A worker stands next to a Southern Two-toed Sloth at the Sloth and Friends Studio inside Hong Kong Ocean Park on August 3, 2023 in Hong Kong, China. (Photo by Vernon Yuen/Rex Features/Shutterstock)

Second Place Winner: “Thunderstorm at False Kiva”. I hiked out to these ruins at night hoping to photograph them with the Milky Way, but instead a thunderstorm rolled through, creating this dramatic image. – Max Seigal. National Geographic Traveler Director of Photography Dan Westergren, one of this year's judges, shares his thoughts on the second place winner: “This photo combines two different scenes into one: the small kiva in a cliff dwelling and the grand vista of Canyonlands National Park across the valley. I really like the two different color palettes – warm inside and purple outside. This two-for-one scene was caused by the lightning storm outside the dwelling, which lit up the landscape like it was a huge electronic flash. Looking at this picture I can imagine what a wonderful sight it must have been for the ancient people who lived here. It doesn't seem too amazing now in our modern world, but might have been mind-blowing for the prehistoric residents”. Location: Utah. (Photo and caption by Max Seigal/National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest)

Jeremy Scott backstage at the Jeremy Scott fall 2012 fashion show during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week at Milk Studios on February 15, 2012 in New York City. (Photo by Craig Barritt/Getty Images)

American actress Alison Brie is seen exiting “Watch What Happens Live” studio on February 08, 2023 in New York City. (Photo by MediaPunch/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images)

p*rn star Asa Akira models the Namilia collection at Pier 59 Studios during NYFW Fall/Winter 2020 on Sunday, February 9, 2020 in New York. (Photo by Charles Sykes/Invision/AP Photo)

Model Bella Hadid falls as she walks the runway at the Michael Kors Spring 2017 Runway Show duing New York Fasion Week at Spring Studios on September 14, 2016 in New York City. (Photo by Rex Features)

In this photo taken on Tuesday, September 6, 2016 Omar Hassan poses in front of his creation “Breaking Through Milano” in his studio in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Antonio Calanni/AP Photo)

(L-R) Chris Diamantopoulos, AnnaLynne McCord, Matt Jones and Jane Seymour visit the Build Series at Build Studio on January 23, 2018 in New York City, United States. (Photo by Brad Barket/Getty Images)