Many great National Geographic photographers talk about photography as a powerful, universal visual language — true inspiration! 

See full-screen slideshows of the top winners selected by National Geographic this year in all categories of their international contest: Nature, People and Places.

With an amazing archive of photographs that span the globe and the past 125 year, the anniversary issue of National Geographic reminds us that "a photograph has the power to do infinitely more than document. It can transport us to unseen worlds."