“An Alien World”. Hang Son Doong is located in central Vietnam and is the world's largest cave. It was only explored for the first time in 2009 and is just now opening up to very limited tourism. This photo shows some members of our party beginning the climb up one of the two collapsed roof sections or dolines that are prominent features in the cave. The vegetation that can be seen is entirely inside the cave, with the real jungle floor some 150m further above. Two-way radios and a laser pointer were used to get people in position and to ensure their headlamps provided just the right amount of illumination. Photo location: Hang Son Doong, Quang Binh, Vietnam. (Photo and caption by Chris Miller/National Geographic Photo Contest)

“Adventure awaits”. It was the end of a long, epic mountain bike ride through the Negev desert in Israel when we arrived at the Tzaror mountain lookout. Our guide continued to the “official” lookout on the next hill, while all of us just stopped at the first moment we saw the fantastic view. The setting sun lighting up the bit of haze between the hills on the horizon gave the perfect backdrop for our guide on the hill. Photo location: Tzaror mountain lookout, Negev desert, Israel. (Photo and caption by Ilan Shacham/National Geographic Photo Contest)

“Bambina Somba”. Togo in un villaggio nella foresta in una capanna adibita a scuola ho incontrato questa splendida bambina di etnia Somba che non ho esitato di fotografarla nella stessa capanna. Photo location: Togo, West Africa. (Photo and caption by Salvatore Valente/National Geographic Photo Contest)

“Are you here for the Winery Tour?” This is a Western Grey Kangaroo caught lounging in the wineries of the Adelaide Hills in South Australia. This past Autumn has been a spectacular time for wildlife viewing and I got lucky to spot this guy while mountain biking in the hills. Such a funny stance it just begs the question... Have you been drinking? ...and or... Are you here for the Winery Tour? Such a spontaneous moment I figured it would be perfect for an entry. I hope you like it! Cheers. Photo location: Adelaide Hills, South Australia, Australia. (Photo and caption by Greg Snell/National Geographic Photo Contest)

“An outing in the Canadian Rockies”. Sometimes the location isn't what makes a photo interesting, its the moment that you capture it in. I spent a few days in Jasper National Parks last year and I decided to do a hike near Lake Louise. I hiked up to the Big Bee Hive then came back down and check out the more traditional vantage point of Lake Louise. This part of the lake has been photographed countless times but it was this group of perfectly posed tourists that really caught my eye. I waited in position until the space between me and these visitors was clear of other people and I was able to capture this image. Photo location: Lake Louise. (Photo and caption by Curtis Matwishyn/National Geographic Photo Contest)

“Chasing The Sun”. A trekker on the way to the summit of Mount Rinjani. Mount Rinjani is second highest active volcano in Indonesia, located on the island of Lombok. On the top of the volcano is a caldera that filled partially by crater lake, it’s known as Segara Anak. Sasak tribe believe both the lake and the mount are sacred. Rinjani also a famous mount for trekkers during dry seasons, most trekkers are aiming the summit for amazing sunrise, but it will never be an easy job to get there. Photo location: Mount Rinjani, Lombok, Indonesia. (Photo and caption by Lidya Ally/National Geographic Photo Contest)

“The Windy Women of Jeju”. I had recently travelled to the island of Jejudo. During my stay there, I grew more interested in the elder women on the island. Many of these women (as old as 70-80+) would dive in the rough Pacific, and dive for 6 hours to forage for seaweed, sea cucumber, squid and other sea creatures to eat & sell. My conversations with them were the most memorable moments and hope to return to capture more of their daily lives. Photo location: Korea. (Photo and caption by Angie Choi/National Geographic Photo Contest)

