Winning Photos from National Geographic's 2017 Travel Photographer of the Year

“When I looked on the camera display, all I could do was stare,” Velasco tells Nat Geo. “What I was watching was impossible to conceive, the image showed those amazing forces of nature interacting on a volcano, while the lightning brightened the whole scene. It’s an impossible photograph and my once in a lifetime shot that shows the power of nature.”

Grand prize winner Sergio Tapiro Velasc shot this on December 13th, 2015, outside Colima, Mexico, at the Volcán de Colima. 

See all the winning photos

3rd Place. Photo and caption by Misha De-Stroyev/ National Geographic Travel Photographer of the Year. Henningsvær Football Field. "This football field in Henningsvær in the Lofoten Islands is considered one of the most amazing fields in Europe, and maybe even in the world. The photo was taken during a 10-day sailing trip in Norway in June 2017. We arrived at Henningsvær after a week of sailing through the cold and rainy weather. Upon our arrival, the weather cleared up. I was really lucky that the conditions were suitable for flying my drone, and I managed to capture this shot from a height of 120 meters."

PEOPLE - 2nd Place. Photo and caption by Julius Y./ National Geographic Travel Photographer of the Year. Interesting moment. "Museum visitors curiously watching Rembrandt’s painting  'Syndics of the Drapers’ Guild' where it gave the illusion that the people on the paintings too are curiously watching the visitors."

NATURE - Honorable Mention 2. Photo and caption by Yutaka Takafuji/ National Geographic Travel Photographer of the Year. Forest of the Fairy. "Shooting in the forest This photograph was taken in the evening hours of a humid early summer day in the forest of a small remote village in the Tamba area of Japan. It beautifully captures the magical atmosphere of Princess fireflies carpeting a stairway leading to a small shrine revered by the local people."

NATURE - 3rd Place. Photo and caption by Tarun Sinha/ National Geographic Travel Photographer of the Year. Crocodiles at Rio Tarcoles. "This image was captured in Costa Rica when I was traveling from Monteverde to Playa Hermosa. As you cross over this river, you can stop and peer over the edge of the bridge. Below, reside over 35 gigantic crocodiles, relaxing on the muddy banks of the river. I wanted to capture the stark difference between the crocodiles on land and in the water. In the murky waters, the body contours of these beasts remain hidden, and one can only truly see their girth as they emerge from the river."

The Face of the Sun in Timelapse

FROM THE APOD Explanation: Our solar system's miasma of incandescent plasma, the Sun may look a little scary here. The picture is a composite of 25 images recorded in extreme ultraviolet light by the orbiting Solar Dynamics Observatory between April 16, 2012 and April 15, 2013. The particular wavelength of light, 171 angstroms, shows emission from highly ionized iron atoms in the solar corona at a characteristic temperatures of about 600,000 kelvins (about 1 million degrees F). Girdling both sides of the equator during approach to maximum in the 11-year solar cycle, the solar active regions are laced with bright loops and arcs along magnetic field lines. Of course, a more familiar visible light view would show the bright active regions as groups of dark sunspots. Three years of Solar Dynamics Observatory images are compressed in the video:

Music: "A Lady's Errand of Love" - composed and performed by Martin Lass In the three years since it first provided images of the sun in the spring of 2010, NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) has had virtually unbroken coverage of the sun's rise toward solar maximum, the peak of solar activity in its regular 11-year cycle.

Photo of the Day: The Very First Photo of Presidential Inauguration 1857

On March 4, 1857, John Wood took this photo of the inauguration of  the 15th US president James Buchanan in front of an unfinished Capitol Building.

Read more on TIME

Salt Bride — After 2 Years in the Sea this Bridal Dress is Coated with Salt Crystals

Israeli artist Sigalit Landau left this black gown in the Dead Sea for two years, checking in on it periodically.

You can see the final result, a thick coating of salt crystals in the photos that came out of the project or at London’s Marlborough Contemporary, where they’ll be on display until September 3rd.

Refugees With Their Most Valuable Possession

What would you grab, if you were ever forced to flee your house and home? ​

NYC-based photographer Brian Sokol's project titled  “The Most Important Thing,” is supported by the UN Refugee Agency. 

man, Nizip refugee camp, Turkey

The most important thing Iman was able to bring with her is the Koran she holds in this photograph. She says that religion is the most important aspect of her life, and that the Koran inspires a sense of protection. "As long as I have it with me, I'm connected to God," she says.

​UNHCR/B. Sokol.

