The photos submitted for the 2015 National Geographic Traveler photo contest were truly exceptional. There were more than 17.000 photos divided into categories: Travel Portraits, Outdoor Scenes, Sense of Place and Spontaneous Moments.
The first prize went to Anuar Patjane Floriuk for his underwater shot of divers swimming close to a humpback whale near Roca Partida. Anuar won 8-day National Geographic Photo Expedition to Costa Rica and the Panama Canal for two.
“The photo wasn’t planned. I was taking photos near the head of the whale, and all of a sudden she began to swim toward the rest of the diving team. The divers gave the whale and her calf space, and I just clicked at the moment when the flow and composition seemed right,” said Floriuk.
Take a look at the other winners!
First Place Winner: Whale Whisperers
Second Place Winner: Gravel Workmen
Third Place Winner: Camel Ardah
Merit Winner: A Night at Deadvlei
Merit Winner: Catching a Duck
Merit Winner: Romania, Land of Fairy Tales
Merit Winner: Highlanders
Merit Winner: White Rhinos
Merit Winner: Kushti, Indian Wrestling
Merit Winner: Sauna in the Sky
