Underwater Park

Photograph by Marc Henauer

Every spring, melting snow creates a dreamscape in Trag ss, Austria. Green Lake, which for most of the year is no more than six feet deep, expands with the inflow of snowmelt, swallowing part of the park that surrounds it: trees, hiking trails, benches, bridges, and all. The lake's depth reaches some 30 feet and provides a unique experience for divers for a few weeks at least.

This photo and caption were submitted to the 2014 National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest

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Wild Horses

Photograph by O. Mehes , National Geographic Your Shot

Wild horses graze under the watch of Mount John Laurie in Alberta, Canada. The peak is also known as Mount Yamnuska, Nakoda for "wall of stone."

This photo recently appeared in Your Shot s Daily Dozen .

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Playing Through

Photograph by Cedric Delves , National Geographic Your Shot

"Warm inland. Cold at sea. So fog rolls in," writes Your Shot member Cedric Delves , who captured this image in Folkestone, along the English Channel coast. "Cricket is prone to any and all even faintly adverse weather conditions (presumably why we English play it outdoors). Anyway, it fails to stop play this day. That said, she looked ready to quit, asking her brother over and over whether it was time to go and look for an ice cream!"

Delves s photo recently appeared in Your Shot s Daily Dozen .

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Blacktip Close-Up

Photograph by Imran Ahmad , National Geographic Your Shot

"This blacktip shark was shot in the evening in Aldabra Atoll, Seychelles," writes Imran Ahmad , a member of our Your Shot photo community. "I created a three-point lighting setup to get this shot."

Ahmad s photo recently appeared in Your Shot s Daily Dozen .

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Cathedral Cove

Photograph by Chris Gin

Sunrise lights up Cathedral Cove, an iconic spot near Hahei, New Zealand. The natural tunnel is part of the Te Whanganui-a-Hei Marine Reserve on the Coromandel Peninsula. It also served as a portal to Narnia in The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian.

This photo and caption were submitted to the 2014 National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest .

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On the Hunt

Photograph by Greg du Toit , National Geographic Your Shot

"It was an early morning on Great Plains of the Serengeti," writes Your Shot community member Greg du Toit , who took this photo. "This baby wildebeest, only a day old, had gotten separated from its mother during the night. The lioness, spotting the baby wandering across the plains, ran after it with composure and grace. The young little wildebeest was dwarfed in comparison and had nowhere to hide on the vast plains."

Du Toit s photo recently appeared in Your Shot s Daily Dozen .

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Aerial Geometry

Photograph by Ralitsa Byalkova , National Geographic Your Shot

Paused for a moment in the rain, two pedestrians create a striking scene captured from above. This picture was taken near Milan Cathedral in Italy.

This photo was submitted to Your Shot . Check out the new and improved website, where you can share photos, take part in assignments, lend your voice to stories, and connect with fellow photographers from around the globe.

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A Man in Sheep's Clothes

Photograph by Seyit Konyali , National Geographic Your Shot

"Here is a farm in Bey ehir, Turkey," Your Shot photographer Seyit Konyali writes. "Shortly after the birth of lambs, shepherd smail [stays with them while they are] running around. He is wearing a poncho made of their mothers' wool. This makes the lambs feel closer to the shepherd while their mothers are out feeding."

Konyali s photo recently appeared in Your Shot s Daily Dozen .

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Water Town

Photograph by Thierry Bornier , National Geographic Your Shot

Fog rises from the water on an early morning in China. The country has many "water towns" such as this one in Fenghuang County scenic spots popular with tourists.

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Twin Beauties

Photograph by Muhammad Mochtar , National Geographic Your Shot

Pale butterflies mirror each other on a stalk in this macro image submitted by Muhammad Mochtar , a member of our Your Shot photo community.

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Fishermen's Song

Photograph by Nguy n Dinh Thanh , National Geographic Your Shot

Nguy n Dinh Thanh , a member of our Your Shot community, took this photo in Hue, Vietnam.

"Located in the middle of Vietnam, Hue city is famous for the old palaces, [and the] beautiful Perfume River. This is a must-see place if you visit Vietnam. The two fishermen are throwing casting nets on Nhu Y river. Their movement is like an artist playing a nice song."

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Bird Buddy

Photograph by Akash Das , National Geographic Your Shot

A cooperative bird finds and eats insects from a water buffalo's face in a grooming ritual that pays off for both of them. Wild water buffalo are endangered and live only in a small number of protected areas stretching across India, Nepal, and Bhutan, and a wildlife reserve in Thailand.

This photo recently appeared in Your Shot s Daily Dozen.

