2015 National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest winners
The 2015 National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest winners were revealed Monday on "CBS This Morning." Categories for the 27th annual contest included travel portraits, outdoor scenes, sense of place and spontaneous moments.
The grand prize was awarded to Anuar Patjane Floriuk.
Diving with a humpback whale and her new born calf while they cruise around Roca Partida Island, in Revillagigedo, Mexico. This is an outstanding and unique place full of pelagic life so we need to accelerate the incorporation of this islands into UNESCO as natural heritage site in order to increase the protection of the islands against the prevailing illegal fishing corporations and big game fishing.
The grand prize is an eight-day National Geographic Photo Expedition to Costa Rica and the Panama Canal for two.
Read more about the 2015 National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest.
Second Place
Gravel crush working place remains full of dust and sand. Three gravel workmen are looking through the window glass at their work place.
Read more about the 2015 National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest here.
Third Place
Camel Arda, as it is called in Oman, is one of the traditional styles of camel racing between two camels controlled by experts.
Read more about the 2015 National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest here.
Merit
The night before returning to Windhoek, we spent several hours at Deadveli. The moon was bright enough to illuminate the sand dunes in the distance, but the skies were still dark enough to clearly see the Milky Way and Magellanic Clouds. Deadveli means "dead marsh." The camel thorn trees are believed to be about 900 years old, but have not decomposed because the environment is so dry.
Read more about the 2015 National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest here.
Merit
Two boys try to catch a duck at the stream of the waterfall.
Merit
Kushti is the traditional form of Indian wrestling. Wearing only a well-adjusted loincloth (langot), wrestlers (Pelwhans) enter a pit made of clay, often mixed with salt, lemon and ghee (clarified butter).
At the end of a workout, wrestlers rest against the walls of the arena covering their heads and bodies with earth to soak up any perspiration and avoid catching cold. This relaxation ceremony is completed with massages to soothe tired muscles and demonstrate mutual respect.
Read more about the 2015 National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest here.
Merit
The night before this photo, we tried all day to get a good photo of the endangered white rhino. Skulking through the grass carefully trying to stay 30 feet away to be safe, didn't provide me the photo I was hoping for. In the morning however, I woke up to all three rhinos grazing in front of me.
Read more about the 2015 National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest here.
Merit
A sauna at 2,800 meters high, in the heart of Dolomites. Monte Lagazuoi, Cortina, eastern Italian Alps.
Read more about the 2015 National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest here.
Merit
Traditional haymaking in Poland. Many people continue to use the scythe and pitchfork to sort the hay.
Read more about the 2015 National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest here.
Merit
White frost over Pestera Village in Romania.
Read more about the 2015 National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest here.