The 27th annual National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest kicked off in April, but is accepting entries until June 30. If you want to sign up for the contest, you can do so by clicking here. There are quite some hefty prizes, including:

• 1st prize: An eight-day National Geographic Photo Expedition: Costa Rica and the Panama Canal with airfare for two
• 2nd prize: A six-day National Geographic Photo Expedition: Winter Wildlife in Yellowstone for two
• 3rd prize: A six-day cruise from Schooner American Eagle and Heritage for two
• 7 merit prize winners will receive: A $200 gift certificate to B&H Photo

Our friends over at National Geographic were kind enough to share some of their favorite entries so far… and they’re really awesome:

© Anders Andersson

A bird´s view of tulip fields near Voorhout in the Netherlands, photographed with a drone in April 2015

© Felipe Arias Gutiérrez

This photo was taken during an afternoon safari in Amboseli National Park, Kenya. This huge male elephant was roaming around some bushes while we approached. However, he passed by as if he did not perceive us and continued feeding from leaves and grass. Such a close encounter was surely breathtaking.

© Sean Ensch

The mountain road, Trollstigen, in western Norway. I was lucky enough to live here for two months during summer and one evening I saw the valley filling with fog, so I drove up the road to watch the late summer midnight sun set as the fog swayed through the valley below.

© Ian Bird

This wave is situated right near the CBD of Sydney. Some describe it as the most dangerous wave in Australia, due to it breaking on barnacle covered rocks only a few feet deep and only ten metres from the cliff face. If you fall off you could find yourself in a life and death situation. This photo was taken 300 feet directly above the wave from a helicopter, just as the surfer is pulling under the lip of the barrel.

© Howard Singleton

Lucky timing! The oxpecker was originally sitting on hippo’s head. I could see the hippo was going into a huge yawn (threat display?) and the oxpecker had to vacate its perch. When I snapped the pic, the oxpecker appeared on the verge of being inhaled and was perfectly positioned between the massive gaping jaws of the hippo. The oxpecker also appears to be screeching in terror and back-pedaling to avoid being a snack!

© Jassen T.

Incredibly beautiful and extremely remote. Koehn Lake, Mojave Desert, California. Aerial Image.

© Martyna Blaszczyk

Pond de l’Archeveche – hundreds thousands of padlocks locked to a bridge by random couples, as a symbol of their eternal love. After another iconic Pont des Arts bridge was cleared of the padlocks in 2010 (as a safety measure), people started to place their love symbols on this one. Today both of the bridges are full of love locks again.

© Motoki Uemura

I’m looking forward to seeing “Sakura light-up” at megurogawa river every spring.