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Cycling in Morocco

Photograph by Hielke Gerritse

"This picture was taken in the Central Atlas Mountains, Morocco," writes Hielke Gerritse, who submitted this picture to the National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest. "This area is populated by the indigenous Berber inhabitants. The sign on the wall represents the Berber [Amazigh] flag. Tamazight is the local language. The word also stands for free man, noble man."

This photo and caption were submitted to the 2014 National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest .

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White on White

Photograph by Jongsung Ryu , National Geographic Your Shot

Nearly camouflaged in his habitat, a polar bear surveys his surroundings. Cold doesn't bother these Arctic predators: Two layers of fur and thick fat act as superb insulation, even in subzero temperatures.

This photo was submitted to Your Shot . Check out the new and improved website, where you can share photos, take part in assignments, lend your voice to stories, and connect with fellow photographers from around the globe.

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Box Life

Photograph by Norbert Well

There's nowhere to see but up in this photo of Hong Kong, taken by Norbert Well and submitted to the 2014 National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest. "Living in a box is living in Hong Kong," he says.

This photo and caption were submitted to the 2014 National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest .

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Mount Fuji by Moonlight

Photograph by Danilo Dungo

Mount Fuji is reflected in the still water of Lake Kawaguchi in this National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest submission by Danilo Dungo. The moonlight, he says, was bright enough to illuminate the scene.

This photo and caption were submitted to the 2014 National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest .

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Huffing Puffins

Photograph by Danny Green, National Geographic

Dueling puffins flare their wings and part their beaks in a muddy tussle on Skomer Island, Wales. Most puffin fights start over competing claims to a burrow. A bite to the neck usually settles the issue.

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Tree Pose

Photograph by Mohn Khorshid

"A short-eared owl is in stretching and relaxing mode in a Kuwait natural reserve," says Mohn Khorshid, who submitted this photo to the National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest. The picture was featured in the Spontaneous Moments gallery compiled by our editors.

This photo was submitted to the 2014 National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest.

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Beach Lightning

Photograph by Rudi Gunawan , National Geographic Your Shot

"I m very passionate about landscape photography," says Your Shot member Rudi Gunawan . "For me, nature always reflects the power of the sublime, and as a human, I m very grateful to be part of the experience. This shot was taken while I was on vacation with my family at Tanjung Lesung, West Java, Indonesia. I was looking for the sunset moment, which unfortunately never came because the sky was so cloudy and covered the sun."

But Gunawan could see lightning strikes in the distance. "Quickly, I set up my tripod, changed my camera settings, and let the camera adjust the shutter speed automatically. I made a couple shots and angles to capture the moment, and after around 15 minutes this is the shot that really described what I felt about the sublime qualities of nature."

This photo was recently featured in the final story of our Nature in Black and White assignment.

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Crabby Boarder

Photograph by Thomas Bannenberg , National Geographic Your Shot

A porcelain crab peers out from a sea anemone in this picture by Your Shot member Thomas Bannenberg, who captured the creatures in waters off the Philippines. Despite its name, the porcelain crab has a strong exoskeleton that it periodically sheds and regrows.

This photo was submitted to Your Shot . Check out the new and improved website, where you can share photos, take part in assignments, lend your voice to stories, and connect with fellow photographers from around the globe.

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Hugging the Ice

Photograph by David Doubilet and Jennifer Hayes, National Geographic

In a picture that appears in the May 2014 issue of National Geographic magazine, a lone harp seal hugs thinning ice near the Madeleine Islands in the Gulf of St. Lawrence. Pups spend their first month on an ice floe, a precarious nursery as ice shrinks in the gulf.

Hear David Doubilet speak about his passion for underwater photography » Read about Jennifer Hayes's encounter with a harp seal »

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Sunrise at Wadi Doan

Photograph by Paul Nevin , National Geographic Your Shot

"With my police escort I had arrived at my lodgings at dusk, perched on the edge of a massive escarpment in Yemen's Wadi Doan," says Your Shot contributor Paul Nevin . "In the fading light and on the valley floor I could see this fortresslike village. Having imagined how it might present under a rising sun, I was up at first light. Below me, shepherds and their goats made the only sounds. The sun rose, bathing the escarpment in golden light. It seemed like an eternity before it finally gilded the top of the village magic."

This photo was submitted to Your Shot . Check out the new and improved website, where you can share photos, take part in assignments, lend your voice to stories, and connect with fellow photographers from around the globe.

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Shanghai Selfies

Photograph by Jian Gao

Women take pictures of themselves with their cell phones in front of the Shanghai skyline in this picture submitted by Jian Gao to the National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest.

This photo was submitted to the 2014 National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest.

