National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest 2015 winners in pictures

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. Deadveli means "dead marsh." The camelthorn trees are believed to be about 900 years old but have not decomposed because the environment is so dry ()

A picture of a humpback whale and her newborn calf swimming in the Revillagigedo Islands in Mexico has won this year’s National Geographic Traveler Photo Content.

The winning photograph was chosen from 18,000 entries, with 10 pictures given top prizes by the judges.

Take a look at this year’s winning photos:

Grand Prize: Whale Whisperers

Photograph: Anuar Patjane A humpback whale and her newborn calf as they cruise around Roca Partida in the Revillagigedo Islands, Mexico.

Second Place: Gravel Workmen

Photograph: Faisal Azim Three gravel workmen look through the window glass at their working place in Chittagong, Bangladesh.

Third Place: Camel Ardah

Photograph: Ahmed Al Toqi Camel Ardah, as it is called in Oman, is one of the traditional styles of camel racing between two camels controlled by expert men. "The main purpose of Ardah is to show the beauty and strength of the Arabian camels and the riders' skills."

Merit: Catching a Duck

Sarah Wouters Two boys are trying to catch a duck at the stream of the waterfall, Nong Khai Province, Thailand

Merit: Kushti, Indian Wrestling

Alain Schroeder Kushti is the traditional form of Indian wrestling. Wearing only a well-adjusted loincloth (langot), wrestlers (pelwhans) enter a pit made of clay, often mixed with salt, lemon, and ghee (clarified butter).

Merit: White Rhinos

Photograph: Stefane Berube White Rhinos as the Ziwa Rhino Sancturary in Uganda. "The night before this photo, we tried all day to get a good photo of the endangered white rhino. Skulking through the grass carefully, trying to stay 30 feet away to be safe, didn't provide me the photo I was hoping for. In the morning, however, I woke up to all three rhinos grazing in front of me."

Merit: Sauna in the Sky

Photograph: Stefano Zardini A sauna at 2,800 meters high in the heart of Dolomites, Monte Lagazuoi, Cortina, eastern Italian Alps.

Merit: Highlanders

Traditional haymaking in Poland. Many people continue to use the scythe and pitchfork to sort the hay Traditional haymaking in Poland. Many people continue to use the scythe and pitchfork to sort the hay.

Merit: Romania, Land of Fairy Tales

Photograph: Eduard Gutescu White frost over Pestera village in Romania.

Merit: A Night at Deadvlei

Beth McCarley "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."

National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest 2015 winners