Winners Of The National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest

The below photos are the 11 winners of this years Traveler contest by National Geographic. Nice shots, and well done! Click on any image to see it bigger. May favorite is the rain shot in Southern Chile.

First Place Winner Cedric Houin - "Butterfly" - This image was shot inside a native yurt in one of the most remote sections of Afghanistan. These people are nomadic by nature and live weeks away from any other villages on foot. Copyright Cedric Houin and National Geographic

Second Place Winner Vo Anh Kiet - "My Balloon" - This image was captured in a small village in Viet Nam. It shows these children captivated by a few balloons on a foggy morning. Copyright Vo Anh Kiet and National Geographic

Third Place Winner Andrea Guarneri - "Devotees" - Captured during an Easter celebration in Trapani. Located just East of Sicily. These three had just spent all night carrying this scene of Christ's passion on their shoulders. Copyright Andrea Guarneri and National Geographic

Merit Winner Fred An - "Looking into another world" - Fred captured this image at the Portland Japanese Gardens. One of the most photographed Japanese Maples on the planet. Copyright Fred An and National Geographic

Merit Winner Lucia Griggi - "Underwater surf" - A surfer duck dives under a wave at Cloud Break. A reef located in Fiji. Copyright Lucia Griggi and National Geographic

Merit Winner Ken Bower - "The Village of Gasadalur" - Located in the Faroe Islands between Norway and Iceland, this village consists of a whopping 16 people. Until a tunnel was built in 2004 through the mountain you see in the background, the only way in was a narrow trail on horseback or foot. Copyright Ken Bower and National Geographic

Merit Winner Peter DeMarco - "Bagan Bliss" - A farmer walks past the camera on the Bagan plains of Burma. In the background are one of the many Buddhist temples and pagodas that dot the landscape. Copyright Peter DeMarco and National Geographic

Merit Winner Camila Massu - "Swimming in the rain" - The photographer's sister is seen swimming in the rain in a lake located in Southern Chile. Copyright Camila Massu and National Geographic

Merit Winner SauKhiang Chau - "Old Men with Djellaba" - A Djellaba is a hooded robe. A traditional garmet found in the area of Morocco. Where this image was captured of seven old men swapping stories. Copyright SauKhiang Chau and National Geographic

Merit Winner Ken Thorne - "Lost in Time - An Ancient Forest" - Thousand year old Baobab trees are seen in the background of this shot taken in Madagascar. Copyright Ken Thorne and National Geographic

Viewer's Choice Winner Michelle Schantz - "Huset" - Located in Finnmark, Norway, this solitary cabin is illuminated by the Northern Lights. Copyright Michelle Shantz and National Geographic