The 2015 National Geographic Photo Contest attracts entries from photographers from all over the world.
The contest is divided into three categories, people, places and nature.
Below are some of the beautiful photos from the contestants – please click the photos for larger images:
Breathtaking view from Schwarzstockli (2293m) over this spectacular natural border of cantons of Glarus and St. Gallen, Switzerland, as seen on an Autumn weekend trek in early October 2015. All after being chased, caught up and left behind by that glorious mist that hopped from one valley to another, leaving me with this frame to awe at. The gathering of clouds.
A warm and peaceful sunset above the fog at Mount Tamalpais, Northern California.
A line of elephants had just crossed the Chobe River on a hot day. As they relaxed by flicking cool sand on their backs, they were very aware to hide the youngest in the center of their grouping. For one moment though, this little one disguised in sand got through to give us a quick hello.
A large, inquisitive and almost dangerously playful female Humpback whale calf measures me with her pectoral fin. This image was captured on a very wide fisheye lens, which doesnít quite show how close she really is. By measuring how close I am she can determine if her tail is going to come in contact with me as she swims past.
An arctic fox in frozen willows.
Mount Fuji creates two types of lenticular clouds. One is called Kasagumo (umbrella cloud) and appears on top of Fuji. The other is called Tsurushigumo and shows up in the lee. Fuji created a huge Tsurushigumo this morning and it became pink just before the sunrise.
I’ve loved watching wildlife documentaries since I was a kid. One of nature’s wonders that fascinated me the most was the annual return of Salmon to their birthplace for spawning…and the bears that live off of this phenomenon. To be able to see it happen in real life was just completely magical and struck a chord deep within. There were about 12 bears at the falls, but 6 that dominated the prime spots. It was peaceful between the bears as there was plenty of salmon to go around!
In Vinh Hy Bay, two women become lost in the fabric of a fishing net. That was just a random moment when I came to the fishing village to shoot the lifestyle of the fisherman. While the men do their fishing, their wives stay at home and do the errands. When we were there, the ladies were sewing the fishing net for a new fishing season.
Aerial shot was taken in Tongariro national park, New Zealand
I(R) was very excited to meet one of my favourite politician, Uncle Zulkifli Noordin(L).
During SEMAIAN, my big sister Kashah and I spoke to one of our favourite politician, YB Dato’ Zulkifli Noordin, an Independent Member of Parliament for Kulim – Bandar Baharu, Kedah.
So far, 75 people were killed and 300 are still missing.
Lots of people are still trapped inside the damaged buildings.
Some areas are unsafe because there are lots of unstable buildings.
Police warned that the 26-story Hotel Grand Chancellor may collapse.
If that happens, it may cause disaster to the unstable buildings around it.
On Thursday, more foreign rescuers will be helping to dig out the trapped victims.
I am very sad and sorry for the earthquake victims and their families.
I hope that there will be better news tomorrow.
The quake caused ice to break from New Zealand’s biggest glacier and formed huge icebergs in the Tasman Lake.
Fallen debris lies on mangled cars in a street in Christchurch. (AFP/Logan Mcmillan) Smoke rises from the collapsed CTV building, that housed a TV broadcaster and an English language school, following Tuesday's earthquake in Christchurch February 23, 2011. REUTERS/Tim Wimborne An area is cordoned off after the front wall of a row of shops is destroyed following Tuesday's earthquake in the southern New Zealand city of Christchurch February 23, 2011. REUTERS/Tim Wimborne
Search crew members look through the rubble of the CTV building which was devastated by a 6.3 magnitude earthquake in central Christchurch February 23, 2011. New Zealand declared a national state of emergency to cope with the effects of the devastating earthquake.REUTERS/Simon Baker
fIn this image made from video run by New Zealand's TV3, people are seen on a street in Christchurch, New Zealand Tuesday, Feb. 22, 2011 after a 6.3-magnitude earthquake rocked the city. (AP Photo/TV3 via Associated Press Television News) NEW ZEALAND OUT, TV OUT
The U.S. Geological Survey said the earthquake was centered 3 miles (5 kilometers) from the city at a depth of 2.5 miles (4 kilometers).
A lot of buildings were collapsed, burying lots of vehicles.
A building in Christchurch, New Zealand, is destroyed after an earthquake struck Tuesday, Feb. 22, 2011. (AP Photo/NZPA, Pam Johnson)
People were trapped in collapsed buildings.
The police said there was a report of two buses crushed under falling buildings.
Roads were cracked and destroyed.
There were also reports that some parts of the roads were swallowed together with the cars.
The earthquake also caused fire and some part or the city was flooded when the pipes burst.
