lightning striking the Manhattan skyline

aerial view of a colorful market in Bangkok, Thailand

double decker bus crossing London Bridge at night

a night snowfall near the Toji temple in Kyoto, Japan

purple and pink lights surrounding Shinjuku station in Tokyo

a motherboard-like view of Hong Kong's city lights

snow falling over a lone person in New York City

a building emerging from the clouds in Hong Kong

a woman wearing a mask on crowded metro in Tokyo

black and white city lights in Shinjuku, Japan

fireworks erupting in the Yokohama night sky

an illuminated commercial facility in Tokyo

city lights at night in Frankfurt, Germany

rows of rooms at one of Singapore's oldest housing estates

women wearing traditional Ethiopian dress in Aksum

Chun Yeung Street's reflection in Hong Kong

the view of Dubai at night from Burj Khalifa

vibrant city lights in a bustling area of Bangalore

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Hong Kong"A long exposure photo in front of the pedestrian crossing light at night in Hong Kong."

Photograph by Ka Lok Yim, National Geographic Your Shot

33 Illuminating Photos of Our World at Night

The 2017 National Geographic Travel Photographer of the Year Contest may be over, but these entries are still shining bright.

ByNational Geographic Staff

July 11, 2017

Every place looks different at night. As soon as the sun sets, wonders that were hidden in the day come to life. Whether it’s the lights of a bustling city or the stars above a remote landscape, there are always new sights to explore. Photographers head out at night to see the same locations from different perspectives.

Even though the deadline to submit entries for the 2017 National Geographic Travel Photographer of the Year Contest has passed, these photos illuminated our screens. Many submissions feature stunning evening snaps, from shimmering city skylines in Hong Kong to Northern Lights displays in Alaska. Take a look at some of our editors’ favorites so far, then be sure to check out the winners in early August.