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“Enjoying life”. These kids enjoyed free saturday by playing on narrow streets of favela Vidigal. They loved the camera and seeing themselves in pictures. We hade so much fun together! Location: Vidigal, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo and caption by Anna Karatvuo/National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest)

“Trackside Sisters”. Two young girls next to the railway tracks in Tamil Nadu, India. India's arterial-like network of tracks attracts trackside-dwellers across the entire subcontinent. (Photo and caption by Danny Pemberton/National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest)

“Innocence and Icon”. The classic American car has become a symbol and staple throughout Cuba. In the back streets of Havana, one who has yet to learn of the country’s history, shows her innocence at play. (Photo and caption by Eric Kruszewski/National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest)

“Shisha Bar, Jerusalem, January 2012”. Palestinian men smoke water pipes in a shady den near Damascus Gate in Jerusalem's historical city center.Ronnie Niedermeyer (Photo and caption by /National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest)

“Window Washers”. All of the sudden I looked up and there were four window washers way high up on the adjacent skyscraper. I grabbed my camera and starting shooting. To get an interesting angle, I went under the glass awning and shot upwards. Location: Seattle, Washington. (Photo and caption by Amy Sacka/National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest)

“Butterfly”. During our first vacation together, my husband and I discovered a secluded beach in Costa Rica with a dark sandbar that stretched a half-mile into the ocean. After going for a swim, my husband sat carefully, trying not to get too sandy. When he stood up, a small part of the beach went with him. (Photo and caption by Lester Feder/National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest)

“Her Last Days”. My family and I were visiting my grandparents so they could see my sister's newborn for the first time. While I was in the living room my dad called me into their room really quick to take a picture of my grandpa doing my grandma's hair before I missed it. It wasn't until I was about to take the picture when I noticed their wedding picture(painting) in the background, so I stepped back to fit it in and it came out great. This picture was taken on February 12, 2012 and she passed away April 12, 2012. My grandparents were married a little over 50 years. Location: Los Angeles, CA. (Photo and caption by Paul Mora/National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest)

“The third class saloon”. It was on the ethiopian train. The railroad line connected Addis Abeba, the capital of Etiopia, in Djibouti (far from 850 kms). Unfortunately, the railways company went bankrupt last year... No more train on the line. (Photo and caption by Pierre Javelot/National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest)

“First Cry”. I photographed my friend’s home birth. The baby was born in water, without drugs and under hypnosis. This the moment the baby was first put onto her mothers chest and let out her first cry. Location: Nairobi, Kenya. (Photo and caption by Mia Collis/National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest)

“The Stampede”. As our safari vehicle followed 3 lionesses closely, we didn't realize what they were doing.... hunting. There were at least 200-300 wildebeast waiting along the banks of the Mara River to cross over, however once a wildebeast looked over its shoulder, chaos erupted. The ground below us shook like an earthquake, dust clouds formed from the constant thumping from the panic escape of the wildebeast, and the lionesses waited in striking position. Two young lionesses, and a pregnant one, pictured here, surrounded the wildebeast for what was a successful escape and an unsuccessful hunt. Location: Masai Mara, Kenya, Africa. (Photo and caption by Adam Kuczma/National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest)

“Varanasi Encounter”. A man and a cow go about their daily routines in a narrow alley in Varanasi, India. (Photo and caption by Jordan Youngs/National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest)

“The Hands That Tell A Story”. On New Year's Eve, my wife and I hiked through the Amazon Rainforest in a village just outside of Leticia, Colombia. The family we were staying with were so proud of all the natural fruits to eat in the forest and were quick to point out the various species of animals all around us. As we were walking, the local man we were with spotted a tiny frog. We quickly snapped a photo while he held it in his hands. When we got home and looked through our pictures, we discovered the photo captured more than the tiny frog, it captured the hands of a hard working man and his love of his land and nature. (Photo and caption by Rich Goure/National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest)

“Big Bird of Friendship”. We were enjoying an Afro-Cuban rumba band on a rooftop in the Jesus-Maria quarter of Havana when our host surprised us by releasing a large cage of homing pigeons. I grabbed my camera to shoot images of the birds flying in front of the sinking sun and this one came in for a landing right in front of me – a grand symbol of hope for our new Cuban friends. (Photo and caption by Judy Bonderman/National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest)

“The Street Show”. A family sitting outside their house in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. (Photo and caption by Galit Govezensky/National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest)

“Battle of the Oranges”. During the Battle of the Oranges alongside Tuchini del Borghetto team wearing green and red. Just before the throw. 19 of February 2012, Ivrea Italy. (Photo and caption by Lydia Pagoni/National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest)

