman Islands. (Photo by Ellen Cuylaerts/This is Guavo Media)

In this June 17, 2014 photo, a North Korean man takes shelter in the rain next to long propaganda billboards in the town of Samjiyon in North Korea's Ryanggang province. The Associated Press was granted to embark on a weeklong road trip across North Korea to the country’s spiritual summit Mount Paektu. The trip was on North Korea's terms. An AP reporter and photographer couldn't interview ordinary people or wander off course, and government “minders” accompanied them the entire way. (Photo by David Guttenfelder/AP Photo)

These are the spectacular snaps of swirling star trails which transform the night sky into a kaleidoscope of color. Keen photographer Evgeniy Zaytsev, 24, captured the stunning shots on trips to Crimea, Altai and Murom, Russia. The pictures of circular star trails are formed by merging multiple photos taken over the course of several hours. Movement of the Earth causes the stars appear in different places in each image. Here: vibrate, colorful star trails over an abandoned beach house. (Photo by Evgeniy Zaytsev/Caters News)

The Hawksbill Crag, also known as Whitaker Point, is located along the northern edge of the Upper Buffalo Wilderness in the Ozark National Forest, just south of the Buffalo National River. It is easily one of the most photograped and recognizable features in Arkansas, and is often seen on publications depicting the outdoors in Arkansas. The hike to it is an easy 3.0 mile round trip, and offers scenic vistas, huge boulders, beautiful waterfalls and colorful wildflowers.