National Geographic Traveler just announced the 2015 winners of their annual photo contest. The competition, which includes submissions from thousands of images taken from all around the world over the course of 2015, awards the winner an eight-night Costa Rica and Panama Canal photo trip with airfare included for two. Second- and third-place winners receive vacations in Yellowstone National Park and a cruise from Schooner American Eagle and Heritage, respectively. Merit winners get a Nat Geo Masters of Photography course plus a $200 B&H Photo gift certificate.
Scroll through the gallery to check out some of the amazing winning photography.















Representative Image: He'd rather be home, but he has to provide. 
Hand signs an invoiceCanva
Gif of Colin Ferrel via
A woman hands her neighbors a giftCanva
A woman in a convenience store purchases a lottery ticket.Canva
A couple celebrates the purchase of ftheir new homeCanva

House on fireCanva
An elderly woman wipes away tearsCanva
Gif of Dave Grohl singing via 


Man standing on concrete wall.Photo credit
The Pantheon in Rome and Hong Kong at sunrise.Photo credit
Windmills and green grass.
Time lapse of blue skies over a solar field.