National Geographic Shots

The National Geographic jet set: Breath-taking shots taken around the world by photographers vying for the 2013 Traveler Photo Contest

By Helen Pow

PUBLISHED: 01:54 GMT, 24 April 2013 | UPDATED: 07:25 GMT, 24 April 2013

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National Geographic is calling for travelers the world over to share their epic adventures with its readers.  The 25th annual National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest is now accepting submissions, and thousands of professional and amateur snappers have already entered their stunning travel pictures showcasing everything from Hindu devotees in Malaysia to a fearless climber in St Erebus, Antarctica.

The winner of the 2013 Traveler Photo Contest will receive a 10-day National Geographic Expedition to the Galápagos and have their prized photo published in National Geographic Traveler magazine. Runner up with be awarded a seven-day National Geographic Photography Workshop, while third prize is a six-day cruise on a Maine windjammer schooner for two.

Some of the wonderful photos already submitted include a spectacular image titled 'Door to Hell' by Priscilla Locke, which shows a woman standing at the edge of the fiery Darvaza Crater in Turkmenistan. The crater has been burning for decades, fueled by the rich natural gas reserves found below the surface. In a quirky entry, traveler Melih Sular captures record seller Ahmet as he pokes his head through a gap in his exhaustive collection.

Photographers can enter their favorite travel memories in any of four categories including travel portraits, outdoor scenes, sense of place and spontaneous moments.

The power of the Criollo: Photo and caption by Chris Schmid for the 2013 National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest

Music Collector: Ahmet is a record seller who loves music very much. He has a small and charming shop and he makes collection of long-play records. He spends his life on music and its changes, and he is very happy with the old melodies. Photo and caption by Melih Sular

Shadows in dust: A herd of wildebeest kick up dust at sunset, revealing their shadows. Photo and caption by Max Seigal

Spotters Paradise: Where big jets skim the beach enthralling the spectators, at Princess Juliana International Airport in St Martin. Photo and caption by Bernie Verhoeven

Devotees: Devotees performing their rituals during the Thaipusam festival held at Malaysia. It is a Hindu festival celebrated mostly by the Tamil community on the full moon in the Tamil month usually during the month of January to February. Photo and caption by Mervyn Dublin

Another perspective of the day: The fisherman at Bira Beach. Photo and caption by Dody Kusuma

Mount Erebus Ice Cave: A scientist climbs out of an ice cave formed by volcanic vents near the summit of Mt. Erebus, Antarctica. Photo and caption by Alasdair Turner

Barranco Camp at night: Barranco camp was our third on our seven 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. Photo and caption by Trevor Booth

Door to Hell: 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. Photo and caption by Priscilla Locke

King of the penguins: Taken at Booth Island in Antarctica. Photo and caption by Nancy Dowling

Cormorant fisherman: Cormorant fishing is a traditional fishing method in China. Fishermen control the birds by tying a snare near the bird's throat in order to prevent the birds from swallowing larger fish. This technique is practiced in the early morning before sunrise or in the hours before dusk, when fishermen attract the fish with lantern light. Unfortunately, cormorant fishing is long past its glory days and nowadays only a few fishermen from fishing villages along Li-river still practice it. Photo and caption by Andrey Pavlov

Yellow Lady: The hostile desert landscape in the Little Rann of Kutch in western Gujarat state is where these day labourers work. The stark, white salt is a challenging environment to work in, dry and bright but there is a peace and beauty to this place too which is overwhelming. It was the second time I visited these parts and each time I leave with a sense of joy and sorrow, the people are lowly paid but full of welcome and smiles to me even though life is tough for them as this is their environment. Photo and caption by Charlotte Anderson

Main Bazaar in New Delhi, India: This is a long exposure, evening look at Main Bazaar in Paharganj. Photo and caption by Edward Graham

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Turkey

Region: transcontinental country,located mostly on Anatolia in Western Asia

and on East Thrace in Southeastern Europe. Area Total: 783,562 km2
Coast Line: Black Sea, The Sea of Marmara, Aegean Sea, Mediterranean Sea

Capital: ANKARA

Mustafa Kemal ATATÜRK

Mustafa Kemal ATATÜRK (19 May 1881 (Conventional) 10 November 1938) was an Ottoman and Turkish army officer, revolutionary statesman,

writer, and the first President of Turkey.

He is credited with being the founder of the Republic of Turkey.

His surname, Atatürk (meaning "Father of the Turks"), was granted to him (and forbidden to any other person) in 1934 by the Turkish parliament.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mustafa_Kemal_Atat%C3%BCrk

ANIT KABiR - ANKARA

Mausoleum of Atatürk

ANIT KABiR

Changing of the guards at the Mausoleum of ATATÜRK

2nd Turkish Grand National Assembly Republican Museum, Ankara

II. Turkish Grand National Assembly is an important building in which Atatürks principals and reforms came to life, the most important decisions taken on the way to develop the new Republic by contemporary legislation, also where the international treaties and agreements made to increase Turkey's prestige and activities in the international arena and transition to multiple party system taken place between 1924 - 1960. II. Turkish Grand National Assembly played an important role in Turkish political history for a period of 36 years until 27 May 1960. After moving the Assembly to its new modern building in 1961, the building was allotted to the Central Treaty Organization (CENTO). The building functioned as the headquarters of CENTO between the years 1961 and 1979 and after the abolishing of CENTO in the same year, it was transferred to the Ministry of Culture. The decision was made to arrange the front section of the building as Museum of Republic and the rear section as the administration building for the General Directorate of Antiquities and Museums. The museum section, after refurbishment and restorations, opened to public exhibition on 30 October 1981 as Museum of Republic.