May, Domiz refugee camp in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq

​The most important thing she was able to bring with her when she left home is the set of bracelets she wears in this photograph. "The bracelets aren't my favourite things," she says; "my doll Nancy is." May's aunt gave her the doll on her sixth birthday. "She reminded me of that day, the cake I had, and how safe I felt then when my whole family was together." 

​UNHCR/B. Sokol.

Ahmed, Domiz refugee camp in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq

The most important thing Ahmed was able to bring with him is the cane he holds in this photograph. Without it, he says, he would not have made the two-hour crossing on foot to the Iraqi border. "The only other thing I have left is this finger," he said. "All I want now is for my family to find a place where they can be safe and stay there forever. Never should we need to flee again."

Leila, in Erbil, in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq

The most important thing Leila was able to bring with her are the jeans she holds in this photograph. "I went shopping with my parents one day and looked for hours without finding anything I liked. But when I saw these, I knew instantly that these were perfect because they have a flower on them, and I love flowers." She has only worn the jeans three times, all in Syria – twice to wedding parties, and once when she went to visit her grandfather. She says she won't wear them again until she attends another wedding, and she hopes it, too, will be in Syria.

UNHCR/B. Sokol.

Yusuf, in the Bekaa Valley of Lebanon

The most important thing Yusuf was able to bring when he fled Syria is the mobile phone he holds in this photograph. "With this, I'm able to call my father. We're close enough to Syria here that I can catch a signal from the Syrian towers sometimes, and then it is a local call to call home from Lebanon." The phone also holds photographs of family members who are still in Syria, which he is able to keep with him at all times.

UNHCR/B. Sokol.

Ayman, and his wife Yasmine, Nizip refugee camp, Turkey

The most important thing Ayman was able to bring with him from Syria is his wife. "She's the best woman that I've met in my life," he says. "Even if I were to go back 55 years, I would choose you again."

UNHCR/B. Sokol

Tamara, Adiyaman refugee camp in Turkey

The most important thing she was able to bring with her is her diploma, which she holds in this photograph. With it she will be able to continue her education in Turkey. Through a generous education program, the government will allow qualified Syrian refugees to attend Turkish universities beginning in the March semester. Ramazan Kurkud, head of education programs at Adiyaman, said 70 B.A candidates and 10 M.A candidates from the camp have so far submitted applications to study at Turkish universities.

UNHCR/B. Sokol

Salma, whose age is somewhere between 90 and 107 according to family members, poses for a portrait in Domiz refugee camp in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq

The most important thing that she was able to bring with her is the ring she displays in this photograph. When she was ten years old, her mother gave it to her from her death bed, saying, "Keep this ring and remember me." She intends to wear the ring to her grave. "It's not valuable – not silver, or gold – just an old ring. But it's all that I have left."

UNHCR/B. Sokol

Magboola, on the South Sudanese border.

​The most important thing she was able to bring with her is the cooking pot she holds in this photograph. It was small enough she could travel with it, yet big enough to cook sorghum for herself and her three daughters during their journey. Jamam refugee camp, Maban County, South Sudan.

UNHCR/B. Sokol

Al Haj, in South Sudan

​The most important thing he was able to bring with him is the whip that he holds. Without it, he says, he wouldn't have been able to keep together his herd of 50 goats, and he would now be destitute. Jamam camp, Maban County, South Sudan.

UNHCR/B. Sokol

Shari, who is 75 years old and blind, and her son, Osman, Jamam refugee camp, Maban County, South Sudan.

he most important thing that Shari was able to bring with her is the stick she holds. "I've had this stick since I went blind six years ago,â she said. âMy son led me along the road with it. Without it, and him, I would be dead now."

​UNHCR/B. Sokol

Dowla, and her six children, Doro refugee camp, Maban County, South Sudan.

The most important object she was able to bring with her is the wooden pole balanced over her shoulder, with which she carried her six children during the 10-day journey from Gabanit to South Sudan. At times, the children were too tired to walk, forcing her to carry two on either side. 

UNHCR/B. Sokol

Ahmed, Jamam refugee camp, Maban County, South Sudan.

​The most important thing he was able to bring with him is Kako, his pet monkey. Kako and Ahmed made the five-day journey from Taga to the South Sudanese border together in the back of a truck. Ahmed says he can't imagine life without Kako, and that the most difficult thing about leaving Blue Nile was having to leave his family's donkey behind. 

​UNHCR/B. Sokol

Hasan, who is unsure of his age but imagines himself to be between 60 and 70 years old, Jamam refugee camp in Maban County, South Sudan

​The most important object he was able to bring with him is the empty wallet he holds. Though he is now destitute, he left Maganza with enough money to buy food for his family during their 25-day journey to the South Sudanese border.

