Month: May 2013

I love to see pictures, and I love travel pictures. So this morning I spend a while taking a look to the 3707 images in submitted (by this now) to National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest 2013.
I hope you enjoy it.
(I tryed to link everything, if you found any error, please, leave a comment)

Photo and caption by Qiujia Wang

After a day’s hiking into Sahara, our guide welcomed us with a cup of Moroccan mint tea and this amazing scenery in Sahara dessert.

Location: Sahara dessert, Morocco

Photo and caption by Girts Kravalis

Manikarnika ghat(also known simply as the burning ghat) is the place where the majority of dead bodies are cremated in city of Varanasi. Hindus believe it will liberate them from the cycle of death and rebirth. Manikarnika Ghat is dating back to many centuries. It is situated quite in the middle of Varanasi town itself. Manikarnika ghat is always at work. Two or three hundred people are cremated here each day and cremations continue every day of the year.

Location: India,Varanasi

Photo and caption by Fabio Elias

Fisherman rowing his boat in the morning at sunrise

Location: Inle Lake, Myanmar

Photo and caption by Stephanie Hunt

It took a three-day drive on rough roads in hot, dry and dusty conditions to arrive at the Karo tribe. This photo shows a pregnant woman working ochre into her friend’s cropped hair. The ochre is mixed with animal fat to ensure the colour sticks to the hair and lasts as long as possible. This is the standard hair design for Karo women. The ‘hairdresser’ has long, thick welts across her back. Many Omo Valley tribes, including the Karo, regard these blatant signs of pain as beautiful indications of commitment and devotion to their tribe.

Location: Karo Tribe, Lower Omo Valley, Ethiopia. Africa.

Photo and caption by Kristian Rangel

Giving Earth a New Perspective

Location: Giza, Egypt

Photo and caption by Lawrence Smith

I was traveling in the hill country of Laos when I stumbled on a Hmong Village. I visited a home of a village elder. After speaking with him I turned around and saw at least a dozen kids watching me at the door. They were so curious. The sun light make the scene surreal.

Location: Laos

Photo and caption by Lawrence Smith

On an isolated river in Northern Laos, early in the morning, a father and son begin to cast their net in an attempt to catch fish.

Location: Northern Laos

Photo and caption by Mattia Passarini

One of the most important Buddhist temple in China, every 17th of each month, chinese calendar, all the Monks come in a deep prayer call Bianjin.

Location: Labrang temple,Gansu,China

Photo and caption by Simon Urwin

Tea pickers in a tea garden in Srimangal, Bangladesh

Location: Srimangal, Bangladesh

Photo and caption by Rei Murakami

Sheikh Abdul Qadir Jilani Shrine was 200 years old, but 2012 june 25th, shrine was devastated by fire. For him this was last time to play at this shrine.

Location: Srinagar

Photo and caption by Thomaz Napoleão

This picture was taken in December 2012 in the northern Afghan town of Balkh, formerly known as Bactria and widely considered one of Asia’s first human settlements. Zoroaster began preaching in Bactria, where Alexander the Great met his wife Roxanne.



Near the ruins of Balkh’s Noh-Gombad, the oldest mosque in Afghanistan, we met this friendly and elderly sufi saint. Having lived alone through 30 years of war and revolution, he was certainly not afraid of the harsh Afghan winter. While sharing his life stories, he lit a small fire to warm his modest cabin – and ourselves.

Location: Balkh, Afghanistan

Photo and caption by Antonio Gibotta

Holi is the festival more colorful and fun of the Indian calendar and falls on the full moon of the month of Phalgun which is the month of March in the Gregorian calendar. This festival has many elements that can be compared to our Carnival: during the three days of festivities in every town, village, road, countryside, crowds of young, old, children play him throwing colored powder mixed with water.

Location: india

Photo and caption by Viktor Lyagushkin

Orda Cave – the biggest underwater gypsum cave in the world, second in Eurasia and one of the biggest caves in the world regarding to volumes of its galleries. It is situated near Orda village (Perm region, Ural, Russia). There is extremely low water temperature – about 3C and 20C below zero on surface. The cave is extended – about 5 km. Under this circumstances shooting became very challenging.

Location: Russia, Ural, Perm

Photo and caption by Jamie Ingram

Taking a stroll on her rooftop absorbing the views and checking how her maize is drying out. All is well and life is good in this peaceful Tibetan village built into the side of a mountain.

