National Geographic has launched the 2017 Travel Photographer of the Year contest. Photographers of all levels are invited to submit their most spectacular shots to the annual competition. The grand-prize winner with receive a 10-day trip for two to the Galápagos as well as the prestigious title of National Geographic Travel Photographer of the Year.
Visit natgeo.com/travelphotocontestto submit photos in any or all of the three categories: Nature, People and Cities. A first, second and third prize will be awarded in each category, worth $2,500 (£1,944), $750 and $500 respectively. Entries must be submitted by 30 June 2017. IBTimes UK presents a selection of photos that have already been submitted in the People category.
Tide Fighter by Jérôme Gence: 'A young boy playing in the river Niger by fighting the tide, helped by a rope'Jérôme Gence/National Geographic Travel Photographer of the Year ContestTibetan's soul smile by Mattia Passarini: 'This monk was running back to his room at Tashi Lhunpo Monastery, Tibet, after the afternoon prayer. I was chasing him trying to get a nice shot, but he kept covering his face. In Chinese I called after him: (pai yi zhang ba) "just one shot!" He looked back and started to laugh'Mattia Passarini/National Geographic Travel Photographer of the Year ContestLady Havana by Lauren Breedlove: 'During a recent visit to Cuba, I encountered this bold woman on the street while strolling around Old Havana. Something about her just struck me, like her eyes held a million stories. Not having any cash on me, I borrowed some change from a friend and approached the woman with it, asking to take her photograph. She nodded and posed like a boss, stogie and all'Lauren Breedlove/National Geographic Travel Photographer of the Year ContestHoly Bath by Yogesh Gupta: 'The Yamuna river is most polluted when it flows into Delhi, so muddy and full of filth. The Yamuna is the second most sacred river after the Ganges. People take a holy dip in it as they feel it's very sacred. Huge numbers of Siberian seagulls come here in winter. They give the place a new dimension for a few months'Yogesh Gupta/National Geographic Travel Photographer of the Year ContestRetro Ride by Lorraine Yip: 'Travelling through Cuba in a vintage 1950 Chevrolet with a speedometer which no longer works. We were passing by the city of Camagey, known for its winding streets. The modern American Hawaiian hula figure and yellow taxi cab sign on the dashboard adds to the time travel-esque element of the classic Chevrolet, set against the backdrop of an old and perhaps dilapidated , but not forgotten, Cuba'Lorraine Yip/National Geographic Travel Photographer of the Year ContestSlam Dunk by Brandon Kusher: 'A basketball player flies high through the air attempting a slam dunk in which he puts the ball between his legs first'Brandon Kusher/National Geographic Travel Photographer of the Year ContestOld and Young by Hua Zhu: 'This photo was taken in a small village in Wuyuan, China. It is estimated that there are about 250 million people from the countryside now living in China's big cities. Many young people are off making money in the cities, leaving their parents and kids in their hometowns'Hua Zhu/National Geographic Travel Photographer of the Year ContestFree Riders by Mauro De Bettio: 'Taj and Akash travel every day from station to station with their mother begging to make a living. Train surfing is not without risk, though dangerous and illegal, it is a common form of transportation in Bangladesh. People have suffered electrocution, severed limbs, falling onto the tracks and colliding with tunnels. However, this doesn't stop them, and jumping onto moving trains running away from the police's bamboo sticks becomes a daily routine'Mauro De Bettio/National Geographic Travel Photographer of the Year ContestLet's go back to play Holi by Miguel Salas: 'Father and sons getting ready to leave their house again to keep celebrating Holi at the small town of Barsana, India.'Miguel Salas/National Geographic Travel Photographer of the Year ContestA Popular Rendezvous Spot in Tokyo by Hiro Kurashina: 'Two young ladies and two men stand waiting on the side of a decommissioned train that used to carry thousands of commuters and other passengers daily between Shibuya and Sakuragicho. The decommissioned train now serves as a Tourist Information Centre just outside the Shibuya train station in Tokyo. The spot has also become a favourite rendezvous point for lovers and friends to meet'Hiro Kurashina/National Geographic Travel Photographer of the Year Contest
