National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest
I was in Manaus/Amazon during the Brazilian Aquathlon (swimming and running) championship in . This river is called Rio Negro (Black River) due to water color. Rio Negro is the largest left tributary of the Amazon, the largest blackwater river in the world. While the name Rio Negro means Black River, its waters aren't exactly black; they are similar in color to strong tea. The dark color comes from humic acid from incomplete breakdown of phenol. I photographed it from the water and my lens got completely wet, but there was so energy in this boys that I just didn't worry about that.
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Second Place: Thunderstorm at False Kiva
I hiked out to these ruins at night hoping to photograph them with the milky way, but instead a thunderstorm rolled through creating this dramatic image.
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Third Place: Say cheese
Cheetahs jumped on the vehicle of tourists in Masai Mara national park, Kenya.
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Merit: Piano play at sunset
Streets of Queenstown, New Zealand at the end of one more day filled with adrenaline. Calming and doleful scene with piano sound in the background.
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Merit: Guanjiang Shou
Guanjiang Shou troupes are one of Taiwan most popular activities that may be seen all over Taiwan at traditional folk religion gatherings. With their fiercely painted faces, protruding fangs and powerful, choreographed performances, they are easily recognized, They may be described as underworld police or gods' bodyguards.
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