UNHCR/B. Sokol

Howard, Yusuf Batil refugee camp, Maban County, South Sudan.

The most important object he was able to bring with him is the long knife he holds, called a shefe, which he used to defend his family and his herd of 20 cattle during their 20-day journey from Bau County to the South Sudanese border. 

UNHCR/B. Sokol

Maria, Jamam camp in Maban County, South Sudan.

​The most important thing she brought with her is the jerrycan (water container) that she holds in this photograph taken at Jamam camp in Maban County, South Sudan.

UNHCR/B. Sokol

Omar Belu Garmut, on the South Sudanese border.

​The most important thing Omar was able to bring with him is the axe he holds in this photograph. He used it to cut firewood for cooking and to make small wooden structures where his family could sleep at night, and sometimes to rest for several days at a time, during their journey.

UNHCR/B. Sokol

Similar to "Toy Stories" by Gabriel Galimberti ​that we featured last week, Sokol's photos aren't just of refugees, but of people. Unmistakably human. 

​Follow Sokol's project on its Flickr page, visit his website or follow him on his instagram.​

All photos and text are courtesy of Brian Sokol.​

via PetaPixel

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​More Photography Projects

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Hollywood Through an African Lens by Omar Victor Diop and Antoine Tempé

about 6 years ago

Portraits of Mongolian Wrestlers by Ken Hermann and Gem Fletcher

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More Human Than Human - Animal Portraits by Tim Flach

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The Magical Forests of Yakushima — Photographs from Rapheal Olivier

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​Poem of the Day

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POTD - For I will consider my Cat Jeoffry by Christopher Smart

about 6 years ago

POTD - Dire Wolf by Lucie Brock Broido

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NSFW - Gorgeous 'Calligraphy on Girls' from Molotow Markers - Four Years of 5 Things

A collaboration between Molotow Markers and Fierce Frog Films, brings us the calligraphy of Russian Pokras Lampas. Using script size and lettering density in response to the curves and contours of the models leads to some gorgeous patterns and gorgeous images.

​See also The form of the Body and Sensual Silhouettes 

Backstage from Calligraphy on Girls session with Shura. Senia aka Pokras Lampas as always bringing you crazy lettering. Stay tuned. Beautiful girls and beautiful letters. That's Calligraphy on Girls. Enjoy. Mr Little Jeans- Oh Sailor We are now on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/CalligraphyOnGirls! Pokras Lampas on Behance behance.net/pokras

I was fortunate to take part in an awesome project! Local artist Senia aka "Pokras Lampas" and photographer Alexandr Popov aka "el Nalima" collaborated with model Tania to showcase an amassing skills of Russian calligraphists. So I was invited to shoot a backstage video. Beautiful girls and beautiful letters. That's Calligraphy on Girls. Enjoy. Vanilla- "Azure" We are now on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/CalligraphyOnGirls! Pokras Lampas on Behance http://www.behance.net/pokras El Nalima http://elnalima.com/ http://vk.com/elnalima Make up from Veronika Kalinina http://vk.com/id1173169

via Nice Fucking Graphics

Patterns in Urban Architecture

Munich-based photographer Nich Frank (http://www.iso72.de ) sees geometry all around him and captures images that let us see them too.

“[it's] about self-discovery, finding something new or to interpret it differently, change the own point of view, leaving the rhythm and the usual paths. It’s about time, places, moments, but also technology.” 

via DeMilked

Alice in Waterland underwater photography by Elena Kalis

These delightful underwater photos by Elena Kalis are inspired by Lewis Carroll's Alice in Wonderland.  Kalis dove into underwater photography some five years ago preferring underwater photography for it's dream like, and other worldly, quality.  This is an ongoing, "unfinished", project that features her daughter as the main character. 

Time-slice Photo of Blood Moon Lunar Eclipse - Photo of the Day

Mike Mezeul II shot this tremendous time-slice photo capturing the process of April 15th's Blood Moon Lunar Eclipse from a blooming field in Ennis, Texas

Close up

Walking up 30 Meters of High Mast at High Speed - The Mast Walk by Alex Thomson

Alex Thomson  is a solo-round-the-world yachtsman, so the 30-meter climb up the high mast of the moving ship is probably no big thing for him.

He is after all the same guy in the very iconic Keel Walk image from a year or so ago [below]. 

