National Geographic es líder en la captura de nuestro mundo a través de imágenes y establece el estándar para la excelencia fotográfica. Se presentaron más de 22.000 propuestas de más de 150 países, con la participación de fotógrafos profesionales y aficionados. Las fotografías se dividen en tres categorías: personas, lugares y naturaleza. En el concurso se califica la creatividad y calidad fotográfica. El panel de jueces está compuesto por un panel de expertos como el fotógrafo historia natural Christian Ziegler y los fotógrafos de documental Gerd Ludwig y Debbie Fleming Caffery.

Grand Prize Winner and 1st Place/Nature. Ashley Vincent: THE EXPLOSION! – The subject’s name is Busaba, a well cared for Indochinese Tigress whose home is at Khao Kheow Open Zoo, Thailand.

1st Place/Places. Nenad Saljic: THE MATTERHORN – The Matterhorn, 4478 meters at full moon.

1st Place/People. Micah Albert: AMONGST THE SCAVENGERS – At the end of the day women are allowed to pick through the dumpsite.

Honorable Mention. Micheal Eastman : RED FOX CATCHING MOUSE UNDER SNOW – With his exceptional hearing, a red fox has targeted a mouse hidden under 2 feet of crusted snow. Springing high in the air he breaks through the crusted spring snow with his nose and his body is completely vertical as he grabs the mouse under the snow.

Honorable Mention. Ulrich Lambert: STILT FISHING – Stilt fishing is a typical fishing technique only seen in Sri Lanka. The fishermen sit on a cross bar called a petta, tied to a vertical pole planted into the coral reef. This long exposure shot shows how unstable their position is.

Winners Gallery – National Geographic Photo Contest 2012 – National Geographic