“Sunrise at Seoraksan”. After hiking for twelve hours out of a nineteen hour trek, it was time to watch the sunrise at Dinosaur Ridge. When we first looked out, the mountains were completely covered by clouds, but within an hour the clouds dropped and this was what we saw. It felt like heaven, and you could hear everyone present for this moment screaming and shouting for joy! I'd never seen something so incredible, I had to meditate and have gratitude to have experienced this. Some locals said that they'd never seen the mountains like this, even in their 40+ years of hiking there. Photo location: Seoraksan National Park, South Korea. (Photo and caption by Ka Shim/National Geographic Photo Contest)

“Killing Beauty”. Beautiful lioness hunt. Photo location: Botswana, North Kalahari. (Photo and caption by Julia Gordonova/National Geographic Photo Contest)

“Morning Light”. This magnificent male leopard was bathed in the hues of the South African sunrise. To say our morning game drive was a success would be a big understatement. Photo location: Hoedspruit, South Africa. (Photo and caption by Douglas Croft/National Geographic Photo Contest)

“Great migration”. Gnu migration in Masai Mara National Reserve. Photo location: Kenya. (Photo and caption by Chenggang Zhou/National Geographic Photo Contest)

“Into the light”. A pilgrim emerges from an underground tunnel that connects monolithic rock churches in Lalibela, Ethiopia. The shift from total darkness into light is believed to heal and enlighten those who pass through the tunnel. Over Orthodox Christmas in January thousands of Ethiopian pilgrims travel to Lalibela, many on foot, to partake in the ancient celebrations. Photo location: Lalibela, Ethiopia. (Photo and caption by Sarah Isaacs/National Geographic Photo Contest)

“TanCheng”. This photo was taken in the most important temple in the largest and most influential Tibetan buddhist monastery in the world, called “Larong” which hosts around 5.000 monks. Larong is located in the Ganzi Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in Seda county in Sichuan Province, almost 4000 meters above sea level. During the first day of my trip i injured my foot, unable to move much i decided to stay in the same position the entire day photographing the believers which walked around the temple practicing the prayers by turning the prayer wheel. Photo location: Sichuan province, Seda county, Larong Monastery, China. (Photo and caption by Mattia Passarini/National Geographic Photo Contest)

“Kolmanskop Interior #6641”. This image, is one of many of this buildings interior that I photographed. It was so interesting to see the way the sand dunes reclaimed the area over the years. Hard to believe that it was someone's home in 1954. This is just one building in the abandoned area of a diamond mine called Kolmanskop, in Namibia. I spent the entire day here getting better and better at visualizing how to shot these amazing interiors. Photo location: Kolmanskop Diamond Mine, Namibia. (Photo and caption by Bonnie Flamer/National Geographic Photo Contest)

“Electric Washington”. On the 2nd national park visit during a western road trip with my parents, I got to witness a very awe inspiring moment at Mount Rushmore. While diffused front lighting illuminates the faces of the presidents on Mount Rushmore at sunset, a storm rolls in and lightning strikes President Washington, creating a scene that only lasts for 1/50th of a second. Photo location: Mount Rushmore, South Dakota. (Photo and caption by Wray Sinclair/National Geographic Photo Contest)

“Flying A Kite”. This image of a little girl flying a kite was shot during The International Kite Festival in Pantai Getting, Kelantan. This event is held yearly in May, and showcases the many different kites by other countries. Photo location: Pantai Geting, Kelantan, Malaysia. (Photo and caption by Ng Yeow Kee/National Geographic Photo Contest)

“A Love Mysterious”. The sun sets as the majestic fog of the Pacific coast glides under the iconic Golden Gate Bridge. The long exposure of the fog reveals a silky texture as the low clouds rise and fall over San Francisco's trademark hills. All the while, tourists and locals alike make their drive along the mountainside, to try and capture the moment for themselves. Photo location: San Francisco, CA. (Photo and caption by Michael Perry/National Geographic Photo Contest)

“Shepherd”. Him life is not easy like us... he had eight children. the children are waiting meal... waiting help for school outlay. You can see in the sharp eyes, how is hard life for they... Photo location: Elazig, Turkey. (Photo and caption by Mustafa Tarik Canbay/National Geographic Photo Contest)

