The votes for the National Geographic 2017 Travel Photographer of the Year competition are in, and it’s time to announce the winners. This yearly competition highlights the diversity of our planet through its natural wonders and inhabitants, and the winning photographs are absolutely stunning.
The judges had to review around 15,000 entries from all over the world for awards in three categories: people, nature, and cities. First, second, and third places were awarded $2,500, $750 and $500 respectively. The Grand Prize winner, also received a 1—day trip for two to the Galapagos Islands with National Geographic Expeditions.
Below are our favorite photographs from this competition.
Bask in the Glory of Mother Nature
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These Crazy Cloud Formations Will Blow Your Mind
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The Best Northern Lights Photographs of the Year Revealed
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This Woman Unintentionally Befriended a Wild Crow
Watch this crow solve complex puzzles to get food!
WOW! I've Never Seen Photos This Stunning Before!
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The Illusions These Shadows Create Are Simply Amazing!
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These Lighthouses Are Each More Beautiful than the Last...
Used since ancient times, the lighthouse was both a guide and a warning. These monuments are so sturdy, they take nature's beating without a flinch!
25 Photos That Tell an Amazing Story
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13 Photographs of Stunning Beach Art With Stones
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These Vintage Photos Show People Grew Up Faster Back Then
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See Vintage Post-War New York in All Its Photogenic Glory
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15 Creative Design Ideas That Will Make Our Lives Simpler
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This Is What the World Would Look Like if Time Stood Still
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20 of the Most Perfectly-Timed Pictures Ever Taken
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These Things Are So Big That They Almost Beggar Belief
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What Did the Earliest Photographs Look Like?
Nowadays everyone has a camera, but take your mind back the time when photography was just a fantasy and imagine the thrill of seeing the first photos!
Time Transforms Everything - 15 Incredible Photos
Admire how time changed the world around us in these 15 historical photo comparisons of famous places around the world.
The Small Things in Nature Are the MOST Precious!
All 22 of these genius macro shots will reveal the captivating hidden beauty of nature to you from a brand new, and much closer look
A Collection of Ancient Trees 14 Years in the Making...
This beautiful project took a decade and a half to complete, but what beauty was captured will live on forever. Take a look for yourself.
These Homeowners Take Interior Decorating to Another Level
Everyone decorates in their own way. These homeowners have let their imaginations go wild with surreal interiors unlike anything you've ever seen.
These Chinese Gardens are Like Nothing You've Seen Before!
These gardens combine beauty and function, and are places of pure serenity and unparalleled grace.
15 Photos Showcasing the Beauty of Cities
We collected some amazing photos of 15 big cities around the world, which are simply fun to look at!
15 Mind-Bending Photos That Seem Fake but are 100% Real
It’s hard to believe these astonishing pictures haven’t been photoshopped.
These Brilliantly Clever Adverts Turned Heads - 15 Pics
Now this is how you make an ad!
24 Stunning Vintage Photos of Everyday Life
See these forgotten details from the world of the past in these 24 historical photos.
18 Photos You Won't Be Able to Take Your Eyes Off
A collection of eighteen absolutely stunning photographs that you will definitely not be able to take your eyes off.
These Pictures Perfectly Capture the Magic of the 1970s
Time for some good old ‘70s nostalgia…
15 of the Weirdest and Most Wonderful Images Ever Seen
There are some photographs that help tell the most astonishing stories you've ever heard. Here are 15.
20 Cool X-Rays of People, Animals & Objects Explained
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These Amazing Tips Will Create a Bright and Welcoming Home
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These Underwater Photos Are Bound to Leave You in Awe!
Check out some of the most outstanding entries from 2018's Underwater Photographer of the Year contest. which will make you wonder just how many other wonders and horrors are lurking deep beneath the surface of the ocean.
21st Century Architecture is Really Stunning to Behold...
While modern architecture can be divisive, there's no denying it makes you sit up and take notice. Here are 14 stunning examples of 21st Century architecture.
Interactive: What Happens When We Try to Take Pro Photos!
It can seem like photography is easy, all you need is a camera and a beautiful subject. Yet these photos prove that the experts do know what they're doing!
10 Risky Roads You'd Have to be Insane to Drive On
There are some road networks that top the polls in world's most dangerous roads. This clip takes a look at 10 risky roads you won't want to drive on.
This Unique Dune House is Like a Hobbit Home, But Better
This astonishing and unique Florida home built into a sand dune facing the beach is sure to impress you!
These Stunning Bird Photos are All Award Winners
Bird photos make for some of the most beautiful pictures possible, and these are the very best of these.
Polish Castles: Having a Look at Some Architectural Beauty
Flying above the beautiful castles of ancient Poland.
Japan's Nature Comes Alive in Gorgeous Photo Collection
The immense beauty of Japan's nature is presented through a huge collection of sublime photographs.
An Amethyst Gemstone Comes to Life in Real-Time
Take an in-depth look at how a hyper-realistic creation is made, from start to finish.
We’re Confident These Panoramic Pictures Will Amaze You...
For the past 9 years, EPSON has held an amazing panorama photography contest around the world, and now you can see the 17 photos that made it to the finals!
These Photos Tell Us Some Amazing Stories About the World
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20 Photos That Celebrate the Spectacular Colors of our World
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Collection: The World's Most Unique Buildings
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14 Stunning Examples of Brutalist Architecture
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These Old Photos Showcase Some Major Changes in Ireland
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