“Two boys playing on the side of the road”. I was part of a military convoy driving through the notorious Khost-Gardez Pass. As we stopped for a break, I captured these two boys playing on the side of this heavily traveled roadway. Location: Khost Province, Afghanistan. (Photo and caption by Alex Manne/National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest)

“African Leopard”. African leopard Jumpin in tree. International Reserve of Samburu, Kenya. (Photo and caption by Juan Hernandez/National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest)

“Marrakech Traveler”. It was mid-morning and he must have wanted to ride into the light. I was shooting for the ABC TV show Born to Explore when I snapped this photo. Location: Marrakech, Morocco. (Photo and caption by John Barnhardt/National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest)

“Women's Prayer”. This was my first time seeing many women from the youngest to the oldest praying seriously with all of their heart and mind. Location: The Western Wall in the midst of the Old City in Jerusalem. (Photo and caption by Lydia Isnanto/National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest)

“Splash Circle”. Marion, 4, cools off at the water park on Manhattan's Pier 25. Location: Manhattan, New York. (Photo and caption by Kate Tomlinson/National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest)

“Looking Back”. Man looking back during a procession in a town outside of Cuzco, Peru. (Photo and caption by Justin Meredith/National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest)

“I Do”. In the middle of the Sea of Galilee, there was a happy newly wedding couple having their love celebration on the boat. Location: Sea Of Galilee, Israel. (Photo and caption by Lydia Isnanto/National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest)

“The opening basket”. Sofia Robles, Mayor of Santa Maria Tlahuitoltepec, shoots the opening basket to inaugurate the village tournament. Location: Santa Maria Tlahuitoltepec, Oaxaca, Mexico. (Photo and caption by Jorge Santiago/National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest)

“Chick dropped in soup”. No, not chicken soup..... It's a literal translation of a Chinese expression for being drenched （落湯雞）。 Caught this well dressed lady trying to cross the street in a torrential down pour. Location: Hong Kong. (Photo and caption by Brian Yen/National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest)

“Down the Hatch!” American Alligator downing a Florida gar. Location: Myakka River State Park, Sarasota, FL. (Photo and caption by Marina Scarr/National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest)

“Popocatepetl Volcano Explosion”. Last year I was climbing for the 18th time the Iztaccíhuatl volcano (5287 masl), it was Sunday 20th November 2011 and it was my last weekend living in Mexico before I left my country because of a new job. I was climbing with some of my best friends and it was a kind of farewell. We were at the south summit when suddenly the terrain vibrated and we heard a roar. The result was this image and one of the most amazing memories I'll have for the rest of my life. Location: Parque Nacional Izta-Popo, Mexico. (Photo and caption by Miguel Valencia Villaseñor/National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest)

“Back to the Future”. Paris was the first city I visit from Europe, I consider it to be the city where all my past got mixed with the present to evolve into what I am today. Location: Paris, France. (Photo and caption by Andrés Bernal Guarín/National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest)

“Spotted Was Eye”. While on the Anhinga Trail in the southern Everglades, an anhinga notices my movement as I softly approach for a closer photograph. Seconds before I push the shutter, this bird was scoping its surroundings in a nearby bush to its left, my right, and then as I took one step closer to snap the shot, I was spotted and the anhinga looked directly at me for this one photograph. Location: Everglades National Park, Florida, United States. (Photo and caption by Craig Dillenbeck/National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest)

“Take My Strong Hand”. Sitting in the grass in a remote valley in the southern highlands of Tanzania, watching male buff-shouldered widowbirds displaying to females, we spied what we thought was a little green bug napping in the nook of a flower. And so started our spontaneous moment with this little green frog. It remains as one of our favourite moments from our three month visit. Location: Mtitu Valley, Tanzania, Africa. (Photo and caption by Julia Ormond/National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest)

“Manscaping”. A man's beard becomes filled with ladybugs. Location: Los Altos, CA USA. (Photo and caption by Dani Grant/National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest)

“Morning Refreshment”. Costa's Hummingbird on Cape Honeysuckle. Location: Phoenix, Arizona, USA. (Photo and caption by Brent Bristol/National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest)

“Scurge of the Outback”. Traveling to Uluru the “back way” through Western Australia we spent 2 long days on dirt tracks traversing sand dunes, spinifex plains and rocky outcrops. These 2 camels provided a welcome distraction early on the morning of the second day. Shot from the car at 60km/h I love the feeling of movement in this image. Camels are a huge pest in outback Australia. In places where their densities are high they foul up waterways and compete with native wildlife for valuable resources. Interestingly, they are the last truly wild dromedaries in the world! (Photo and caption by Liam Byrne/National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest)

