a caiman seen in algae covered water near the Bodoquena Mountains, Brazil
fog rolling over hills in West Marin County, California
Aerial picture of red colored mountains in Central Patagonia, Argentina
two bison facing off in Yellowstone National Park, Montana
butterflies seen at the El Rosario National Reserve in Mexico
an owl at rest
methane bubbles frozen in Abraham Lake, Banff National Park
Aerial picture of tulip fields, Seattle, Washington
a Parson's Chameleon, Madagascar
a small crab resting in anemone, Raja Ampat Islands, Indonesia
icebergs seen in Antarctica
a school of fish surrounding a stingray underwater, Revillagigedo Islands
a pelican at rest
Lake Retba in Senegal
a glass shrimp seen on coral in Thailand
glowworms in the Waipu caves, New Zealand
Aerial picture of the Olfusa River, South Iceland
an elephant, Thailand
rice fields in Longji, China
a bison resting in frost covered grass, Yellowstone National Park, Montana
lava flowing on the island of Kilauea, Hawaii
a mountainside in the Dolomites, Italy
the blue pond lit at night, Hokkaido, Japan
the French Alps lit at sunset
a hiker in the dunes at Death Valley National Park
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Bodoquena Mountains, Brazil"One may imagine this is an aerial photography, but the image was captured from the edge of a sinkhole, in Bodoquena Mountains, Brazil. In the photograph, a broad-snouted caiman—Caiman latirostris—crosses the lake at the bottom of the cenote. The depression circumference is roughly 500m and it is about 100m deep. Water collects at the bottom and forms a shallow lake. Some caimans live in this wet environment. How they got there and how they survive is a mystery."  
Photograph and caption by Ary Bassous, 2019 National Geographic Travel Photo Contest

25 spectacular patterns in nature—and where to see them

Explore designs in nature with these submissions to the 2019 National Geographic Travel Photo Contest.

BySarah Polger
April 11, 2019
Captions were written and submitted by the photographers.

When you travel, what do you see? This gallery of submissions to the 2019 National Geographic Travel Photo Contest reveals natural patterns and designs that captured the eyes—and lenses—of photographers from around the world. From bold landscapes to intimate wildlife portraits, explore visions of our world and ask yourself if you see the pattern of your own life in nature.

Think you have the winning photo? Be sure to enter before May 3 at 12pm EST. Submit for a chance to win up to $10,000.

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