First Prize: Charles Meacham 14-day trip for two to the mountains, rain forests, and fjords of New Zealand's South Island. "The driver we'd been promised knew Western Mongolia. The driver we got wanted to visit his family in Central Mongolia," explains Charles Meacham, an American who teaches English in Taiwan. "He yelled 'Mama,' and we replied 'Eagle hunters!' Even after we let him spend a day with his family, he refused to drive us on. Sunsets and sunrises went to waste, and my spirit finally sank when our van broke down. Then, out of the hills, came a group of children with their camels. They took us back to their families and served us dinner. We spent three days with them—and even spied an eagle or two. On the morning we left, this man posed for me. Some cultures believe that photographs can capture souls. I think that this culture captured mine. Of course our driver took full credit for it all." Although Meacham is "obsessed with taking pictures," this is his first photo contest. "I focus on portraits because they help me explain how good the people are that I meet on my travels. Each person has made my life better. So do I sound like a hippie?" (Canon EOS-1v, Canon 70-200mm lens, Kodak Ektachrome 100VS film.) Prize courtesy of National Geographic Expeditions and American Airlines. © 2003 National Geographic Society. All rights reserved.