“Cub”. In the colony of penguins in South Georgia. (Photo and caption by Ondrej Zaruba/National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest)

“Primary students are studying a piano with a foreign teacher”. One female Japanese teacher, 34 years old, is in charge of music class for the fifth grade student at Nsawo Primary school in Uganda. Nsawo village is in 90km north of the capital, Kampala. They are studying and practicing a piano. Students like to study music class very much, especially a piano. As there is no electric power, they study in the classroom with the natural light from windows. In the sunny day, the class room is illuminated by soft and beautiful light. I took this photograph in March 2012. (Photo and caption by Shintaro Kurihara/National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest)

“What's happiness?” Hong Kong, Walking around central, I'm about to cross Des Voeux Road, where the tram line passes. The Light shows red, I can't cross. Suddenly I see this huge Add of Armani showing Ryana, sticked on the tram. FInal Direction is Happy Valley..... The little blue kid seems to wonder if luxury and Happiness really matches ....? (Photo and caption by Harold de Puymorin/National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest)

“Moving On”. 2011, weeks after my wedding, I flew home to see my Dad. Little did I know at the time, he only had two weeks left. Cross the hustling street from the old hospital my dad spend his remaining time, was a big lot that was still under constructions. The photo of the old woman. The peeling of this old art installation. The expression on her face. The new high rise apartment buildings in the background. All of these reminded me of my father dying, and me starting a new family in the U.S. A day after I took this photo, my father passed. Location: Shanghai, China. (Photo and caption by Xiaoru Xu/National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest)

“Dallol volcano”. During the expedition to Dallol volcano, we were constantly accompanied by ethiopian soldiers because of the proximity to the border with Eritrea. Location: Ethiopia, Danakil desert, East rift Depression. (Photo and caption by Michel Hanse/National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest)

“Fisherman Silhouette”. As I waited to take photos of the iconic U-Bein's bridge a net-fisherman caught my eye. I managed to get a few shots of him from fairly close before he moved away in search of more fish for his dinner. Location: U-Bein's bridge, near Mandalay, Burma. (Photo and caption by Dominic Burdon/National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest)

“Village Boys play cricket in Gujurat, India”. Cricket is the passion and preferred pastime of almost every Indian boy. Just outside their small community in Eastern Gujurat, locals don't let scarcity of resources dull their fervour – improvising with an old tire for wickets and plank of wood for a bat. (Photo and caption by Danny Pemberton/National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest)

“Yi Peng Festival”. A little girl and her family launch a sky lantern or khom loy – as its known in Thailand – during the Yee Peng Festival in Chiang Mai. By releasing the lanterns to the sky the Thai people believe they are sending kindness and goodwill to humankind. This festival has been taken place for around 700 years in the North of Thailand. (Photo and caption by John Quintero/National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest)

“Little Cleaner”. This photo was taken at a market during my trip to Hokkaido which is located at the north of Japan. House cleaning with all members of the family at the end of a year is a popular custom in Japan.On this day,the last day of the year,I found a little cleaner there. A child of this store was trying hard to wipe a condensation at the window with a glass wiper when I happened to visit there. I heard a tiny voice inside his heart, “mmm... I wish I was taller...” This is a scene to symbolize a Japanese New Year's Eve so it has made my heart warm. (Photo and caption by Miki Kudo/National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest)

“Gotcha”. Another day on safari but not an ordinary one. Suddenly my guide starts the ignition and away we go toward the river. He just received word the migration was happening just a short drive away. We arrive at the rivers edge with not an inch to spare between vehicles. Tourists gather to watch one of the natural wonders of the world. We pull a bit further up river. The jeep didn't even stop. My guide yells to me “Take Picture Take Picture!” Caught by surprise crossing the river just outside of Bataleur camp in the Masai Mara. And believe it or not-he got away! Location: Masai Mara Kenya. (Photo and caption by Irene Nathanson/National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest)

“Holi Explosion”. Holi is a flamboyant festival where coloured powder or watercolours are thrown on one another in celebration of the beginning of spring. Many take it as an excuse to run wild and at times act inappropriately. As hindu's often say “Bura na mano, Holi hai” (Don't feel offended, it's Holi). Photos taken in Bombay/Mumbai 2012. (Photo and caption by Giselle Natassia/National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest)

“Love Triangle”. This moment spontaneously captured three different generations of loving relationships outside the Louvre Museum. The blossoming affection between the two teenagers in the foreground is meaningfully framed by the child and parent near a married couple in the background. Location: Paris, France. (Photo and caption by Dhwani Thapar/National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest)

“Experiencing”. Silhouettes of father and his son walking through the steam coming for Geysers el Tatio in North Chile. (Photo and caption by Magdalena Rakita/National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest)

