National Geographic Announces Travel Photographer of the Year Contest

Picture of Nat Geo Travel logo

National Geographic invites photographers to submit photos for the opportunity to be named the 2016 National Geographic Travel Photographer of the Year. The grand-prize award winner will earn the prestigious title and also receive a seven-day Polar Bear Photo Safari for two at Churchill Wild–Seal River Heritage Lodge, a National Geographic Unique Lodge of the World. The contest, which is open now, ends May 27, 2016, at 12 p.m. EDT.

National Geographic Travel photography captures the awe-inspiring diversity of the world’s people, places and cultures. For the first time ever, National Geographic will name the grand prize-winner the 2016 National Geographic Travel Photographer of the Year and recognize the most compelling travel photography taken in the past two years.

“Our Travel Photographer of the Year program is a way to show that our readers are among the world’s best travelers and photographers,” said George Stone, editor in chief of National Geographic Travel. “We are passionate about visual storytelling and we hope that our contest will inspire our global audience to explore the planet and use photography to tell amazing stories.”

Eligible contestants can visit natgeo.com/travelphotocontest to submit photographs in any or all of three categories: Nature, People and Cities. The entry fee is (USD) per photo, and there is no limit to the number of submissions per entrant.

First-, second- and third-place prizes will be awarded in each category. First-place winners will receive a Sony a6300 camera supplied by B&H Photo, second-place winners will receive National Geographic’s The Art of Travel Photography course on DVD and third-place winners will receive a National Geographic book. All winners will receive a subscription to National Geographic Traveler, and the winning photos will appear online and in an upcoming issue of the magazine.

The grand prize is the seven-day Polar Bear Photo Safari at Churchill Wild–Seal River Heritage Lodge, where guests can settle into a cozy lodge on the banks of the Hudson Bay, and head out on guided excursions by foot and by aircraft to photograph polar bears and other wildlife against a dramatic landscape of snow and ice. Guests will also enjoy incredible cuisine and stories around the fireplace, and then step into the night to capture the mesmerizing northern lights. The trip is provided by National Geographic Expeditions, the travel program of National Geographic, which offers guided trips spanning all seven continents and more than 80 destinations.

About National Geographic Travel

National Geographic Travel creates authentic, meaningful and engaging travel experiences through National Geographic Traveler magazine; National Geographic Expeditions; National Geographic Unique Lodges of the World; travel books; maps; digital travel content; and travel photography programs. National Geographic Traveler (six issues per year) is the world’s most widely read travel magazine and has 16 local-language editions. National Geographic Expeditions offers a variety of unique travel experiences led by top experts to more than 80 destinations across all seven continents. Travel opportunities include family and student expeditions, active adventures, journeys with G Adventures, private jet trips and voyages on the six expedition ships in the National Geographic-Lindblad fleet, as well as photography workshops, expeditions and seminars. The National Geographic Travel digital group, shares its inspiring and authoritative digital content such as trip ideas, photo galleries, blogs and apps with its @NatGeoTravel community of 14 million. National Geographic Travel books bring readers curated travel advice, photography and insider tips. Follow National Geographic Travel @NatGeoTravel on Twitter, Facebook, Tumblr, Pinterest, Instagram and Google+.

Media Contact

Beth Furtwangler
National Geographic
beth.furtwangler@natgeo.com
(202) 457-8223