“Sunward”. When the Mediterrenean Mantis opened its wings, It seemed very impressive at the sunshine... Photo location: Nicosia, Cyprus. (Photo and caption by Hasan Baglar/National Geographic Photo Contest)

Becca D'Agostine, Andy Fuhrmann and Dafid Fine came up with a unique way to document their road trip by taking selfies on a couch at each location. Here they are seen at Mount Baker, Wash. (Photo by Caters News)

“The Net thrower”. The fisherman are conducting activities on Situgunung Lake. Photo location: Situgunung lake, Sukabumi, West Java, Indonesia. (Photo and caption by Dody Kusuma/National Geographic Photo Contest)

Mongolian Chinese performs a traditional Chinese dance in front of the Olympic Rings located near the National Stadium, the main stadium for the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan July 29 2021. (Photo by Androniki Christodoulou/Reuters)

American actress and singer Lucy Hale seen on location for “Katy Keene” on the streets of Manhattan on October 9, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by James Devaney/GC Images)

Madagascan sunset setting over the 98-foot-tall baobab trees of the Avenue of the Baobabs located in Menabe, Madagascar on August 2020. (Photo by Kim Paffen/MediaDrumImages)

Male is the capital and most populous city in the Republic of Maldives. The city is geographically located at the southern edge of North Malé Atoll (Kaafu Atoll). Administratively, it is a city-class constituency and is governed by the Malé City Council. Traditionally it was the King's Island, from where the ancient Maldive Royal dynasties ruled and where the palace was located. The city was then called “Mahal”. Formerly it was a walled city surrounded by fortifications and gates (doroshi).

Honorable Mention: “The Storm”. During I was taking photo with my nephew, the storm came and I caught this beautiful moment. Photo location: Kocaeli, Turkey. (Photo and caption by Aytül Akbaş/National Geographic Photo Contest)