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Birds of Bharatpur

Photograph by Sreekumar Krishnan , National Geographic Your Shot

"The Keoladeo Bird Sanctuary in Bharatpur, Rajasthan, India, is approximately 11 square miles" says Your Shot contributor Sreekumar Krishnan . "It sees the migratory bird influx in late September, and by the time summer hits the area, you'll see considerably fewer birds there."

Krishnan describes the sanctuary as magical, mystical, and magnificently maintained. "Little lakes are created and there are walkways in between," he says. "Generally one walks around the lakes but having seen this huge flock of nearly a hundred birds, my feet carried me on a walkway to the center of the lake to be with them. I was particularly attracted to the glossy ibis among all the white cranes and egrets. I crouched in the slush, trying hard not to slip, and edged closer and closer. It took close to 20 minutes to get the shot I wanted, and the dreamy air of the sanctuary and its mystical birds contributed largely to this shot.

This photo was submitted to Your Shot . Check out the new and improved website, where you can share photos, take part in assignments, lend your voice to stories, and connect with fellow photographers from around the globe.

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Fuji Blossoms

Photograph by Yuga Kurita , National Geographic Your Shot

"I live on the north side of Fuji, and spring comes earlier on the south side, so I traveled to the south to admire the cherry blossoms with Fuji before spring came to my town," says Yuga Kurita , a member of our Your Shot community.

"I left my house after midnight to get there in the morning, when the air is clearer and the cherry blossoms look more beautiful. When I was at the border between Yamanashi and Shizuoka Prefectures, the sun was dawning, and I saw that Fuji was hiding behind clouds. So I parked and slept in my car for a while, planning to go back home after waking up. An hour later, I sensed something and woke. What I saw was Fuji emerging from the clouds. I was very delighted and drove south to capture the scene. I didn't try to focus the scene perfectly because I liked the slight bokeh effect on Mount Fuji in the background."

This photo was submitted to Your Shot . Check out the new and improved website, where you can share photos, take part in assignments, lend your voice to stories, and connect with fellow photographers from around the globe.

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Peter Out

Photograph by Kyle Behrend , National Geographic Your Shot

Rescued sheep Peter relaxes in the afternoon sun at Edgar s Mission Farm Sanctuary Australia. "I'm very lucky to work at this sanctuary, which is home to over 300 rescued farm animals," says Your Shot contributor Kyle Behrend .

"I've recently been inspired by backlit images and had to try it for myself, so I waited for the sun to start setting and ran down to the sheep in the back paddock to try to capture this moment. When I arrived there were thousands of insects flying around in the sky, and I worried they were going to ruin the shot, but after a quick test I was amazed at how they caught the light and created these beautiful pockets of light throughout the photo. I squatted down and positioned myself slightly off from the sun and waited until the curious Peter Sheep wandered over to take a look. And as a result I was able to capture this beautiful image."

This photo was submitted to Your Shot . Check out the new and improved website, where you can share photos, take part in assignments, lend your voice to stories, and connect with fellow photographers from around the globe.

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Fields of Old

Photograph by John Qu , National Geographic Your Shot

"This land symbolizes the rhythm of the people, as it was formed through generations of farmers shaping it with irrigation," says John Qu , a member of our Your Shot community. "It is a rare phenomenon of man-made beauty disguised as a natural occurrence."

Qu captured the photo of the Yuanyang rice terraces while traveling in China's Yunnan Province. "I've traveled to this place multiple times, purposely in the winter, when the rice terraces are flooded. I've gone through the entire area and observed that the light at sunset, with the reflection and high angle, would make the terraces look more like a piece of abstract art, yet with real trees and huts. The shot was taken from a mountain above. I waited a few days for the perfect moment."

The picture recently appeared in the Your Shot Daily Dozen .

This photo was submitted to Your Shot . Check out the new and improved website, where you can share photos, take part in assignments, lend your voice to stories, and connect with fellow photographers from around the globe.

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Dubai Alight

Photograph by Morgan Bap

Morgan Bap used a long exposure to achieve this picture taken in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, and submitted to the National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest.

This photo and caption were submitted to the 2014 National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest .

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Wulan Butong Grassland

Photograph by Van Hanwood

"This place seems like an ancient battlefield in the morning," says Van Hanwood of this picture taken in Wulan Butong in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region and submitted to the National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest. "The fog floats on the grassland."

This photo and caption were submitted to the 2014 National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest .

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Wolffish Den

Photograph by David Doubilet and Jennifer Hayes, National Geographic

In this picture originally published in the May 2014 issue of National Geographic magazine, a pair of Atlantic wolffish named for their fangs cozy up in a den in Bonne Bay, off the west coast of Newfoundland. The female departs after laying eggs, leaving their care to the male.

Hear David Doubilet speak about his passion for underwater photography »

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