Rescue workers work to extinguish a fire at a collapsed building in central Christchurch, New Zealand, Tuesday, Feb. 22, 2011. A powerful earthquake collapsed buildings at the height of a busy workday killing at least 65 people and trapping dozens in one of the country's worst natural disasters. (AP Photo/New Zealand Herald, Mark Mitchell) NEW ZEALAND OUT, AUSTRALIA OUTThe Christchurch, New Zealand, suburb of Bexley is flooded following an earthquake, Tuesday, Feb. 22, 2011. A powerful earthquake collapsed buildings at the height of a busy workday killing at least 65 people and trapping dozens in one of the country's worst natural disasters. (AP Photo/New Zealand Herald, Mark Mitchell) NEW ZEALAND OUT, AUSTRALIA OUT
The Christchurch airport is closed.
Christchurch Mayor Bob Parker declared a state of emergency and ordered people to evacuate the city center.
I am very sad and sorry for the earthquake victims and their families.
I hope that the school buildings are okay and the kids are not hurt.
A car crushed by rubble from collapsed buildings is pictured after an earthquake in Christchurch, New Zealand, in this February 22, 2011 image taken from video footage. REUTERS/TV3 via Reuters TV
People walk past rubble as they evacuate after an earthquake in Christchurch, New Zealand, in this February 22, 2011 image taken from video footage. REUTERS/TV3 via Reuters TV
People stand outside a building damaged by a 7.4-magnitude earthquake in central Christchurch, New Zealand, early Saturday, Sept. 4, 2010. (AP Photo/NZPA, David Alexander) ** NEW ZEALAND OUT **
A powerful 7.1-magnitude earthquake hit New Zealand’s South Island early Saturday.
The quake hit at 4:35 a.m. (1635 GMT).
A car damaged by rubble from a building is seen following a powerful earthquake in central Christchurch, New Zealand, early Saturday, Sept. 4, 2010. (AP Photo/NZPA, David Alexander) ** NEW ZEALAND OUT **
People ran out of their homes to the streets.
According to the state geological agency GNS Science, the quake hit 19 miles (30 kilometers) west of Christchurch.
Part of a road badly damaged by the earthquake.
There was no tsunami alert.
So far nobody was killed and only two people were seriously injured.
There were reports of some people trapped in damaged buildings.
Rubble from damaged buildings fallen on the road.
The Christchurch International Airport was closed.
Chimneys and walls had fallen from older buildings, roads had been blocked, traffic lights were out and power, gas and water supplies were disrupted.
The earthquake damaged roadway on the South Brighton Bridge approach attracts the curious after the powerful quake in Christchurch, New Zealand, Saturday, September 04 2010.(AP Photo/NZPA, David Alexander) **NEW ZEALAND OUT**
There were reports that some buildings had collapsed.
The fronts of at least five buildings in the central city of Christchurch have collapsed.
At least six bridges had been badly damaged.
Several wharves at the port had been damaged.
Kiwirail rail transport group spokesman Kevin Ramshaw said 13 mostly freight trains had been halted on South Island lines, with some damage already confirmed to rail lines north of Christchurch.
Police said that looters broke into some of the damaged shops in Christchurch.
Minister of Civil Defense John Carter said, army troops were on standby to assist as a state of civil emergency was declared.
New Zealand sits above an area of the Earth’s crust where two tectonic plates collide.
A police officer is seen on a street blocked by rubble from a damaged building following a powerful earthquake in central Christchurch, New Zealand, early Saturday, Sept. 4, 2010. (AP Photo/NZPA, David Alexander) ** NEW ZEALAND OUT **A damaged building.Rubbles in front of a damaged building.People standing in front of another damaged building.Rubbles from damaged buildings.Water flooding the road.More disaster.Another building that was damaged by the earthquake. A car hit by rubbles from a damaged building.
The earthquake damaged road at Bexley flooded by burst pipes, in Christchurch, New Zealand, Saturday, September 04, 2010.(AP Photo/NZPA, David Alexander) **NEW ZEALAND OUT**
WELLINGTON, Jan 19 (Bernama) — A strong earthquake measuring 6. 7 on the Richter scale jolted Kermadec Islands north of New Zealand early Monday, China’s Xinhua news agency quoted the U.S. Geological Survey as reporting.
No casualties or damages were reported. The Kermadec Islands are uninhabited apart from Raoul, where the Department of Conservation maintains a field station.
The quake occurred at 3:11 a.m. New Zealand local time on Monday (14:11 GMT Sunday), some 80 km south of Raoul Island, and 1, 005 km northeast of New Zealand’s largest city Auckland. Its depth was just 10 km.
No tsunami warning was immediately issued.
The quake might have been felt along New Zealand’s east coast.