13 Stunning Photos That Will Make Your Day

Awesome submissions from the 2013 National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest.

1. Portrait of an Eastern Screech Owl

Photo and caption by Graham McGeorge/National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest / Via travel.nationalgeographic.com

"Masters of disguise. The Eastern Screech Owl is seen here doing what they do best. You better have a sharp eye to spot these little birds of prey."

Location: Okefenokee Swamp, GA

2. Ice On the Lake

Photo and caption by Edward Graham/National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest / Via travel.nationalgeographic.com

"I was walking around Lake Baikal at sunset and spotted this ice. I laid on the cold, frozen surface with my zoom lens and took this picture."

Location: Lake Baikal, Russia

3. Midnight Tree

Photo and caption by max seigal/National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest / Via travel.nationalgeographic.com

"I hiked several hours through the night in Patagonia to find a tree I had seen a few days earlier and photograph it with the night sky."

Location: Patagonia

4. Cowboy in a ribbon of light

Photo and caption by Dylan Brown/ National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest / Via travel.nationalgeographic.com

"Rodeos always provide a sense of place. There's action, dirt, pride, you name it. It's a loud, flashy sport, with cheering and showboating. But on the underbelly are quiet moments. The moments between bucking broncs, beer drinking and the announcers crude jokes. Moments like this one, where a young boy waits patiently for the next horse to come charging out of the chutes."

Location: Helena, Montana

5. Goðafoss

Photo and caption by Joshua Holko/National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest / Via travel.nationalgeographic.com

"Goðafoss is one of the most spectacular waterfalls in Iceland. Located in the central north of the island translucent aqua water cascades over the horseshoe shaped falls and races down the canyon. Icicles cling to its rock ledges and fresh snow lies across the landscape under soft diffuse light of the type that only Iceland can deliver."

Location: Goðafoss, Iceland

6. Milkyway Over Halemaʻumaʻu Crater

Photo and caption by Zong Ye Quek/National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest / Via travel.nationalgeographic.com

"Mother Nature’s awesome power on display at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park Lighting up the Night with both Celestial and Terrestrial Flames. A scene like this often makes us wonder our place in the universe..."

Location: Hawaii

7. The power of the Criollo

Photo and caption by Chris Schmid/National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest / Via travel.nationalgeographic.com

"The power of the Criollo horses at the Cabanha Ipuã located in Paranà, Brazil. The Criollo is the native horse of Uruguay (1910), Argentina (1918), Brazil (1932) and Paraguay. It may have the best endurance of any horse breed in the world next to the Arabian."

Location: Paranà, Brazil

8. Hare auroras

Photo and caption by Thomas Kast/National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest / Via travel.nationalgeographic.com

"In February 2013 I was for one week in Finnish Lapland to photograph Northern lights. On this cold night I was on a hill looking for a good spot when I came accross these hare tracks and snow-covered trees. Then the green dance started in the sky and my camera was ready to capture this moment. The aurora looks like a green hare which left the tracks in the snow. With the magic in the sky I shook the cold and stayed for a long time."

Location: Hetta, Finland

9. Door to Hell

Photo and caption by Priscilla Locke/National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest / Via travel.nationalgeographic.com

"Standing at the edge of the Darvaza Crater in Turkmenistan. Known as the Door to Hell, this flaming crater has been burning for decades, fueled by the rich natural gas reserves found below the surface."

Location: Darvaza, Turkmenistan

10. Barranco Camp at night, Kilimanjaro

Via travel.nationalgeographic.com

"Barranco camp was our third on our 7 day hike to the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro. Taken after dinner while the group was getting ready to get a good nights rest before tackling infamous Barracno Wall in the morning."

Location: Mount Kilimanjaro, Tanzania

11. Tourists

Photo and caption by Sally Harmon/National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest / Via travel.nationalgeographic.com

"Red eyed tree frog posing for pictures."

Location: Costa Rica

12. One Mothers Love

Photo and caption by Graham McGeorge/National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest / Via travel.nationalgeographic.com

"I love watching the affection and attention that Bonobos have for their young. They truly are a wonderful species of ape."

Location: Jacksonville Zoo, Jacksonville, FL

13. Portrait of one chilled out Kangaroo

Photo and caption by Graham McGeorge/National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest / Via travel.nationalgeographic.com

"Jeez Louise...Those cookies were good"

Location: Jacksonville Zoo, Jacksonville, FL