Behold, the 2015 National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest winners

Every year, beloved nature and discovery magazine National Geographic holds a contest for travellers the world over to submit their best pictures of nature, natural phenomena and just plain pretty pictures of Earth and its denizens. Today, the magazine announced this year’s winner: Anuar Patjane Floriuk of Tehuacán, Puebla, Mexico. His photo of a humpback whale, up-close and personal, is astounding (you can see it in the gallery below).

The 17,000 photos vying for victory in this year’s National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest were nothing short of breathtaking. (The main prize of an eight-day National Geographic Photo Expedition to Costa Rica and the Panama Canal for two was some pretty great inspiration, we must concede. Enjoy that trip, Anuar!)

The magazine selected a first-, second- and third-place winner, and included seven additional honourable mentions. Feast your eyes on some of the most beautiful photos taken in 2015:

Begin Slideshow

Behold, the 2015 National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest winners

• 
  Facebook
• 
  Twitter
• 
  Pinterest
• +

of

• 

  Merit: Romania, Land of Fairy Tales

  "White frost over Pestera village in Romania."Eduard Gutescu/National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest

• Merit: Highlanders

  "Traditional haymaking in Poland. Many people continue to use the scythe and pitchfork to sort the hay."Bartłomiej Jurecki/National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest

• Merit: Sauna in the Sky

  "A sauna at 2,800 metres, high in the heart of Dolomites, Monte Lagazuoi, Cortina, eastern Italian Alps."Stefano Zardini/National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest

• Merit: White Rhinos

  "The night before this photo, we tried to get a good photo of the endangered white rhino. In the morning, I woke up to all three rhinos grazing in front of me. Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, Uganda. "Stefane Berube/National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest

• Merit: Kushti, Indian Wrestling

  "At the end of a workout, wrestlers rest against the walls of the arena, covering their heads and bodies with earth to soak up any perspiration and avoid catching cold. This relaxation ceremony is completed with massages to soothe tired muscles and demonstrate mutual respect."Alain Schroeder/National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest

• Merit: Catching a Duck

  "Two boys trying to catch a duck at the stream of the waterfall. Nong Khai Province, Thailand."Sarah Wouters/National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest

• Merit: A Night at Deadvlei

  "The night before returning to Windhoek, we spent several hours at Deadveli. The moon was bright enough to illuminate the sand dunes in the distance, but the skies were still dark enough to clearly see the Milky Way and Magellanic Clouds."Beth McCarley/National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest

• 3rd Place: Camel Ardah

  "Camel Ardah, as it called in Oman, is one of the traditional styles of camel racing...between two camels controlled by expert men. The faster camel is the loser...so they must be running [at] the same speed level in the same track. The main purpose of Ardah is to show the beauty and strength of the Arabian camels and the riders' skills."Ahmed Al Toqi/National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest

• 2nd Place: Gravel Workmen

  "[This] gravel-crush working place remains full of dust and sand. Three gravel workmen are looking through the window glass at their workplace. Chittagong, Bangladesh."Faisal Azim/National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest

• Grand Prize: Whale Whisperers

  "Diving with a humpback whale and her newborn calf while they cruise around Roca Partida...in the Revillagigedo [Islands], Mexico."Anuar Patjane Floriuk/National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest