Here Are The Breathtaking Pictures That Won National Geographic's 2013 Photography Contest

Julie Fletcher/National Geographic Photo Contest

More than 7,000 photographers from 150 countries submitted stunning images for this year's edition of the annual contest.

A panel of National Geographic photographers chose winners in three different categories: people, places, and nature.

The winning photos in each category will be published in an upcoming issue of National Geographic, and each photographer will receive a prize of $2,500. The grand prize winner overall receives $10,000 and a trip to National Geographic headquarters in Washington, D.C.

Contest rules required photos to be unaltered and in digital form.

National Geographic shared the honorable mentions and first-place winners with Business Insider.