Here Are The Winners Of 2014's National Geographic Photo Contest

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Grand Prize and People Winner: “A Node Glows in the Dark," Brian Yen, Hong Kong

Grand Prize and People Winner: “A Node Glows in the Dark," Brian Yen, Hong Kong

"In the last ten years, mobile data, smartphones, and social networks have forever changed our existence. Although this woman stood at the center of a jam-packed train, the warm glow from her phone told the strangers around her that she wasn't really there. She managed to slip away from "here" for a short moment; she's a node flickering on the social web, roaming the Earth, free as a butterfly. Our existence is no longer stuck to the physical here; we're free to run away, and run we will."

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Nature Winner: “The Great Migration," Nicole Cambré, North Serengeti, Tanzania

Nature Winner: “The Great Migration," Nicole Cambré, North Serengeti, Tanzania

"Jump of the wildebeest at the Mara River."

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Places Winner: “Bathing in Budapest,” Triston Yeo, Budapest, Hungary

Places Winner: “Bathing in Budapest,” Triston Yeo, Budapest, Hungary

"The thermal spas in Budapest [are] one of the favorite activities of Hungarians, especially in winter. We were fortunate to gain special access to shoot in the thermal spa thanks to our tour guide, Gabor. I love the mist, caused by the great difference in temperature between the hot spa water and the atmosphere. It makes the entire spa experience more surreal and mystical."

Honorable Mention, Nature: "Glass Fish," Christian Miller, Cairns, Great Barrier Reef, Flynn Reef, Australia

Honorable Mention, Nature: "Glass Fish," Christian Miller, Cairns, Great Barrier Reef, Flynn Reef, Australia

"On a windy day right after a cyclone passed the far northern Great Barrier Reef, I took some friends out to the reef. Never before have I seen that many glass fish on this particular coral 'bommie'. Just as I set up my camera, this Napoleon Wrasse swam right through the school of fish, building a living frame."

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Honorable Mention, Nature: “Shoulder Creek,” Henrik Nilsson, Boundary Bay, BC, Canada

Honorable Mention, Nature: “Shoulder Creek,” Henrik Nilsson, Boundary Bay, BC, Canada

"A wild short-eared owl completes a shoulder check in case something was missed. Northern harriers were also hunting in the field and these raptors will often steal a kill from the owls."

Honorable Mention, Nature: “Dragon,” Maie Kirnmann, Tabasalu, Estonia

Honorable Mention, Nature: “Dragon,” Maie Kirnmann, Tabasalu, Estonia

"Ice art on the window."

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Honorable Mention, Nature: “Stag Deer Bellowing,” Prashant Meswani, Richmond Park, London, UK

Honorable Mention, Nature: “Stag Deer Bellowing,” Prashant Meswani, Richmond Park, London, UK

"Stag Deer bellowing in Richmond Park."

Honorable Mention, Nature: “Muscle Power," Archna Singh, Bandhavgarh National Park, Madhya Pradesh, India

Honorable Mention, Nature: “Muscle Power," Archna Singh, Bandhavgarh National Park, Madhya Pradesh, India

"This playful fight amongst two young sub-adult Tigers was indeed a brilliant life time opportunity that lasted exactly four to five seconds. The cubs were sitting in the grass as dusk approached when suddenly one of them sneaked up behind the other and what happened next is captured in this image."

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Honorable Mention, Nature: “Zebras and the rim of the Crater," Zik Teo, Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Tanzania

Honorable Mention, Nature: “Zebras and the rim of the Crater," Zik Teo, Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Tanzania

"Ngorongoro Crater, Tanzania, is the world's largest inactive volcanic caldera. It is a collapsed volcano that harbors a range of African wildlife that live in relatively close proximity and competition with each other. Zebras are amongst the most common animals in the crater, along with wildebeests, gazelles, hyenas, and lions. On a clear day, a 360º view of the crater rim can be seen whilst being inside."