Location: Danba, China

Photo and caption by Shynil Hashim

Seen here is a typical hawker in Vietnam. She sells fruits and other eatables mostly. Spotted her in the ancient port town of Hoi An in Central Vietnam. Such hawkers are a common sight in the country. Getting her against a yellow old wall was indeed a precious frame to carry home.

Location: Hoi An, Vietnam

Photo and caption by simon morris

A cormorant fisherman works on the river in the early hours in Southern China.

Location: China

Photo and caption by Joshua Exell

Hajj claims to be 112 years old. He knew the Europeans that made the first recorded ascent of North Africas highest mountain, Toubkal in 1923. Pictured in the background just catching the last of the evening light. Hajjs’ father built and ran the Toubkal mountain refuge passing the responsibility to Hajj and through the generations to his son who is the current guardian. The Guardians of the Mountain.

Location: Toubkal, Morocco

Photo and caption by Dody Kusuma

The fisherman at Bira Beach

Location: taken from bira beach -Makasar – South Sulawesi – Indonesia

Photo and caption by Charlotte Anderson

The hostile desert landscape in the Little Rann of Kutch in western Gujarat state is where these day labourers work. The stark, white salt is a challenging environment to work in, dry and bright but there is a peace and beauty to this place too which is overwhelming. It was the second time I visited these parts and each time I leave with a sense of joy and sorrow, the people are lowly paid but full of welcome and smiles to me even though life is tough for them as this is their environment.

Location: Little Rann of Kutch, Gujarat, India

Photo and caption by Joe Thomas

This leopard had just killed a kudu and dragged it up a tree. She sat below, protecting her meal.

Location: Exeter River area, outside of Kruger National Park, South Africa

Photo and caption by Jayesh Mehta

A lioness – blind in her left eye – has just missed an impala that had been driven towards her by a companion (perhaps a sister). She has just managed to inflict a cut on the rump of the impala.

Location: Chitabe Concession, Okavango Delta, Botswana

Photo and caption by Francisco Mingorance

The fennec, or desert fox is a canine mammal species of the genus Vulpes, which inhabits the Sahara Desert and Arabia. With its features ears, this is the smallest species of the family Canidae. It is endangered and its main threat is illegal in other countries.

Location: Morocco

Photo and caption by Linda Lipkin

Just after a light, late-day downpour, I was walking around lava formations protecting the harbor in la Puerto Villamil, hoping to see some white-tipped reef sharks and Galapagos penguins. Instead, there were dozens of these Marine Iguanas and their pals (or dinner?) the amazingly-colored Sally Lightfoot crabs.

Location: Isabela Island, Galapagos

Photo and caption by Dylan Brown

It’s Yellowstone National Park and bison are everwhere!!! In the road, in the grasslands and yes, in the geysers.

Location: Yellowstone National Park

Photo and caption by Anissa Noakes

As I worked in one of the driest places on the planet for a year, I rarely saw any other animals other than wild camels and goats. We came across a water well in the middle of nowhere and started filling the trough. I could see nothing but sand and blue skies as far as I could see. Its like the wild horses could smell the moisture in the air, and came running towards us. They were amazing. The traditional smaller Mongolia horse with a larger head. They drank for as long as we let them and were grateful. I am amazed how hardy the people, animals and the little vegetation are.

Location: Gobi Region of Mongolia

Photo and caption by Peter Allinson, M.D.

Sailfish are one of the ocean’s fastest (70 mph), most agile predators, the chances of getting up and close with sailfish have traditionally been few and far between. However,about 40 miles off the Mexican island Isla Mujeres, photographers can have the opportunity to get right in the action when the predators gather every spring to feast on sardines. I went free diving to keep up with the bait ball of sardines and make getting back in the boat a simpler task. Swimming as fast as I could to keep up with the bait ball and sailfish pack, trying to position myself to get a decent photo.

Location: about 40 miles off the coast of Isla Mujeres, Mexico

Photo and caption by max seigal

These two king penguins were courting in the most romantic and beautiful setting on earth – surrounded by the ice and mountainscapes of South Georgia.

Location: South Georgia

Photo and caption by Mehmet Fatih Yaldız

A view from breakwater construction , lined up steel piles are going to be set for waves

Location: izmir – çandarlı

Photo and caption by don sender

View from the Sliding Sands trail in Haleakalā National Park. Definitely had the feeling that you were on another planet.

