The 2011 National Geographic International Photo Contest

Bonobo Portrait, Jacksonville Zoo, Florida (© Graham McGeorge / 2011 National Geographic Photo Contest)

The National Geographic International Photography Contest 2011 is taking place now, attracting thousands of creative, inspiring, imaginative and amazing photos from around the world. Interested photographers can still submit their creations in three categories: People, Places, and Nature until November 30. The contest is organized by National Geographic: the leader in capturing our world through brilliant imagery sets the standard for photographic excellence.

Last year, the organization received more than 16,000 contest entries submitted by photographers from 130 countries.

Judged on creativity and photographic quality, one first place winner will be selected in each category by a panel of experts. From the three category winners, the grand prize winner will be selected. This year’s contest judges are National Geographic magazine photographers Tim Laman, Amy Toensing, and Peter Essick.

The Grand Prize Winner will receive $10,000 and a trip to National Geographic headquarters in Washington, D.C., to participate in the annual National Geographic Photography Seminar in January 2012: A behind-the-scenes experience like none other.

View some of the finalists and winning images from 2010 here.

Visit National Geographic’s contest website for more information about the contest and to see some of the most recent submissions.

Captions and images by individual photographers.

An unexpected side-effect of the 2010 flooding in parts of Sindh, Pakistan, was that millions of spiders climbed up into the trees to escape the rising flood waters; because of the scale of the flooding and the fact that the water took so long to recede, many trees became cocooned in spiders webs. People in the area had never seen this phenomenon before, but they also reported that there were less mosquitos than they would have expected, given the amount of standing water that was left. Not being bitten by mosquitoes was one small blessing for people that had lost everything in the floods. (Photo and caption by Russell Watkins / 2011 National Geographic Photo Contest)

Curious cormorants watch the start of the Gatorman part of the La Jolla Roughwater Swim. Athletes swim 3 miles from La Jolla Cove to Scripps Pier and back. (Photo and caption byLee Sie / 2011 National Geographic Photo Contest)

A male jawfish mouthbrooding eggs until they hatch. (Photo and caption bySteven Kovacs / 2011 National Geographic Photo Contest)

Every year around the month of October, Dubai experiences heavy fog due to the still-high humidity and the falling temperatures. With all the new high-rise buildings (including the tallest in the world, Burj Khalifa), this provides a great photographic opportunity. (Photo and caption by Catalin Marin / 2011 National Geographic Photo Contest)

The Himba Women of northern Namibia perfome daily rituals where by they annoint themselves with a mixture of ochre, oil and ash to protect themselves from the harsh desert climate. They never take a shower, but rather burn aromatic herbs in a pot each morning with which they smoke themselves as if applying perfume. (Photo and caption by Dominique Brand / 2011 National Geographic Photo Contest)

Lone Tree Yellowstone Photo by Anita Erdmann A solitary tree surviving another harsh winter in Yellowstone National Park. (Photo and caption by Anita Erdmann / 2011 National Geographic Photo Contest)

LOVE OF PARENTS: The emperor penguins fight for survival and to protect their only baby in the frozen Antarctic ice desert. Antarctica: Atka Bay, Weddell Sea. (Photo and caption by Claus Possberg / 2011 National Geographic Photo Contest)

CLASH OF CIVILISATIONS: Walking down a main street in Addis, I met this young character. We started talking and soon became friends. One day, he invited me to his home to try some famous Ethiopian coffee, prepared traditionally. As I drank cup after cup of exquisite, freshly roasted coffee, this scene emerged in front of me. In a way it described my experience of Ethiopia, and other African nations I had worked in: a rapidly changing, dynamic world where tradition and modernity struggle to coexist. Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. (Photo and caption by Jason Benovoy / 2011 National Geographic Photo Contest)

BY THE WIND OF CHANCE: I was doing my touristic duties to photograph the Pyramids, and I hear my professor shouting. Next thing you know my entire class and some police officers were running to catch my professors hat. It actually wasn’t until later that night when scrolling through my photos that I realized I captured this gem. Great Pyramid of Giza. (Photo and caption by John Head / 2011 National Geographic Photo Contest)

At safari not only animals can attract attention. (Photo and caption by Dmitry Gorilovskiy / 2011 National Geographic Photo Contest)

TERENCE STAMP: The actor at my home in Ojai, California, during a casual photoshoot in my living room. Ojai, CA. (Photo and caption by Betina La Plante / 2011 National Geographic Photo Contest)