“Pachinko Culture”. Inside a pachinko parlour, everyone is just concentrating on the machine in front of them. Photo location: Tokyo, Japan. (Photo and caption by Swee Ong Wu/National Geographic Photo Contest)

“Chess in the afternoon”. A group of Roman men play chess daily under the fig tree outside this favourite local bar. Photo location: Bar del Fico, Rome, Italy. (Photo and caption by Allison Zurfluh/National Geographic Photo Contest)

“South Beach Cocktails”. The heat and passion of Latin culture hangs heavily in the air at one of the more popular spots along South Beach's answer to the Riviera – Ocean Drive. Photo location: Miami Beach, USA. (Photo and caption by Javed Adam/National Geographic Photo Contest)

“Sami Children”. The Samis, the indigenous people of Scandinavia, traditionally are reindeer herders. The Jokkmokk Winter Market, now going for more than 400 years, is a traditional festival and popular meeting place for the Sami people. Here, a charming and vivacious Sami girl pulls her brother onto her lap as he tries to wander off on his own. The wooden sleigh was later pulled by reindeers herded by her family and paraded through the market streets. Three generations of her family, all decked out in colourful Sami costumes, proudly walked alongside the sleigh. Photo location: Jokkmokk, Swedish Lapland. (Photo and caption by Joyce Le Mesurier/National Geographic Photo Contest)

“Gentoo Walking On Water”. A returning Gentoo on the shores of New Island, Falklands with a belly full of Krill for its young ones. Photo location: New Island, Falkland. (Photo and caption by Shanu Subra/National Geographic Photo Contest)

“Monks in line”. A long line of monks return to their monastery in Bagan, Myanmar, after their daily walk around the town asking for food donations from local residents. Photo location: Bagan, Myanmar. (Photo and caption by Marcelo Salvador/National Geographic Photo Contest)

“Boy becomes monk”. A young boy undergoes the ceremony to become a monk in Bagan. Photo location: Myanmar. (Photo and caption by Marcelo Salvador/National Geographic Photo Contest)

“Women in Black”. Taken at the iconic Grand Mosque or Sheikh Zayed Mosque of Abu Dhabi. The mosque is open to all nationalities and religion. ladies entering the mosque should wear the black Abaya(Arabic dress) to enter the mosque. Photo location: Abu Dhabi, UAE. (Photo and caption by Sreeranj Sreedhar/National Geographic Photo Contest)

“Fisherwoman”. The fishing gear made by bamboo and net, called “Yor”, is used by fishermen in Phatthalung, Thailand. I have witnessed this unique way of fishing during my visit to Thailand in may 2014. I have seen a woman who is using (dip and winch) this gear for fishing in the morning. Shooting towards the sunlight with narrow aperture normally showcases the mood of the environment with no touch on the original photo. Photo location: Ban Pakpra, Phatthalung, Thailand. (Photo and caption by Kajan Madrasmail/National Geographic Photo Contest)

“Money dance in Lagos”. Mother of the bride dancing during the reception of her daughter's wedding in Lagos, Nigeria. The other guests are throwing bank notes at her in a sign of respect. Photo location: Nigeria. (Photo and caption by Christophe Viseux/National Geographic Photo Contest)

“Camel Race Winner”. A race-winning camel at Al Wathba Track in Abu Dhabi is having its head covered of safran as a sign of honor. The trainer of the camel is trying to keep the animal calm. Photo location: Al Wathba Camel Track, Abu Dhabi, UAE. (Photo and caption by Christophe Viseux/National Geographic Photo Contest)

“Faster Daddy”. Catching the waves on a paddle board with my daughter. Photo location: West Wittering Beach, West Sussex, UK. (Photo and caption by Jason Wilkins/National Geographic Photo Contest)