In 1930, leaving the parliament after the 7th-year celebration meeting.

Turkish Grand National Assembly

Ankara

Ata Kule (Ata Tower), Ankara

Vadi Park ( Valley Park), Ankara

Gençlik Parki (Youth Park), Ankara

Gençlik Parki (Youth Park), Ankara

Kocatepe Mosque, Ankara

Capital: ANKARA

State Ballet and Opera House, Ankara

State Ballet and Opera House - interior

Citadel of Ankara

State Art and Sculpture Museum (1927), Ankara

Museum Of Anatolian Civilisations, Ankara

Chimera with a human head and a lion's head; Late Hittite period

Museum Of Anatolian Civilisations, Ankara

Marble head of a Roman woman

Museum Of Anatolian Civilisations, Ankara

Bronze religious standard symbolizing the universe, used by Hittite priests.

Museum Of Anatolian Civilisations, Ankara

Bronze ceremonial standard of the Hittites

Museum Of Anatolian Civilisations, Ankara

Ethnography Museum, Ankara

The museum temporarily hosted the sarcophagus of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk from November 21, 1938 until November 10, 1953,

during the period of the construction of Anıtkabir, its final resting place.

Ethnography Museum, Ankara

Ethnography Museum, Ankara

Ethnography Museum, Ankara

Ethnography Museum, Ankara

Ethnography Museum, Ankara

Roman Baths, Ankara

Coast Line: Black Sea, The Sea of Marmara, Aegean Sea, Mediterranean Sea

Capital: ANKARA

Kugulu Park ( swan park), Ankara

Kugulu Park in winter

The historic Ankara Palas Hotel (1927)

Ankara Palas is a historical building, which is used as an official state guest house in the capital Ankara, Turkey.

Initially designed as the Ministry of Health building, it was used as a hotel for the members of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey following the completion of its construction in 1928.

Faculty of Languages History and Geography (1940)

The establishment of the Turkish Republic in 1923 was not only a change in regime, but also a major social transformation to a new system relying on modern values, science and institutions.

The foundation of Ankara University was personally initiated by Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the founder and first president of the Republic of Turkey, in order to establish and disseminate such principles on a national level.

METU

Middle East Technical University is founded under the name of "Middle East High Technology Institute" on November 15th, 1956

to contribute to the development of Turkey and Middle East countries and especially to train people so as to create a skilled workforce in the fields of natural and social sciences.

The language of instruction at METU is English.

Evkaf Apartment (1929) is the headquarters of the Turkish State Theatres, Ankara.

Temple of Augustus, Ankara

Atatürk House at Atatürk Forest Farm, Ankara

Zoo entrance, Ankara

Hamamonü, Ankara

Restorated old houses

Hidrellez celebrations in Hamamonü, Ankara

Hıdırellez or Hıdrellez is celebrated as the day on which Prophets Hızır (Al-Khidr) and Ilyas (Elijah) met on the earth. Hıdırellez starts on May 5 night and falls on May 6 in the Gregorian calendar and April 23 in the Julian calendar. It is celebrated in Turkey and throughout the Turkic world. It celebrates the arrival of spring and is a religious holiday for the Alevi as well. Đurđevdan is the Christian variety of this spring festival throughout the Balkans, notably areas which had become under the control of the Ottoman Empire by the end of the 16th century.

Beypazari, Ankara

Beypazari, Ankara

Ankara (Angora) Cat

Konya

Mevlana Jalal al-din Rumi and more popularly in the English-speaking world simply as Rumi (30 September 1207 17 December 1273), was a 13th-century Persian poet, jurist, theologian, and Sufi mystic. Iranians, Turks, Afghans, Tajiks, and other Central Asian Muslims as well as the Muslims of the Indian subcontinent have greatly appreciated his spiritual legacy in the past seven centuries.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rumi

Mevlana Museum

Mevlana Museum

Mevlana Museum

Tomb of Mevlana in Mevlana Museum

Tombs of Dervishes in Mevlana Museum

Seven advices of Mevlana

Whirling Dervishes of the Mevlevi Order

Whirling Dervishes of the Mevlevi Order

Photo has taken by me 2 years ago on the Wedding Night Celebration (Sheb-i Arus) of Mevlana (Rumi)

On December 17th, 1273 AD, Mevlana Jalal al-din Rumi died at Konya.

The 17th of December is thus called Sheb-i Arus, meaning Brides Night or Nuptial Night or Wedding Night, because of the union of Mevlana with God.

The mosque and shrine of Shams Tabrizi

Shams Tabrizi (11851248) was a Persian Muslim, who is credited as the spiritual instructor of Mevlana Jalal al-din Rumi, also known as Rumi and is referenced with great reverence in Rumis poetic collection, in particular "The Works of Shams of Tabriz".

Tradition holds that Shams taught Rumi in seclusion in Konya for a period of forty days, before fleeing for Damascus. The tomb of Shams Tabrizi was recently nominated to be a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shams_Tabrizi

Shams Tabrizi mosque and shrine - interior

Mevlana Museum

Mevlana Museum

Mevlana Museum

Mevlana Museum

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