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)

People gather beneath rainbow lights following Cinespia’s screening of “The Wizard of Oz” at Hollywood Forever Cemetery, presented by Amazon Studios & Prime Video, on July 31, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. Summer screenings have returned to the iconic cemetery after a hiatus amid the pandemic last summer. Actress Judy Garland is laid to rest at the cemetery where many movie legends are buried. (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images)

A boy watches fireworks from a military range weapon, marking the Defender of the Fatherland Day celebrations, at the Artillery Museum in St. Petersburg, Russia, Thursday, February 23, 2023. (Photo by Dmitri Lovetsky/AP Photo)

Anita Alvarez of the U.S. receives medical attention during the women's solo free final during FINA World Championships at Alfred Hajos Swimming Complex in Budapest, Hungary on June 22, 2022. (Photo by Lisa Leutner/Reuters)

A Ukrainian serviceman fires a 2S7 Pion self-propelled gun during military exercises near the village of Divychky in Kiev region, Ukraine, October 21, 2016. (Photo by Valentyn Ogirenko/Reuters)

In this February 19, 2017 photo, a couple dances during the “If you don't give me....then you lend me” Carnival street party on Ipanema beach, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The typical view of Carnival in Brazil is anything goes, with no headdress too big, no outfit too small, no song too ribald, but this year some organizers of the world's best known party are drawing the line at lyrics that are sexist, homophobic or racist. (Photo by Silvia Izquierdo/AP Photo)

The world-famous sprinter Usain Bolt, 30, took a break from the track to celebrate Carnival as revellers doused each other with paint in Trinidad and Tobago on February 26, 2017. (Photo by David Wears/Splash News and Pictures)

Joanne the Scammer (L) and model Amber Rose attend the Amber Rose SlutWalk 2016 at Pershing Square on October 1, 2016 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Amanda Edwards/FilmMagic)