15 Amazing Entries from Nat Geo's Nature Photographer of the Year Contest

’Tis the season for National Geographic’s annual nature photography contest, and some of the latest entries prove competition will be fierce. Take a look at a few of the best, and submit your own work until November 16 to win a trip to the Galápagos.

1. "Bear Hug" by Aaron Baggenstos, who has several images featured among the contest highlights, shows brown bears in Alaska's Katmai National Park.

2. Alison Langevad, the photographer, describes her image "Priceless":

3. What photographer Qian Wang, who's based in Shanghai, has to say about "Let's Picnic":

4. How the photographer Eric Esterle, who took "Hunting for Fish," describes the image:

5. The photographer, Kym Illman, explains the process involved in capturing "Curious Lions":

6. Photographer Aaron Baggenstos says of his image, "Tundra Ghost":

7. The photographer S. Dere describes "Battle of the Titans" as "A pair of Bison [squaring] off in the middle of the heard [sic] for dominance."

8. The Zurich-based photographer Stefan Schlumpf, who took "Hidden Landscape," poetically explains his photo:

9. Photographer Nancy Elwood says of "The Eye of a Gator,"

10. "Swamp Raccoon" came about completely by chance, the photographer, Kim Aikawa, explains: 

11. Canadian photographer Callum Snape describes "Burning Tree":

12. Japanese photographer Kyon J. says of "Through":

13. Yh Lee, who captured "Bull Race," says that, 

14. "Jellyfish" was taken by the New Jersey-based photographer T. King.

15. Photographer Alejandro Saenz explains how he captured "fjaðárgljúfur":