Wow, guys, the competition is looking really fierce at the annual National Geographic Travel Photographer of the Year contest.

Photographers of all skill sets are invited to submit their best photos until May 31 in the following categories: Nature, Cities and People, explained Traveller24:

Over the last 130 years, National Geographic has been instrumental in evoking a spirit of exploration and adventure in all people through photography and storytelling.

With their Travel Photographer of the Year contest, photographers are urged to show the world as it is in all its fascinating permutations by sharing their stories and photographs of travel and exploration.

The entry fee is R188 per photo and there is no limit to the number of photos an entrant can submit.

After checking out these photographers’ efforts, we can honestly say that they turned out some pretty stunning shots and captured all those “fascinating permutations” without fail.

A panel of judges will choose a winner in each of the categories. One of the category winners will be named the overall grand-prize winner and will be awarded R125 340, have his or her photo posted on the National Geographic Travel Instagram account, as well as earn the prestigious title of National Geographic Travel Photographer of the Year.

The other two category winners will each be awarded R31 335.

Nice. And don’t freak out if your favourite photo doesn’t win:

From 11-15 June, members of the National Geographic community are encouraged to vote for their favourite photo in each category from a selection of images chosen by National Geographic photo editors. The photos with the most votes will be named People’s Choice winners.

These are some of our fave shots from the ‘People’ category:

This one was taken on the photographer’s trip to the Pushkar Fair in Rajasthan.

This woman from Dacca, Bangladesh, was drying piece of leathers will become wallets, belts or part of shoes. Maybe she made yours?

Nazare, Portugal, clearly has some pretty big waves. World record waves, in fact.

Many locals and tourists take part in the Lath mar Holi celebration, which takes place around India.

Char Kaliganj in Dhaka is a notorious slum and home to one of the largest shipyards of Asia.

These kids (except that one in the back) are shooting some hoops in Havana, Cuba.

Solid efforts all around.

If you’re keen to grab your camera and snap an award-winning shot in some far-flung corner of the world, check out More Cheap Flights and you could get there at a fraction of the cost.

Happy snapping.

[source:traveller24]