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Aboard the National Geographic Explorer, Coast of Ireland
Photo by Jim Richardson
Right while I was in the middle of a lecture on the National Geographic Explorer the racket outside drowned me out. An Irish Coast Guard helicopter was practicing dropping rescue crews on our aft deck and we were all delighted to take in the action. With incredible precision they dropped him down amongst the deck chairs, and our crew then offered him a soft drink and our best wishes before he was whisked away to our grateful cheers.
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Machrie Golf Links, Isle of Islay, Scotland
Photo by Jim Richardson
Golf can be a high energy action sport when your wee white ball lands in the rough at Machrie on the Scottish isle of Islay. The course website notes that they like "to think of the Machrie course as a subtle beast with a sense of humor." Fortunately Sandy has a good sense of humor and let me take his picture trying to extricate his ball from the jungle. The fairways are narrow, the beach is windy, and the sea beyond is wide. Perfect way to relax.
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Llamas at Machu Picchu, Peru
Photo by Jim Richardson
High in the Andes at Machu Picchu a small herd of llamas lives a life of leisure amongst the Inca ruins. Obviously well-socialized (these llamas never spit at tourists) they graze their way up and down the ancient terraces every day, sure-footed, prettily decorated and absolutely indifferent to cameras. Perhaps one of these nuzzling pair is descended from the Inca deity Uruchillay.
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Lion family, Serengeti, Tanzania
Photo by Jim Richardson
Landing our small plane on the dirt strip in Serengeti National Park that sweltering afternoon, wildlife encounters seemed unlikely. But within half an hour our guide had three lioness's in front of us, with more cubs than we could keep track of testing their mother's patience. Their simple domestic moments were a great gift to us. Soon they were off in search of water, leaving all of us feeling incredibly lucky.
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French Navy Band, Lorient, Brittany, France
Photo by Jim Richardson
No bass drummer ever strutted his stuff with more style than the guy with the French Navy band at Festival Interceltique in Lorient, Brittany. But he had competition because this band is made up of instruments like binous and bombards, all nasal sounding and wonderful as they pierced the night air. And then there were the Breton style of bagpipes to complete the scene.
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Sitar Player, Rambagh Palace, Jaipur, India
Photo by Jim Richardson
Arriving at Rambagh Palace one could be forgiven for thinking they might just run into the Maharaja of Jaipur at any moment. But he is gone and now his palace is one of the great hotels of the world, favored by jet-setting celebrities and sports luminaries, and awash in the atmosphere and trappings of the Raj—sitar players and all. In the morning turbaned waiters hurried about delivering tea, peacocks called from the towers, and the sun broke over a distant, hilltop Indian fortress.
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Swedish Parade, Lindsborg, Kansas
Photo by Jim Richardson
Small towns bring out all-American creativity, and my own town is no exception, even if we are mostly Swedish. So I wasn't terribly surprised to see an American flag or two show up for our grand holiday, Svensk Hyllningsfest. But to see the flag walking, with ten feet sticking out underneath, was mildly amusing. Our patriotic ladies were glad to be in a picture, before continuing down the parade route to wide acclaim.
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Bridge Decorated for Christmas, Lindsborg, Kansas
Photo by Jim Richardson
Every Christmas the old one-lane iron bridge over the sleepy Smokey Hill River on the south edge of town turns into the star of the show. After weeks of attention from the tireless crew who strings it with lights every year (thank you, guys and gals), the ceremonial lighting starts the season. Countless such humble events, which admittedly will never rival the grand spectacles major cities, bring warmth and cheer to our lives, emblems of community spirit and good will. They are always worth a picture.
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Sunrise, Isle of Lewis, Scotland
Photo by Jim Richardson
Fog-covered hills and lochs on the Isle of Lewis suddenly turned blazing at sunrise, the whole tableau misty and mysterious. These island are always a challenge to me, more scenic that any photograph can really capture, mocking the photographer who tries. But the rewards of just being there are always sufficient to me, and I'll always go back.
