#HTE

2016 National Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year Contest (25 photos)

National Geographic Magazine has opened its annual photo contest, with the deadline for submissions coming up on November 4, 2016. The Grand Prize Winner will receive a 10-day trip for two to the Galapagos Islands. The kind folks at National Geographic were once more kind enough to let me choose among the contest entries so far for display here. Captions written by the individual photographers.

Territorial Hippo. I was on a photographic safari in Chobe River, Botswana in April 2016 when I took this image. At this time of the year the water levels are high and herds of hippopotamus share the tributaries. This particular bull was very territorial and liked a mock charge whenever our boat (driven by a qualified local guide) passed his patch of the river on our daily outings. On this occasion, I pre-focussed my 600mm lens and fired a few shots at a safe distance and got this golden hour shot! (© Copyright Sam Kurtul / 2016 National Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year)
http://www.theatlantic.com/photo/2016/10/2016-national-geographic-nature-photographer-of-the-year-contest/502829/