5 Favorite Photography Posts - Feb 2014

Human Chalk Explosions

Portraits of Homeless People by Lee Jeffries

Thai Photographer's Vision

Tilt-shifted Hong Kong Timelapse

Traditional Japanese Houses and their Visual Geometry in Photos by Yasuhiro Ishimoto

The aesthetic that formed the basis for traditional Japanese architecture and interior design is nuanced and interesting. Reading In Praise of Shadows by Junichiro Tanizaki began for me a path towards appreciating the often stark and geometric choices. 

These photos of the Katsura Imperial Villa (16th Century) in Kyoto from Japanese American photography Yasuhiro Ishimoto  bring to the forefront the abstractions of shape, space and light in an amazing way.

via My Modern Met

Kodak No. 1 and Its 125 year old Photos

Consumer photography took a huge leap forward in 1888, when Eastman Kodak debuted the Kodak No. 1 (the followup to the Kodak Box):

“You Press the Button, We Do the Rest.”

This leather-covered wooden box came loaded with 100 exposures, cost $25 (about $650 of today's) and $10 for developing and reloading the exposures.

These examples come from the National Media Museum’s Flickr account.

via PetaPixel

Photo of the Day - The Humanity of Frogs

photo by Penkdix Paime via National Geographic

via My Modern Met (14 photos)

Subtle Surrealism from Kyle Thompson

This 20-year-old photographer from Chicago, Kyle Thompson has a subtle surrealistic vision that pushes its way into these stylish and crisp photos.

via DesignSkillz

Online Miniseries: ‘The New African Photography’ on Al Jazeera

The series kicks off with a vivid adventure, as Emeka Okereke leads a busload of artists and photographers for the Invisible Borders road trip of a lifetime as they search for new ways to portray their continent and explore their art. "A photograph is a window, and not the view.

Al Jazeera English just premiered the first episode of their new show, “The New African Photography.” Aiming to replace the images of famine and war with images that show an emerging 21st Century Africa, the show is told through the eyes of photographers. 

via FStoppers

Ice Climbing at Night

Alex Luger ice climbing in Avers Switzerland broncolor shot with oudoor flash Move 1200 L and Para 88 Photographer Ray Demski: http://www.raydemski.com Video producer: http://lm-media.at Once again thanks to climbers Alex Luger and Hanno Schluge !! And a huge thanks to my awesome crew !!

Photographer Ray Demski and climber Alex Luger shot a project called “Ice Nights” entirely at night with the use of powerful flash units and a medium format camera. 

via PetaPixel

Refractographs

This tutorial guides you through the process to create Refractographs and shows you the process I use to create these abstract photographs. Refractographs are caustic patterns produced as light reflects and refracts through an object. Check out http://robturneyvisuals.com/portfolio/refraction/ for some examples of my refractographs or keep in touch on: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RobTurneyPhotography Note: There is little to no post production on the images and they are all images of real light and not computer generated.

Photographer Rob Turney shows us how to create these beautiful images.

 

3 - Photographing the Abandoned Fake Disneyland in China

Some behind-the-scenes footage in this very strange place... More on http://www.StuckInCustoms.com. The actual name of this place is the Wonderland Amusement Park Chenzhuang Village, Nankou Town, Changping district. 昌平区南口镇陈庄村

Trey Ratcliff has a little series where he walks through his process for taking some of his often lauded photos. Here he trudges through an abanodoned amusement park outside of Beijing... creepy and awesome.​

And while you're at it, check out his behind the scenes from his shot on the Great Wall below.​

​Trey Ratcliff

 

To see post-processing info, visit the tutorial at http://www.StuckInCustoms.com/hdr-tutorial/ . This video has some behind-the-scenes footage of a mountainous remote part of the wall in the far north of China.

via Doobybrain

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More Photography Projects

Blog

Hollywood Through an African Lens by Omar Victor Diop and Antoine Tempé

about 6 years ago

Portraits of Mongolian Wrestlers by Ken Hermann and Gem Fletcher

about 6 years ago

Things Come Apart - Disassembled and Assembled

about 6 years ago

More Human Than Human - Animal Portraits by Tim Flach

about 6 years ago

The Magical Forests of Yakushima — Photographs from Rapheal Olivier

about 6 years ago

​Quotes of the Day

Blog

Quote of the Day - from Osho

about 7 years ago

Quotes for the turning of the year – 2016

about 8 years ago

QOTD - Zen Aphorism

about 11 years ago

QOTD - Lawrence Durell

about 11 years ago

QOTD - Tom Stoppard

about 11 years ago

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