Honorable Mention, People: “Children in the Darkness,” Abdullah Alghajar, Termanin, Syria

Honorable Mention, People: “Children in the Darkness,” Abdullah Alghajar, Termanin, Syria

"Disabled children living in Syria war."

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Honorable Mention, People: “Biltigiri,” Mattia Passarini, Chhattisgarh, India

Honorable Mention, People: “Biltigiri,” Mattia Passarini, Chhattisgarh, India

"The chef of Ramnami people in Chhattisgarh, India. Ramnami tattoo the name of the lord “Ram” on their bodies. Their entire focus is on the name of Ram, the name of God that is most dear to them. The Ramnami Samaj is a sect of harijan (Untouchable) Ram. Formed in the 1890s, the sect has become a dominant force in the religious life of the area. The tattoo is the result of their devotion and also a gift and an acknowledgment from Ram."

Honorable Mention, People: “Temper,” Adam Birkan, Bangkok, Thailand, Southeast Asia

Honorable Mention, People: “Temper,” Adam Birkan, Bangkok, Thailand, Southeast Asia

"A young girl throws a temper tantrum in a Bangkok shopping mall."

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Honorable Mention, People: “Dead Sea Mudbathing,” Nick Riley, Dead Sea, Israel

Honorable Mention, People: “Dead Sea Mudbathing,” Nick Riley, Dead Sea, Israel

"Seekers of eternal youth coat themselves in mineral-rich mud at the Dead Sea in Israel."

Honorable Mention, People: “Tea Time in the Hut," K, Paris, France

Honorable Mention, People: “Tea Time in the Hut," K, Paris, France

"Little discussion with a doll in a plastic box. Not inherently beautiful, but with this slice of light, it looks like a bubble invented to dream in an imaginative world."

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Honorable Mention, People: "“Waiting," Roberto Fiore, Sarbi, Maramure, Romania

Honorable Mention, People: "“Waiting," Roberto Fiore, Sarbi, Maramure, Romania

"He was waiting on the bed, lost in thought, while his wife was preparing the bread to be blessed for the Orthodox Eucharist."

Honorable Mention, People: “My Brothers and I,” Tyler G., Blue Ridge Parkway, Virginia

Honorable Mention, People: “My Brothers and I,” Tyler G., Blue Ridge Parkway, Virginia

"Our road trip down to Miami traversed this outlook on the Blue Ridge Parkway. We rested on this ridge overlooking the mountains. Though we argued consistently throughout the journey, here we were, reminded of our brotherhood."

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Honorable Mention, Places: “Destroyed Homs,” Sergey Ponomarev, Homs, Syria

Honorable Mention, Places: “Destroyed Homs,” Sergey Ponomarev, Homs, Syria

"Birds fly over the destroyed houses in Khalidiya district in Homs, Syria. In the vast stillness of the destroyed city center of Homs, there are large areas where nothing moves. Then, suddenly, wind blows a ripped awning, or birds fly overhead."

Honorable Mention, Places: “The Storm,” Aytül Akbas, Kocaeli, Turkey

Honorable Mention, Places: “The Storm,” Aytül Akbas, Kocaeli, Turkey

"While I was taking photos with my nephew, a storm came and I caught this beautiful moment."

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Honorable Mention, Places: “Tokyo – Shinagawa Station,” Peter Franc, Shinagawa Station, Tokyo, Japan

Honorable Mention, Places: “Tokyo – Shinagawa Station,” Peter Franc, Shinagawa Station, Tokyo, Japan

"I was up at an ungodly hour to make it to the Tsukiji Fish Market in Tokyo. With so many amazing things to see in the city, I had hardly slept, and managed to get off at the wrong station. Wave after wave of people kept coming through the station passageway. I spied a coffee shop with a vantage point and managed to snap a few shots, camera resting on the ledge. After the caffeine kicked in, I was ready to brave the river of people..."

Now see some more amazing photos from this past year...

Now see some more amazing photos from this past year...

Photographers reveal the stories behind 2014's most powerful pictures»

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