Location: Maui, Hawaii

Photo and caption by charles corbin

Taken on the shores of Lake Ontario , Whitby , Canada . A fallen tree stretches out into the lake and as a combination of ice cold water and freezing temperatures hit the tree its freezes on contact and in time creates some beautiful ice structures

Location: Whitby , Ontario , Canada

Photo and caption by Phil Hawkins

The mist on the valley floor reflects car lights driving through.

Location: Yosemite National Park

Photo and caption by Loucas Parikos

This shot was taken on a recent trip to the Ukraine. I had visited this remote stretch of the black sea coastline the day before and returned to capture the image as the sun was setting. I used an ND filter to increase exposure time so as to bring out the subtle colours in the sky, the crumbling steps and the old pier.

Location: Odessa, Ukraine

Photo and caption by Victor Liu

Imagine yourself is this lone tree, standing in the snow waves. You might not be able to realize that you just became the main subject of an image, but you do realize something beautiful is happening.

Location: Jasper national park, AB, Canada

 

Photo and caption by Jillian Murdoch

Hot air balloons over the temples.

Location: Bagan, Myanmar

Photo and caption by Peter O’Sullivan

The chimes atop the spires, the mumbling of incantation. The hot, thick air scented with jasmine and incense. The glow of the candles and the soft resonance of the gong.



The sacred Buddhist site of Shwedagon Paya radiates harmony to those on the path to enlightenment both in Yangon and throughout Myanmar [Burma].

Location: Yangon, Myanmar [ Burma ]

Photo and caption by Orban Daniel

I present you a different part of Afghanistan. We’re used to see pictures of war but treasures still exist !

Location: Samangan ( Region of Mazar)

Photo and caption by thomas hagenau

Close to Luang Prabang Laos that magical Waterfall flows in several steps downwards. If you are lucky and early enough you have this beauty for yourselve.

Location: Khouang Si

Photo and caption by Lior Horesh

This picture was taken in 2006 on the island of Inisheer which is part of a chain of three small islands called Aran Islands located near the entrance of Galway Bay, on the west coast of Ireland. The three small island can be reached by ferry from the town of Galway several times a day during the summer season which is the best season for trips in Ireland. Live on the island about 90 residents and is characterized by high weed plants, raspberry bushes, stones terraces and Lighthouse

Location: Inisheer islands, Ireland

 

Photo and caption by owen humphreys

A raging sea Dwarfs Seaham Lighthouse in County Durham in England, with 100ft waves after a cold front moved down from the north bringing freezing temperatures to the North of England

Location: Seaham ,County Durham England.

Photo and caption by Joe Justad

I made at least 2 dozen trips to the Grand Canyon to get this shot. Finally, an afternoon lightning storm! I missed the lightning! Still, I like it! (6×7 color neg.)

Location: Yavapai Point, South Rim of the Grand Canyon

Photo and caption by Reuben Wu

I spotted this weather radar installation on a winter expedition on Spitsbergen, (the largest island in the Svalbard archipelago) and came back a few days later to photograph it. A blizzard had blown in, obliterating the view of mountains behind and the snow was thigh deep. Temperature plus windchill was around -30C and light was fading fast so it was difficult planning and composing the shot. This photo was shot on medium format film with a Mamiya RZ67 on a tripod which was so cold my fingers were getting stuck to it.

Location: A few miles out of Longyearbyen, Spitsbergen

Photo and caption by Frances Kwok

I was lucky enough to witness this amazing sunrise at the base of the Towers of Paine. We started the hike up at 4:30AM in our winter gear and torch, in early morning Patagonian chill. The conditions of the morning were perfect, with light clouds clearing as we got further up to the base. It took us about 2 hours to get up with the sun rising behind us around 6:30AM. As it rose, the colours hitting the towers changed from grey, pinkish, orange then to amazing vivid red. The sky and glacial lake reflected those colours beautifully. It was a breathtaking 30 minute painting done by nature.

Location: Torres del Paine National Park, Patagonia, Chile

Photo and caption by Chrissy Grubbs

Taken during my summer studying abroad in 2010, this is not the usual picture of the Great Pyramids – dark and majestic beings set in front of a glowing orange sunset. The pyramids are not even the superstars of this photo. This picture shows the pyramids how I saw them, magnificent and awesome, but now shadowed by a land plagued with litter and turmoil. It is an amateur photo taken with a camera I probably got at my local drug store, but despite this I think it is a powerful image that symbolically depicted Eqypt’s political state at the time.

Location: Pyramids of Giza, Egypt