“A node glows in the dark...” In the last 10 years, mobile data, smart phones and social networks have forever changed our existence. Although this woman stood at the center of a jam packed train, but the warm glow from her phone tells the strangers around her that she's not really here. She manged to slip away from here, for a short moment, she's a node flickering on the social web, roaming the earth, free as a butterfly. Our existence is no longer stuck to the physical here, we're free to run away, and run we will. Photo location: Hong Kong. (Photo and caption by Brian Yen/National Geographic Photo Contest)

“Children in the darkness”. Disabled children living in Syria war. Photo location: Termanin, Syria. (Photo and caption by Abdullah Alghajar/National Geographic Photo Contest)

Our road trip down to Miami traversed this outlook on the Blue Ridge Parkway. We rested on this ridge overlooking the mountains. Though we argued consistently throughout the journey, here we were reminded of our brotherhood. Photo location: Blue Ridge Parkway. (Photo and caption by Tyler G/National Geographic Photo Contest)

“Biltigiri”. The chef of Ramnami people in Chhattisgarh,India. Ramnami tattoo the name of the lord “Ram” on their body. Their entire focus is on the name of Ram, the name of God that is most dear to them. The Ramnami Samaj is a sect of harijan (Untouchable) Ram. Formed in the 1890s, the sect has become a dominant force in the religious life of the area. The tattoo is the result of their devotion and also, a gift and an acknowledgement from Ram. Photo location: Chhattisgarh, India. (Photo and caption by Passarini Mattia/National Geographic Photo Contest)

“Temper”. A young girl throws a temper tantrum in a Bangkok shopping mall. Photo location: Bangkok, Thailand, Southeast Asia. (Photo and caption by Adam Birkan/National Geographic Photo Contest)

“Tea Time in the Hut”. Little discussion with a doll in a plastic box, not inherently beautiful. But with this slice of light, it looks like a bubble invented to dream in an imaginative world. Photo location: Paris. (Photo and caption by Karine P./National Geographic Photo Contest)

Seekers of eternal youth coat themselves in mineral-rich mud, at the Dead Sea. Photo location: Israel. (Photo and caption by Nick Riley/National Geographic Photo Contest)

“Waiting”. He was waiting on the bed, lost in thoughts, while his wife was preparing the bread to be blessed for the orthodox Eucharist. Photo location: Village of Sarbi, Maramure, Romania. (Photo and caption by Roberto Fiore/National Geographic Photo Contest)

The thermal spas in Budapest (are) one of the favorite activities of Hungarians, especially in winter. We were fortunate to gain special access to shoot in the thermal spa thanks to our tour guide, Gabor. I love the mist, caused by the great difference in temperature between the hot spa water and the atmosphere. It makes the entire spa experience more surreal and mystical. Photo location: Budapest, Hungary. (Photo and caption by Triston Yeo/National Geographic Photo Contest)

“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)

“Destroyed Homs”. Birds fly over the destroyed houses in Khalidiya district in Homs, Syria. In the vast stillness of the destroyed city center of Homs, there are large areas where nothing moves. Then, suddenly, wind blows a ripped awning, or birds fly overhead. Photo location: Homs, Syria. (Photo and caption by Sergey Ponomarev/National Geographic Photo Contest)

“Shinagawa Station”. I was up at an ungodly hour to make it to the Tsukiji Fish Market, in Tokyo. With so many amazing things to see in the city, I had hardly slept, and managed to get off at the wrong station. Wave after wave of people kept coming through the station passageway. I spied a coffee shop with a vantage point and managed to snap a free shots, camera resting on the ledge. After the caffeine kicked in, i was ready to brave the river of people... Photo location: Tokyo, Japan. (Photo and caption by Peter Franc/National Geographic Photo Contest)

“The great migration”. Jump of the wildebeest at the Mara river. Photo location: North Serengeti, Tanzania. (Photo and caption by Nicole Cambré/National Geographic Photo Contest)

“7584 Fish”. On a windy day right after a Cyclone passed the far northern Great Barrier Reef i took some friends out to the reef. Never before i saw that many glass fish on this particular coral “bommie”. Just when i setup my camera, this Napoleon Wrasse swam right through the school of fish building a living frame. Photo location: Cairns, Great Barrier Reef, Flynn Reef, Australia. (Photo and caption by Christian Miller/National Geographic Photo Contest)

Stag Deer Bellowing in Richmond Park. Photo location: London, UK. (Photo and caption by Prashant Meswani/National Geographic Photo Contest)

“Shoulder Check”. A wild short eared owl completes a shoulder check in case something was missed. Northern harriers were also hunting in the field and these raptors will often steal a kill from the owls. Photo location: Boundary Bay, BC, Canada. (Photo and caption by Henrik Nilsson/National Geographic Photo Contest)

Ice art on the window. Photo location: Estonia. (Photo and caption by Maie Kirnmann/National Geographic Photo Contest)

“Muscle power”. This playful fight amongst two young sub adult Tigers was indeed a brilliant life time opportunity, that lasted exactly 4-5 seconds. The cubs were sitting in the grass as dusk approached when suddenly one of them sneaked up behind the other and what happened next is captured in this image. This playful fight amongst the siblings is what prepares them for their survival in the wild. The sheer power of the Tiger is beautifully captured in this image and portrays the sheer muscle power that these magnificent cats possess. Photo location: Bandhavgarh National Park, Madhya Pradesh, India. (Photo and caption by Archna Singh/National Geographic Photo Contest)