National Geographic Travel Photographer of the Year 2017

National Geographic has just announced the winners of the contest in which they choose the best travel photographs of 2017. The winning photograph of the contest portrays a lightning-struck erupting volcano by Sergio Tapiro Velasco of Mexico, Grants him the prestigious title of National Geographic Photographer of the year. In addition, you will enjoy a 10-day trip for two people to theGalápagos Archipiélago withNational Geographic Expeditions, and a prize of $ 2,500.

The power of nature. Photograph by Sergio Tapiro Velasco, National Geographic Travel Photographer of the Year

The Colima volcano in Mexico is one of the most active in Latin America, and Sergio Tapiro Velasco has studied and photographed it for more than a decade. On the night of the winning National Geographic contest, the photographer was 12 kilometers from the crater when a lightning struck him. At first he did not know if he had captured the moment, but soon he could see that there was, not only witnessed, but photographed, one of those moments that happen once in life.

The winning image was selected from more than 15,000 participants entries from more than 30 countries. All of them taken in the last two years and framed in one of the three existing categories: Nature, People and Cities. The jury of the award chose the best photographs from each of the three categories. Velasco was the winner in the Nature section. In Cities, the recipient of a $ 750 prize and a subscription to the National Geographic Traveler magazine was Norbert Fritz of Hungary with a photograph entitled Levels of Reading.

Levels of reading. Norbet Fritz, winner in the City category

In the image appears a dervish, monk of a religious order mulsulmana, making the dance Sema, symbol of the Mevlevi culture. The image was taken in Sille, Konya (Turkey).

We also show you other participants in theNational Geographic, Travel Photographer of the Year, who received some recognition from the jury.