National Geographic Photo Contest 2011

The National Geographic gave photographers the opportunity to showcase their abilities in their photo contest for 2011. Participants of all skill levels submitted photographs into three categories: Places, Nature and People. A panel of experts judge each photo based on photograpic quality and creativity. They then choose a first place winner for each category and a grand prize winner. These pictures are a selection of 54 photos taken from the three sections. Each image evokes a message of it’s own, deriving a different emotion from the dramatic effects taken from life’s natural painting.

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Via