National Geographic Travel Photographer of the Year Contest

Every year thousands of amateur photographers submit their best travel shots to National Geographic, and every year the submission pool is stunning. It’s also refreshingly democratic: Images of the dunes of Namibia taken during bespoke luxury safaris (using thousands of dollars in equipment) sit side by side with iPhone shots of bluegills slipping through the shallows of the Russian River. This year’s categories are Nature, People, and Cities, and there are no limits on the number of entries (though there’s a $15 fee per photo). Submission deadline is May 27. There are prizes for winners in each category, and the grand prize is a 7-day polar bear safari in Manitoba. Visit http://travel.nationalgeographic.com/photographer-of-the-year-2016/ for more information.