The winners of the 2014 National Geographic Photo Contest have been announced, and the final photographs are among the best we've ever seen.
Nineteen images were selected from over 9,200 submissions from both amateur and professional photographers hailing from 150 different countries.
Winners and honorable mention photographs were selected from three categories: nature, people, and places. They were chosen by an esteemed panel comprised of National Geographic photographers and other creative professionals.
Grand Prize winner Brian Yen will receive $10,000 and a trip to Washington, DC, for his image “A Node Glows in the Dark."
Nat Geo shared the images with us here.
Grand Prize and People Winner: “A Node Glows in the Dark," Brian Yen, Hong Kong
"In the last ten years, mobile data, smartphones, and social networks have forever changed our existence. Although this woman stood at the center of a jam-packed train, the warm glow from her phone told the strangers around her that she wasn't really there. She managed to slip away from "here" for a short moment; she's a node flickering on the social web, roaming the Earth, free as a butterfly. Our existence is no longer stuck to the physical here; we're free to run away, and run we will."
Nature Winner: “The Great Migration," Nicole Cambré, North Serengeti, Tanzania
"Jump of the wildebeest at the Mara River."
Places Winner: “Bathing in Budapest,” Triston Yeo, Budapest, Hungary
"The thermal spas in Budapest [are] one of the favorite activities of Hungarians, especially in winter. We were fortunate to gain special access to shoot in the thermal spa thanks to our tour guide, Gabor. I love the mist, caused by the great difference in temperature between the hot spa water and the atmosphere. It makes the entire spa experience more surreal and mystical."
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