National Geographic's 2013 Travel Photo Winners

National Geographic Traveler magazine has announced the winners of its 2013 photo contest, featuring stunning photography from around the world.

Placing first this year is Wagner Araujo of Belo Horizonte, Brazil, who captured Brazilian Aquathlon participants running into the Rio Negro.

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"I photographed it from the water and my lens got completely wet, but there was so much energy in these boys that I just didn’t worry about it," Araujo said, via a NatGeo press release.

Despite the damage to his camera, Araujo's photographic endeavor was well worth it: the grand prize is a 10-day expedition to the Galápagos for two.

The competition was especially stiff this year, receiving more than 15,500 submissions taken in countries ranging from Brazil to Kenya.

"Every year the task of judging the contest gets tougher," Keith Bellows, National Geographic Traveler magazine's editor in chief, said in a press release. "The quality of photos increasingly gets better — and the range of imagery more diverse. It’s exciting to see the emergence of such huge numbers of imaginative photographers."

Now in its 25th year, the National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest features images divided into four categories: Travel Portraits, Outdoor Scenes, Sense of Place and Spontaneous Moments. Judges evaluate the photos over two rounds, choosing the top three images along with seven merit choices. An additional photo is selected through voting by readers.

The winning images will appear in the Dec. 2013/Jan. 2014 issue of National Geographic Traveler magazine. Check out this year's honorees below:

FIRST PLACE: "Dig Me River" by Wagner Araujo




I was in Manaus, Amazonas, during the Brazilian Aquathlon (swimming and running) championship. I photographed it from the water and my lens got completely wet, but there was so much energy in these boys that I just didn't worry about that. (Photo and caption by Wagner Araujo/National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest)

TOO SEE THE REST OF THE PICTURES IN FULL SCREEN FOLLOW THE LINK :

www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2383160/The-best-world-Winners-National-Geographics-2013-Traveler-Photo-Contest-celebrate-natural-beauty-human-diversity-stunning-pictures.html