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Boy Swimming with ‘Pet Shark,’ ‘Stairway to Heaven,’ & ‘Electrifying Ankor Wat’: Stunning Entries From Nat Geo’s Photo Contest

Jul. 6, 2012 8:59am Liz Klimas

Since April, National Geographic has been accepting submissions for its Traveler Photo Contest. With the official deadline for photos ending on June 28, the publication has extended the period for an additional entry fee until July 11, bringing the count to more than 9,000 submissions thus far.

Although many of the photographs are stunning in their own way, one has been causing a stir on the Web since late May. The photograph taken by James Morgan shows an Indonesian boy riding on the tail of a tawny nurse shark — something the Huffington Post pointed out is “definitely not something the average beachgoer should attempt.”

National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest Underway: Boy Riding Shark Causes Stir on the Web

"Enal with Pet Shark" (Photo: James Morgan via National Geographic Traveler)

On the entry section of the site, you can see that “Enal with Pet Shark,” which is in the category of spontaneous moments, has 355 Facebook “likes.”

Here is the description from the photo:

Enal, a young sea nomad, rides on the tail of a tawny nurse shark, in Sulawesi, Indonesia. Marine nomadism has almost completely disappeared in South East Asia as a result of severe marine degradation. I believe children such as Enal have stories that could prove pivotal in contemporary marine conservation.

Here are a few other photographs from the contest:

Stairway to Heaven (Photo: Dave Drost via National Geographic Traveler)

"Twice as Fun" (Photo: Alexandre Buisse via National Geographic Traveler)

"Greetings from the Ocean" (Photo: Fabrice Jaine via National Geographic Traveler)

"A Young Boy from Arbore Tribe in Southern Ethiopia" (Photo: Linda Brandi via National Geographic Traveler)

"A Predator's Patience" (Photo: Landon Johnson via National Geographic Traveler)

"Inquisitive Green Turtle" (Photo: Jackie Curtis via National Geographic Traveler)

"Electrifying Ankor Wat" (Photo: Ryan Dayrit via National Geographic Traveler)

"Smile!" (Photo: Emma Birge-Osborn via National Geographic Traveler)

The above photos are only just a small percent of what have been submitted, see the other entries here.

Photographic experts will judge the contest, first picking 10 entries based on certain criteria. From those, they will choose a winner from each prize level.

Winners of the photo contest are up for a National Geographic Galápagos Photography Expedition; a Santa Fe Workshop; a National Geographic Traveler Seminar; and $200 gift certificates to B&H Photo.

Curious to see last year’s grand prize winner? Check it out below:

"Star Gazing at Crater Lake" took the first place prize in 2011. (Photo: Ben Canales via National Geographic Traveler)

(H/T: NPR)

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Comments (30)

4xeverything
Posted on July 7, 2012 at 11:02am
If I had a pet shark, I would name him Squishy and, he would be mine.

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- rickc34
  Posted on July 7, 2012 at 1:38pm
  Hey son Jaws is here to play , don’t feed him to much.
  
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- 4xeverything
  Posted on July 8, 2012 at 8:46am
  So, what do ya think? Maybe just an arm or a leg? You know, a light snack.
  
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tharpdevenport
Posted on July 6, 2012 at 7:08pm
In Ethiopia, did they find anymore of Obama’s relatives?

We’re they there legally?

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lefty5005
Posted on July 6, 2012 at 1:05pm
The PC one will win…

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shogun459
Posted on July 6, 2012 at 11:47am
Number 8 is great.
Thiers 2 create.
Beautyful sight, sate.

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Rick Steele
Posted on July 6, 2012 at 11:38am
Re: Shark-Boy: Funny how the N.G. can’t publish a picture without some kind of liberal-tree-huggin message inbedded into it. And who invented the phrase, “Sea-Nomad”? Kind of like an American Indian living off the pure clean praire and eatin’ Buffalo?

