A woman looks at model of the Cathedral Mosque in Kazan, during the 28th International Exhibition – Forum of Architecture and Design “Arch Moscow” in Moscow, Russia, 24 May 2023. Arch Moscow is one of the oldest architectural and construction exhibitions in Moscow. The 28th International Exhibition – Forum of Architecture and Design takes place from 24 May to 27 May 2023. (Photo by Yuri Kochetkov/EPA/EFE/Rex Features/Shutterstock)

Natalia Lage Rainha de Drums of the Escola de Samba Inocente de Belford Roxo during a presentation in the parade of the Special Group of Carnival in Rio de Janeiro at Avenida Marques de Sapucai, Sambadrome in Rio de Janeiro on April 21, 2021. The Carnival parades that take place in February were postponed to this month of April due to the high number of cases caused during the pandemic caused by COVID-19 (Coronavirus). (Photo by Thiago Ribeiro/AGIF via AFP Photo)

A participant takes part in the High-Heels Race as part of the Pride celebrations, in the Chueca neighbourhood in Madrid on July 7, 2022. MADO (Madrid Pride) is a series of street celebrations that take place during the city's LGBTIQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersеx and queer) Pride week. The Pride parade on July 9 will be the highlight of the week. (Photo by Javier Soriano/AFP Photo)

A Kashmiri farmer picks saffron flowers from a field in Pampore, south of Srinagar, the summer capital of Indian Kashmir, 06 November 2023. Pampore, also known as the Saffron town of Kashmir, is famous for its high quality saffron. It is one of few places in the world where the world's most expensive spice grows. (Photo by Farooq Khan/EPA)

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)

A Bukusu youth stands covered in mud in preparation for a circumcision ritual in Kenya's western region of Bungoma August 9, 2014. Circumcision rituals, which take place in August, are celebrated amongst some Kenyan tribes as an annual rite of passage into adulthood. (Photo by Noor Khamis/Reuters)

From towering elephants to tiny insects, photographers will be offering a rare insight into the natural world at this year’s Wildscreen Photography Festival 2014. The festival, formerly known as WildPhotos, is the UK’s largest wildlife photography show. The Wildscreen Photography Festival 2014 will be taking place between 24-26 October at London’s Royal Geographical Society. (Photo by Sam Hobson/Wildscreen Photography Festival 2014)

Miss World 2013, Megan Young of the Philippines, poses during a publicity launch near to Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament in central London November 25, 2014. The final of the 2014 edition of the pageant will take place in London on December 14. (Photo by Toby Melville/Reuters)