Members of a music band rest before the procession of “Nossa Senhora da Boa Viagem”, in Constancia April 6, 2015. This benediction has been held annually for about 200 years. In the past, goods were transported by the Tagus river in small boats to Lisbon, 100 km south. The sailors, as the navigation was dangerous, blessed their boats every year during the festivity of “Nossa Senhora da Boa Viagem”. (Photo by Rafael Marchante/Reuters)

Thai officials inspect counterfeit watches before destroying them at Khlongluang Transportation Station in Pathumtani province, on the outskirts of Bangkok April 9, 2015. The counterfeit goods, which included piles of CDs, DVDs, handbags, clothes, brand name shoes, cell phones, caps, glasses, computers, cosmetics and watches are worth over 3.7 billion Thai baht ($ 115,790,901), according to local authorities. (Photo by Chaiwat Subprasom/Reuters)

Women wearing "Shiroshozoku" or the traditional white robe pray as they bathe in ice-cold water at the Teppozu Inari shrine in Tokyo, Japan, January 10, 2016. About 100 participants took part in the Shinto ceremony to purify their souls and wish for good health in the new year. (Photo by Yuya Shino/Reuters)

Mananya Boonmee, 49, works on the make-up of a “child angel” doll at her house in Nonthaburi, Thailand, January 26, 2016. A craze for lifelike dolls thought to bring good luck is sweeping Thailand, reflecting widespread anxiety as the economy struggles and political uncertainty persists nearly two years after a coup. (Photo by Athit Perawongmetha/Reuters)

“Potholes” is a series of photographs depicting the concave street cracks and holes as a collection of imaginative tableaux in the city. Captured within the backdrops of New York City, Los Angeles, Toronto and Montreal, the sets explore the urban flaws as a playground creating a multitude of uses out of the potholes. Directly engaging the street and the city, the highly imaginative series transforms the bad into good, creating a tongue-in-cheek collection that is at once contextual and surreal”. (Photo and caption by Davide Luciano)

The close-up of the Pecteilis radiata is very reminiscent of a beautiful white bird soaring in the skies. This is probably the reason why people have started calling this flower the White Egret Flower. Truly, the resemblance of this flower to an egret flying through heavens is staggering. It is too bad that these flowers are so small. Otherwise, they would make for a stunning bouquet. However, who wouldn’t want to receive such a precious flower as a gift; a flower which can be used as a symbol for beauty, good intentions, and the purity of soul. (Photo by AngiBudd)

“YagYang”. The Apatani are tribal people living in north east of India in the region of Arunachal Pradesh. Tattooing and stuffing of large nose plugs is the particularity of these women. YagYang 75 years old, her husband passed away few months ago and she feels very alone, during my visit I was very fond of this woman and I wanted to spend some more time with her, so I asked her which was her favorite dish. The next day i returned with the fresh fish, as she mentioned, and when she saw me she was very happy and welcomed me with a big smile. Photo location: India. (Photo and caption by Passarini Mattia/National Geographic Photo Contest)

“Lofoten Glow”. I was desperately searching a good sunrise spot this particular morning. Normally Storvatnet Lake is completely covered in snow, so you can only imagine my surprise when I saw these crazy ice formations almost being shot out of the frozen lake. I put my crampons on and took a big risk walking out. I could hear the ice cracking underneath my feet, and when you’re all alone in a fjord/canyon like this – the cracks are echoed and sound really frightening. Was it worth it? I sure think so! Photo location: Storvatnet, Lofoten Islands in Northern Norway. (Photo and caption by Stian Klo/National Geographic Photo Contest)