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SquidVetOhio
Posted on July 6, 2012 at 11:19am
I would have been more impressed if the shark had a frickin laser on his head!

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- shogun459
  Posted on July 6, 2012 at 11:42am
  heheheHAHAHAhahahmmmmm!
  
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LeadNotFollow
Posted on July 6, 2012 at 10:19am
…
Stairway to Heaven is beautiful.

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Psychosis
Posted on July 6, 2012 at 10:11am
If Obama had a son he would look like he lad in picture number 5

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- meeester
  Posted on July 6, 2012 at 12:31pm
  You aren’t working with the common misconception of President Obama being a black person are you? With 50% Caucasian and about 40+% Arabic background the ***** portion is subtle.
  
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Tom K
Posted on July 6, 2012 at 9:56am
Just a sample of God’s creation. Spectacular !

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TelepromoterNChief
Posted on July 6, 2012 at 9:54am
An amateur can take a picture just as well as a pro.
Point camera and push button.
Remove lense cover optional.

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- shogun459
  Posted on July 6, 2012 at 11:43am
  Are you implying one could become the president,
  as long as one could read a teleprompter?
  
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RaydocX
Posted on July 6, 2012 at 9:34am
Gorgeous photos, but the majority couldn’t have been your typical traveler… If they’re hyping amateur ‘you and I’ photos, those like last year’s winner, clearly are ringers. Ont get me wrong, they’re amazing, but did I see there was a fee to submit? Don’t think any picture my ill point and shoot ever captured would stand a chance.

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- NOTAMUSHROOM
  Posted on July 6, 2012 at 9:43am
  I don’t know. Moments happen. I’ve been to that exact same spot on Crater Lake. It’s just off the road. Gotta have a good camera and a little luck.
  
  Report this comment
- Centurian
  Posted on July 6, 2012 at 12:32pm
  I would disagree. If you ever have a chance, I would recommend that you camp out in the Upper Peninsula in Michigan. Watching the sun set across Lake Superior or star gazing or spending your day at the Upper and Lower Tahqueamenon Falls, will simply take your breath away.
  
  Point is, anyone can drive a car a few hours from their home and enjoy the beauty the God has created.
  
  Take a picture, load it onto your computer, and use one of several photo programs to clean it up, and “Wha-La”, you have a picture that can be just as good as a pro.
  
  Report this comment
SpankDaMonkey
Posted on July 6, 2012 at 9:32am
.
I kinda like the picture of the guy who could floss with a chicken bone………..

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- Gonzo
  Posted on July 6, 2012 at 9:39am
  What do you call a boy that swims with sharks? Bait.
  
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- SpankDaMonkey
  Posted on July 6, 2012 at 9:47am
  .
  LOL would have been better if he was swimming with a pet Great White……
  
  Happy after the 4th to ya Gonzo………
  
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- Gonzo
  Posted on July 6, 2012 at 9:57am
  Ditto buddy.
  
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- The-Monk
  Posted on July 6, 2012 at 10:03am
  Hi Gonzo,
  
  It’s OK, the boys last name is Remoras.
  
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- The-Monk
  Posted on July 6, 2012 at 10:05am
  And Happy after the 4th to both of you. Hope your Holiday was was a blast.
  
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Brittany-Imbriaarts
Posted on July 6, 2012 at 9:30am
Amazing pictures

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deadend
Posted on July 6, 2012 at 9:24am
Awsome spectacular!!!!!!

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JesterJay
Posted on July 6, 2012 at 9:21am
Stairway to Heaven is my Fav very cool

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Wilma
Posted on July 6, 2012 at 9:20am
First photo reminds me of an old CBS Children’s Film Festival movie, “Tiko and the Shark,” about a Polynesian boy who adopts a shark.

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jhrusky
Posted on July 6, 2012 at 9:07am
Beautiful pictures!

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cranberry
Posted on July 6, 2012 at 9:05am
Beautiful!

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