Winners of the 2011 National Geographic Photo Contest

National Geographic has selected the winning images for their annual contest. This year’s entrants did not disappoint—more than 20,000 photographs were submitted to the contest from over 130 countries, with professional and amateur photographers across the globe participating. Photographs were submitted in three categories: people, places, and nature.

Judged on creativity and photographic quality, a first place winner was selected in each category by a panel of experts. From the three category winners, the grand-prize winner was selected. This year’s contest judges were National Geographic magazine photographers Tim Laman, Amy Toensing, and Peter Essick.