“The Rainbow Man”. During my daily assignments as a local press photographer, I need to find an interesting images to improve my own photography skill. As I saw this beautiful colourful building, which is a hotel in the middle of Kuala Lumpur town, suddenly a man appear an looked out the view. Without wasting my time, I grab my camera and wait for the right moment. (Photo and caption by Ahmad Izzrafiq Alias/National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest)

“Lily Through the Glass”. This abstract portrait of my yellow lab was incidental when she happened to appear under the glass table on my deck while I was attempting to shoot some flowers after a morning rain. When her face materialized under the droplets, I quickly shifted my focus from the irises to Lily, our young pet. The result was an impressionistic portrait of a dog who rarely sits still! Location: Turner, Maine, USA. (Photo and caption by Diane Mawhinney/National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest)

“Secret dish – Shanghai”. There is less and less “street-food” restaurant in the center of Shanghai. I took this picture last summer, the restaurant closed a few days after, without any prior notice. (Photo and caption by Antoine Meunier/National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest)

“Tire Hoop”. While visiting Eastern Kenya, I ran into a group of young girls who challenged me to a hula-hoop contest. Once I agreed, one young girl took off behind a small shed and returned with several old bike tires. I captured this moment of one of my young friend's showing off her skills. I love the contrast between the old, dirty tire and her sunday's best dress. Needless to say, she won our little contest. Location: Mpeketoni, Kenya. (Photo and caption by Angela Winsor/National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest)

“Semana Santa”. Easter fell when we were in Uyuni and the city celebrated with a spectacular parade, far removed from the Easter hat parade I participated in back at school. Their wasn’t a rabbit ear or fluffy tail in sight. Location: Uyuni, Bolivia. (Photo and caption by Samantha Harding-Farrenberg/National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest)

“Dust Dance”. A tornado tightens up and kicks up a lot of dust as it heads straight for me, roping out and dissipating approximately 1/2 mile from my location less than a minute later. The tornado was on the ground for a total of 4 minutes. To the right of the main tornado another funnel with a debris cloud on the ground can be seen. The tornado was a rare cold core tornado that had papers written up about it a few days later, referencing my photos. This is one of seven tornadoes I saw that day, making it my most successful storm chase to date. June 20th, 2011 near Norton Kansas at 2:32pm. (Photo and caption by David Mayhew/National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest)

“Hunger knows no boundaries”. Lone lioness stalks family of Giraffe. Waiting for the opportune moment when the family enters the foliage before punching on the baby giraffe. Location: Moremi Reserve, Botswana, Africa. (Photo and caption by Alwyn Chong/National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest)

“Summertime in the City”. North Avenue Beach fashion, 2012. Chicago, Il. (Photo and caption by Frances McCaughan/National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest)

“Moment in time”. Spontaneous moment in time, if you don't pay attention then you will miss out on seeing something extraordinary. Location: Werribee Zoo. (Photo and caption by Celine Pearse/National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest)

“Great Light Shark”. A couple of bull sharks come close to investigate the divers. At 75ft the conditions are perfect, great light, no drift, and both of the sharks posing for the perfect shot. Location: Playa del Carmen, México. (Photo and caption by Jorge Cervera Hauser/National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest)

“Offerings”. People filling the streets on the way to some sort of ceremony outside of Ubud, Bali, Indonesia. Caught this from the cab of our trusty driver and friend Ketut. (Photo and caption by Sarah Kanzler/National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest)

“What's Up?” Hundreds of adolescent elephant seals live on the beach eating and learning adult behavior before leaving the island. It is a cacophony of sound and activity until noon, when everyone seems to take a siesta. As I walked by these sleeping seals, one of them popped up his head as if to ask, “What's up?”. Location: South Georgia Island. (Photo and caption by Barbara Engel/National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest)

“Let me help you to put on”. Preparation of a Chinese opera show on street during the hungry ghost festival in Penang, Malaysia. The actresses are helping each other to get ready for the show. (Photo and caption by John Ngooi/National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest)

“Equilibrium”. Surgeon and nurses working together to fix an antenna at Ouagadougou University Hospital, 2012. Location: Ouagadougou University Hospital, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. (Photo and caption by Yann Verbeke/National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest)

“Marbet”. Shot in Kashch Goz village or Afghanistan. Young Kyrgyz girl Marbet is getting her donkey ready to do to school. The wind had her veil floating in the air. It will take her 2 hours of walking to go to school. There is a video my friend took of the same scene: https://vimeo.com/42317356 The whole project : http://wakhan-anotherafghanistan.com/. Location: Wakhan Corridor Afghanistan. (Photo and caption by Cedric Houin/National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest)