Overview
Already in its 24th year, the National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest never ceases to amaze and excite with its stunning displays of photography from around the world. With the current increase in popularity of amateur photography and the pervasion of social media, this year's competition already has a whopping 12,400 entries.
Flick through the entries at the National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest 2012 website and experience some of the most incredible and awe-inspiring sights, people and moments this Earth has to offer.
This year's contest has four categories - Outdoor Scenes, Sense of Place, Travel Portraits and Spontaneous Moments - to cover a wide range of spectacular photo opportunities. Here we've collated just a sample of what we find to be some of the most remarkable shots from the 2012 contest.
Keep a lookout for the winners, which will be announced in August.
Northern Lights by Christine Peterson
Location: Northern Iceland
Monsoon by Enrique Lopez-Tapia
Location: Sundarbands, Bangladesh
The Rise by James Davies
Location: Lizard Point, the UK's most Southerly location, Cornwall
African Queen - Madagascar by Lisa Labinjoh
Location: North West Madagascar
Sun-Kissed Faces by Erwin Choachuy
Location: San Remigio, Cebu, Philippines
Tamblingan Lake by Agung Krisprimandoyo
Location: Gubug Temple, Tamblingan Lake, Bali, Indonesia
Up in the Air by Martin Fietkiewicz
Location: Wreck Beach, Vancouver, BC, Canada
Fox in the Grass by Kathryn Triplett
Location: Kodiak Island, Alaska
Butts by Laysa Quintero
Location: Samburu National Reserve, Kenya
Outside Pandora's Box by Johnathan Bareng
Location: Ubud, Bali. Indonesia
The Great off Isla Damas by Esteban Delgado
Location: Puntarenas, Quepos, Isla Damas, Costa Rica