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We've culled a selection of this year's winners and runners-up from National Geographic's International Photography Contest. These include places, people and animals—with captions by the photographers themselves. The first place winner for the category Places was awarded to the photograph 'Supersize Hat,' which features the Licancabur volcano, located on the border between Chile and Bolivia. Source: Hugo Machado, Portugal![Peppermint Shrimp]()
The first place winner for the category Nature was awarded to William Goodwin for his photograph 'Shrimp in Sponge.' This Peppermint Shrimp spends the day in a branching vase sponge about 75-ft. deep in Bonaire's Margate Bay. Lighting was achieved with an HID torch shining on the outside of the sponge. The photographer, working upside down, had to carefully control buoyancy while approaching as close as possible taking care not to touch the sponge with camera or light and avoid disturbing the shrimp or the sponge. Source: William Goodwin, United States![Bus Stop]()
The first place winner for the category of People goes to photograph 'The Bus Stop,' featuring a 97-year-old woman as she waits for the bus in her Sunday best in Chamblee, Georgia. Source: Debra Jansen![Leopard Cub Leap]()
The picture was taken in the Mala Mala Game reserve in South Africa. A young leopard cub was lounging alone on a tree when, suddenly, a male adult leopard arrived and attacked it. The cub tried to escape jumping to another tree, but the branches were so dry that he fell to the ground. Slightly injured from the bite of the adult, the cub escaped running. Photographer Stefano Amirante was on a safari jeep when the cub fell about one meter from him. Source: Stefano Amirante, Italy![Gentle Gaze]()
Photographer Yusuke Okada captured this Florida manatee in 'Gentle Gaze.' Source: Yusuke Okada, Japan![Railway House]()
Driven by his great passion for landscaping, photographer Nicola Cocco went out to the countryside as soon as he saw it was snowing. Driving around the region of Veneto, Italy, he found this abandoned train station at Feltre and was fascinated by its melancholic feel, creating 'Railway House in Winter Frost.' Source: Nicola Cocco, Italy![Fireflies]()
Photographer Rachel Blaser was spending the fourth of July back in Nebraska, in the farmhouse where she grew up. "There were more fireflies that summer than I'd ever seen. I went out to the dirt road behind the house and shot this using a long exposure, just after sunset.," Blaser said. Source: Rachel Blaser, United States![Facing the Almighty]()
Artist Arie Yudhistira captured this scene, titled 'Facing the Almighty,' in Indonesia. Source: Arie Yudhistira![Fireworks]()
The picture was shot at San Juan de los Remedios, Cuba, during a local celebration called 'Las Parrandas' in which the highlight is fireworks. In this photograph, children light the fireworks and escape. Source: Fausto Podavini, ItalyWinners of National Geo's 2009 Photo Contest
Every year, National Geographic's International Photography Contest draws thousands of spectacular photos from around the world.
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- Winners of National Geo's 2009 Photo Contest
