Winners: National Geographic Traveler 2012 Photo ContestAugust 20, 2012 AUTO 1

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Photo and caption by Cedric Houin This image was shot in the Kyrgyz lands of the Wakhan Corridor. The intimacy of this everyday life moment, shot inside of a family yurt, is in total contrast with the harsh environment these nomadic tribes live in. On the right we notice a television and a sound console. These tribes live weeks away from any village by foot. In spite of being located at an altitude of 4,300 meters in one of the most remote areas of Afghanistan they are equipped with solar panels, satellite dishes and cellphones. Ancestral ways of living, with touches of modernity. National Geographic contributing photographer Alexandra Avakian, one of this years judges, shares her thoughts on the first place winner: The light and texture captured in this portrait are painterly, and the predominance of red is rich. The content of the photo is striking because the photographer captured both the nomads traditional way of life and some of their modern accoutermentsthe viewer gets the visual satisfaction of something that goes against clich. Triangle shapes tend to add dynamism to photos. In this picture they appear in several places, including the main subjects knee, elbow, and white scarf. Ive slept in the guest yurt of Kyrgyz nomads in remote mountains while on assignment for Elle magazine; the location is hard to reach and off the beaten path for most travelers, and therefore of educational as well as aesthetic value. Keywords Afghanistan Location: Wakhan Corridor Afghanistan August 20, 2012 3

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Photo and caption by Vo Anh Kiet Hmong children play with their balloons on a foggy day in Moc Chau, Son La province, Vietnam; photographed January 2012. National Geographic contributing photographer Alexandra Avakian, one of this years judges, shares her thoughts on the second place winner: This picture is like a dream, and its timeless not only because its black and white and theres no sense of modernity, but also because it depicts an activity that children everywhere on the planet do with balloons. The fog and soft background make it feel like a memory. Its every bit as good as the photographs in the seminal black-and-white photo book, "The Family of Man." Sometimes the best scenes to shoot are not in the obvious places for travelers but can be found anywhere from a far-flung locationsuch as this remote Hmong villageto just the around the corner from a big event. Keywords Balloon Location: Moc Chau, Son La province, Vietnam August 20, 2012 5

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Photo and caption by Andrea Guarneri During the Easter holy celebration called Misteri in Trapani, the devotees carry the scenes of Christs passion on their shoulders all night long. When the day comes they take a break. National Geographic contributing photographer Alexandra Avakian, one of this years judges, shares her thoughts on the third place winner: The light on the icon of Jesus is as critical to the success of this picture as the varied expressions on the mens faces after an exhausting night carrying statues depicting the Passion of Christ. Recognizing when and how to balance different kinds of light in the same photo is something that can make the difference between a muddy and uninteresting picture and one thats good, aesthetic, and full of content. This picture was taken at the port in the tuna- fishing town of Trapani, Sicilya land known for its religious processions. The photographer was working at dawn to take this shot, often a necessity in any coverage of a place and/or event. Keywords devotee Easter holy celebration Italy Location: Trapani, Sicily, Italy August 20, 2012 7

MERIT WINNER: LOST IN TIME - ANANCIENT FOREST Photo and caption by Ken Thorne Near the city of Morondava, on the West coast of Madagascar lies an ancient forest of Baobab trees. Unique to Madagascar, the endemic species is sacred to the Malagasy people, and rightly so. Walking amongst these giants is like nothing else on this planet. Some of the trees here are over a thousand years old. It is a spiritual place, almost magical. Keywords Baobabs, trees, Madagascar, giant, forest, trunk, Malagasy, child, Africa, Avenue Location: Avenue du Baobab, August 20, 2012 8 Morandava, Madagascar.

MERIT WINNER: OLD MEN WITH DJELLABA Photo and caption by SauKhiang Chau The Last Supper Of Da Vinci? No, They are just some old men of Chefchaouen with djellaba, sitting and talking each other. Keywords Chefchaouen, Morocco Location: Chefchaouen, MoroccoAugust 20, 2012 9

MERIT WINNER: SWIMMING IN THE RAINPhoto and caption by Camila MassuMy sister in the south of Chile. We are sitting at home next to the fireplace in our southern lake house when it suddenlybegan to pour uncontrollably. Had to rush into the lake to take this snapshot! (Photo and caption by CamilaMassu/National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest) #KeywordsChileAugust 20, 2012 Lake Swimming Rain Portrait spontaneous moment 10Location: Lago,Caburgua,Chile

MERIT WINNER: THE VILLAGEOF GSADALURPhoto and caption by Ken BowerThe village of Gsadalur and theisland of Mykines in thebackground.Until a tunnel was built in 2004, the16 residents living in Gsadalur hadto take a strenuous hike orhorseback over the steep 400 metermountain in order to make it to theother villages.It was a rare sunny day in the FaroeIslands and I had to wait until theclouds rolled in to provide somesofter light. I decided to go with along exposure (1 minute 10 seconds)to illustrate the force of the windand a serene sea among the isolatedislands.Keywords Faroe Islands landscapeseascapeLocation: Gsadalur, Faroe Islands August 20, 2012 11

MERIT WINNER: LOOKING INTO ANOTHER WORLD Photo and caption by Fred An This is the great Japanese maple tree in the Portland Japanese Gardens. I tried to bring a different perspective of this frequently photographed tree. Keywordsjapanese maple fall autumn colors red portland gardens oregon Location: Portland, ORAugust 20, 2012 12

MERIT WINNER: BAGAN BLISSPhoto and caption by Peter DeMarcoMore than 2,000 Buddhist temples and pagodas fill theplains of Bagan. Once the capital of the Pagan Empire,farmers now raise their livestock within the centuries oldcomplex. The best way to see Bagan, apart from a ride on ahot air balloon, is by bicycle. Its easy to get off the beatenpath and live out your wildest Indiana Jones fantasy.KeywordsBagan, Myanmar, Burma, temple, sunset, goats,dust, travel, balloonLocation: Bagan, Myanmar (Burma) August 20, 2012 13

MERIT WINNER: UNDERWATER SURF Photo and caption by Lucia Griggi Taken at Cloud Break at an outer reef in Fiji, a surfer duck dives his board to clear the rolling waves of the raw ocean. KeywordsSurf, Man, Underwater, Wave, Ocean Location: Cloudbreak, Fiji, Pacific Ocean.August 20, 2012 14

VIEWERS CHOICE WINNER: HUSET Photo and caption by Michelle Schantz A lonely cabin is illuminated under the Northern Lights in Finnmark, Norway. Keywords northern lights, aurora borealis, norway, travel, night, stars, solar, cabin, snow, winter, arctic Location: Finnmark, NorwayBin tp :http://my.opera.com/bachkienhttp://chieuquetoi.blogspot.com August 20, 2012 15