The winners of the photo contest National Geographic Traveler 2014

At this year's international competition of National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest received more than 18 000 jobs. The victory went to the photographer named Marco Korosets (Marko Korosec) from Sezana, Slovenia. He took a dramatic storm cloud near Yulsburga, Colorado, the frame is called the "Independence Day", by analogy with the same film.

Marco Korosets had the opportunity to participate in an eight-day expedition to Alaska as part of National Geographic crew on board of one of the two ships: National Geographic Sea Lion and National Geographic Sea Bird. More about the prizes and prize-winners can be found on the official website of the Photo Contest National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest.

And we want to show you the pictures, which, according to the jury, were the best this year. The contestants competed in four categories: "Portraits in travel," "out in the open air", "Sense of place" and "Spontaneous moments."

1. The first place - the Independence Day. Photo: Marco Korosets

The picture was taken during the approach of a storm about Yulsburga, Colorado, May 28, 2013. Location: Yulsburg, Colorado, USA

2. Second place - for the first time. Photo: Agnieszka Trachevska

District Jerusalem Mea Shearim Orthodox communities inhabit. Newlyweds Aaron and Rivkeh after the wedding ceremony for the first time will remain private. Their marriage staged a family. 18-year-old bride and groom have confirmed only after the consent of the meeting. Since they could not see each other and talk about the day of the wedding. Location: Mea Shearim, Jerusalem, Israel

3. Third place - Diver in the Magic Kingdom. Photo: Mark Henauer

This Green Lake (Grüner See) is in Tragos, Austria. During the spring thaw water level rises about 10 meters. The phenomenon lasts only a few weeks, during which the water go hiking trails, meadows, trees. Thus formed the magical underwater scenery. Location: Green Lake, Tragos, Austria

4. The edge of the world. Photo: Sean Hacker Teper

Photo taken on the "edge of the world." A man riding on a swing in Baños, Ecuador, overlooking the erupting volcano Tungurahua. The eruption occurred February 1, 2014. A few minutes after shooting photos, we had to leave the area because of the ash cloud looming. Location: Banos, Ecuador

5. A little foggy city. Photo: Duowen Chen

This photo was taken in the afternoon of 25.12.2013 the castle, which is located on the outskirts of a small town. It offers a perfect view of the panorama of almost untouched historic city. Fog and mist gave the city a sense of mystery. Location: Cesky Krumlov, South Bohemian Region, Czech Republic

6. deserved rest in the Sahara. Photo: Evan Cole

In the photo our guide Moussa Macher on top of Tin Merzouga, the largest sand dunes of the Sahara desert in southern Algeria. Moussa lay down to rest, waiting until we have completed the 45-minute climb to the top. He it took 10 minutes. Location: Tin Merzouga, National Park Tassili N'ajjer Algeria

7. Divine makeup. Photo: Mahesh Balasubramanian

Taken during the festival "Mayana Soora Thiruvizha", which is held annually in March in a small village Kaveripattinem, the day after the Maha Shivaratri (the great night of Shiva). Location: Kaveripattinam, Tamil Nadu, India

8. The maid of honor. Photo: Susie Stern

Studying Borough Market (Burough) in London, I met four young beautiful women dressed in vintage white dress and eating ice cream while local shopkeeper watching them. Whether they were the bride or the bridesmaids, I do not know, but they obviously enjoyed the special day. Location: Borough Market, London, England

9. Finding peace. Photo: Byron Inggs

A tired horse on the background of "The Devil's Knuckles" in the afternoon. It was the end of the first of three days of riding through a mountain pass until the Bushmen Drakensberg Mountains National Park Sehlabathebe National Park in Lesotho. Location: Pass Qachas Nek, Sehlabathebe National Park National Park, Lesotho