The results of the global 2012 National Geographic photography contest are out.
The magazine received thousands of entries from across the world in three categories -- people, place and nature.
Rediff.com presents the winning photographs. Enjoy!
Grand-Prize: The Explosion!
Photograph by: Ashley Vincent/National Geographic Photo Contest
Location: Khao Khao Open Zhoo, Thailand.
The caption reads: Busaba, a well cared for Indochinese Tigress.
The photographer says he had taken many portraits of Busaba previously and it was becoming more and more difficult to come up with an image that appeared any different to the others.
"Which is why I took to observing her more carefully during my visits in the hope of capturing something of a behavioural shot. The opportunity finally presented itself while watching Busaba enjoying her private pool then shaking herself dry. In all humility I have to say that Mother Nature smiled favourably on me that day!"
award-winning photographs...
First Place for Places: The Matterhorn
Photograph by: Nenad Saljic/National Geographic Photo Contest
Location: Zermatt, Switzerland
The caption reads: "The Matterhorn 4478 m at full moon".
The 4,478 metres high Matterhorn peak on the border between Switzerland and Italy is one of the highest peaks in the Alps.
award-winning photographs...
First Place for People: Amongst the Scavengers
Photograph by: Micah Albert/National Geographic Photo Contest
Location: Dandora, Kenya
The caption reads: "At the end of the day women are allowed to pick through the dumpsite".
award-winning photographs...
Viewers' Choice for Places: Iceberg Hunters
Photograph by: Adam Coish/National Geographic Photo Contest
Location: Pond Inlet, Nunavut, Canada
The caption reads: "Chipping ice off an iceberg is a common way for the Inuit community to retrieve fresh drinking water while on the land. During a weekend long hunting trip, we came upon this majestic iceberg frozen in place. It was a perfect opportunity to grab enough ice and drinking water for the remainder of the trip."
award-winning photographs...
Viewers' Choice for People: Expedition Amundsen
Photograph by: Kai-Otto Melau/National Geographic Photo Contest
Location: Hardangervidda Mountainplateu, Norway
The caption reads: "A race that follows in the path of the famous explorer Roald Amundsen brings the contestants to the Hardangervidda Mountainplateu, Norway. 100km across the plateau, the exact same route Amundsen used to prepare for his South Pole expedition in 1911 is still used by explorers today. Amundsen did not manage to cross the plateau and had to turn back because of bad weather. He allegedly said that the attempt to cross Hardangervidda was just as dangerous and hard as the conquering of the South Pole.
"The group in the picture used the race as preparations for an attempt to cross Greenland."
award-winning photographs...
Viewers' Choice for Nature: Tender Moment
Photograph by:Sanjeev Bhor/National Geographic Photo Contest
Location: Masai mara National Reserve , Kenya
The caption reads: "Everyday in mara starts with something new and different and day ends with memorable experiences with spectacular photographs. I was very lucky of sighting and photographing Malaika, the name of female Cheetah, and her cub.
"She is well known for its habit to jump on vehicles. She learned that from her mother Kike, and Kike from her mother Amber. Like her mother she is teaching lessons to her cub.
"Teaching lessons means addition of another moment for tourists. This is one of the tender moments between Malaika and her cub. I was very lucky to capture that moment."
award-winning photographs...
Honorable Mention: Red Fox catching mouse under snow
Photography by: Micheal Eastman/National Geographic Photo Contest
Location: Squaw Creek, Park Country, Wyoming
The caption reads: "With his exceptional hearing a red fox has targeted a mouse hidden under 2 feet of crusted snow. Springing high in the air he breaks through the crusted spring snow with his nose and his body is completely vertical as he grabs the mouse under the snow".
award-winning photographs...
Honorable Mention: Chinese traditional dragon boat racing
Photograph by: 关嘉城/National Geographic Photo Contest
The caption reads: "Dragon boating is a Chinese traditional entertainment. As an aquatic sport to memorise 'Qu yuan', a patriotic poet in ancient China, it is usually held in festivals, which can be traced back to two thousands years ago."
award-winning photographs...
Honorable Mention: East of Iceland
Photograph by: Eric Guth/National Geographic Photo Contest
Location: Just east of Jokulsarlon lagoon. Along Iceland's eastern coast.
The caption reads: "Glacial ice washes ashore after calving off the Breioamerkurjokull glacier on Iceland's eastern coast. During the waning light of summer this image was created over the course of a 4 minute exposure while the photographer backlit the grounded glacial ice with a headlamp for 2 of those 4 minutes."
award-winning photographs...
Honorable Mention: Captive
Photograph by: Wendell Phillips/National Geographic Photo Contest
Location: Bekasi, Indonesia
The caption reads: "Yayasan Galuh Rehabilitation Center is and impoverished mental health facility based in Bekasi, Indonesia that hosts over 250 patients. Most come from poor families no longer interested in managing their condition, or are unable. Some patients are homeless, deposited after being taken off streets by police. The only medical treatment received is for skin conditions. No assessments, psychotherapy or psychiatric medications is available. Over one third of the patients are shackled in chains. These measures are implemented to those thought to be violent, uncontrollable and dangerous."
award-winning photographs...
Honorable Mention: Eerie Eiffel
Photography by: Indra Swari Wonowidjojo/National Geographic Photo Contest
Location: Paris, France
The caption reads: "The gloomy winter day worked to my advantage to create this eerie feeling of the famous landmark Eiffel tower."
award-winning photographs...
Honorable Mention: Predation up close and personal
Photograph by: Fransisca Harlijanto/National Geographic Photo Contest
Location: Komodo, Indonesia
The caption reads: "I was surrounded by thousands of fish that moved in synchrony because of the predation that was happening. It was an incredible experience."
award-winning photographs...
Honorable Mention: Ursus arctos horribilis
Photograph by: Jason Ching/National Geographic Photo Contest
Location: Bear Creek, Lake Aleknagik, Alaska
The caption reads: "This photo of a wild, Alaskan, brown bear digging on a game trail was taken with a home made motion controlled triggering device hooked up to my DSLR".
award-winning photographs...
Honorable Mention: Stilt Fishing
Photograph by: Ulrich Lambert/National Geographic Photo Contest.
Location: Midigama, Sri Lanka
The caption reads: "Stilt fishing is a typical fishing technique only seen in Sri Lanka. The fishermen sit on a cross bar called a petta tied to a vertical pole planted into the coral reef.
This long exposure shot shows how unstable their position is".
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