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Seabird Wing, North Coast of Iceland
Photo by Jim Richardson
Nature hides in many places, not all of them grand and obvious. And Iceland is one of those places which often rewards unconventional curiosity. With enough vistas already seen and photographed I picked up this gull's wing and found within it whole planes of interlocking patterns, graceful engineering, and lustrous lighting effects. Architecture of splendid proportions, the last remnants of a departed life.
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Dusk on the Main Square, Cusco, Peru
Photo by Jim Richardson
Cusco was glowing by the time I made it to Main Square, known in Inca times as Huacaypata, with the last blue fading from the evening sky. Easy to imagine Inca soldiers assembled in the warriors' square, and then the triumphant conquistador Franciso Pizarro declaring Spanish dominion. Five centuries later it is just a lovely place for an even stroll in a beautiful city in the Andes.
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The Taj Mahal, Agra, India
Photo by Jim Richardson
Shimmering white in the Indian sunshine, the Taj Mahal is always swamped with visitors, drawn by the architectural beauty and the loving story of Shah Jahan's enduring love for his departed wife, Mumtaz Mahal. But if you wander over on the broad platform it is blessedly quiet, with the sun casting ornate shadows from the minarets, and you can once again imagine this as a place of quiet reverence.
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Jim Richardson
Judging the contest will be award-winning photographer Jim Richardson, whose work has graced the pages of National Geographic and other publications.
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View 2010 Winners
Last year's Grand Prize winner won a trip for two to Tanzania and Zanzibar! View last year's winning photography picks and find out what it takes to take home the prize.
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Categories
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Category 1Animals / Wildlife
Whether it's our family pet in the living room or magnificent wildlife in Africa, the animals and wildlife of our world bring us delight, affection and wonder. Winning pictures in this category will bring back all the personality, devotion, excitement, and shared experience we feel with our fellow beings on this planet.
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Category 2Nature / Weather
The natural world has always made great pictures. And the weather that shapes our environment can be a subject unto itself. Either way, pictures in Nature/Weather will focus on wilderness, landscapes (and seascapes), nature's incredible variety of flowers and plants, and the wonders of geology and geography. Weather, always part of our daily world, brings with it every emotion from awe to tranquility. Strong emotion in these scenes will set winning pictures apart. Note: Animal pictures belong in the Animals/Wildlife category. But a beautiful, grand landscape of Africa with the inevitable zebras in the distance belongs in Nature/Weather.
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Category 3Travel / Cultures
Our travels around the world bring us in contact with the incredible variety of human cultures. These pictures—whether of native dress, festivals, food, celebrations, history or architecture—will celebrate the vast and colorful variety of how people express their human nature and what they value, from one side of the planet to the other. Note: Interesting people and characters you meet while traveling belong in this category. Pictures of your family and their antics, even while traveling on vacation belong in the Family/Community category.
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Category 4Family / Community
Family/Community is about the people we know in our daily lives and the places where we live every day. This could be halfway around the world, but it's more likely in your hometown—or in your kitchen. Family, friends, children, grandparents, neighbors and complete strangers fill lives with humor, love, emotion and meaning. These pictures don't have to be close to home, but they should be close to our hearts.
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Category 5Arts / Music
New for this year, the Arts/Music category will feature pictures that celebrate how music and the arts enrich our lives. Concerts and art galleries would certainly qualify for this category, but so would intimate jazz sessions, pub music in Ireland, and high school marching bands. The arts are everywhere around us, from art fairs to Halloween pumpkin carving, from grand public art and murals to children's fanciful sidewalk chalk drawings. It's all welcome in Arts/Music.
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Category 6Action / Energy
When things move into high gear, when the picture is all about the energy and beauty of things in motion, when you can just feel the electricity of the action, that's Action/Energy. Sports action pictures are a natural for this category, but so are pictures of animals galloping at high speed, and the dogged efforts of the long distance runners. Pictures here will almost always show things happening. Keep it lively.
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Jim and Energizer Batteries
The Galaway Inn was alive with Irish music, packed wall to wall with people and like all Irish pubs, very dark. My Energizer-powered flash units lit up the scene—the musicians kept playing, the energy was fantastic, the action never let up and my camera outlasted us all.
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