National Geographic invites photographers to submit photos for the opportunity to be named the 2016 National Geographic Travel Photographer of the Year.

The grand-prize award winner will earn the prestigious title and also receive a seven-day Polar Bear Photo Safari for two at Churchill Wild–Seal River Heritage Lodge, a National Geographic Unique Lodge of the World. The contest, which is open now, ends May 27, 2016, at 12 pm EDT.

Eligible contestants can visit natgeo.com/travelphotocontest to submit photographs in any or all of three categories: Nature, People and Cities. The entry fee is $15 (USD) per photo, and there is no limit to the number of submissions per entrant.

Our friends at National Geographic have let us share some highlights from this year’s contest. Visit the official contest page for more information.

 

 

 

 

In the Gorges du Dades there are some breathtaking bends between walls of rock. Location: Boumalne, Souss-Massa-Draa, Morocco

 

 

 

 

The last eruption of LA Fournaise Volcano. Réunion Island. Location: Saint-Denis, Reunion, Reunion

 

 

 

 

Romance is in the air. It was the time of day immediately following sunset. I heard a voice. “Wherever you go, I will follow you” the voice says. Location: Biei, Hokkaido, Japan

 

 

 

 

A polar bear on Wahlenbergfjorden off of Svalbard. I was in a zodiac off shore when he sauntered down to the beach to sniff us out. Soon losing interest, he retreated for a nap and we left him in peace. Location: Haugen, Svalbard, Svalbard and Jan Mayen

 

 

 

 

Stunning peaks & thousands of King Penguins on South Georgia in soft early sunrise. The photography challenge was to resist shooting only Penguin close-ups (very tempting for sure) & step back occasionally to be equally amazed by the landscape in which they live. Special Bonus: It was 100 years to the month that Shackelton’s boat (Endurance) finally went under the Antarctic pack ice (Nov 1915), precipitating his epic traverse of South Georgia, before finding help at nearby Stromness (1916). Location: South Georgia

 

 

 

 

This amazing stacked architecture of Hong Kong shows the housing of its rather dense population. It’s visually striking to understand that your whole horizon is built from people’s lit windows. It shocks you that each life so big and important to the person himself and his close circle looks just like a tiny star in a huge sky next to millions of the same stars.
Location: Hong Kong

 

 

 

 

New York, Rio, Tokyo? We are on a rooftop bar in Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam. The day leaves, the night comes. But this coming city never sleeps. Location: Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam

 

 

 

 

Shot in Sakrebailu Elephant Camp, Shimoga, India. This camp works towards rehabilitating rescued elephants from circuses and human animal conflict zones. The elephants are trained here by experienced Mahouts and forms a lasting bond between the two. Every morning these Mahouts get their elephants for a bath in the nearby river. This is also when people are allowed to interact with the elephants. Location: Shimoga, Karnataka, India

 

 

 

 

Lioness (Panthera leo) at sunset, Vumbura Concession, Okavango Delta, Botswana, Africa. Location: Okavango Delta, Botswana, Africa

 

 

 

 

An hours walk on a cold Winter’s morning was needed to get to this location. Looking back over the Trotternish Ridge from the Quirrang on the Isle of Skye is one of my favourite locations. Location: Flodigarry, Scotland, United Kingdom