National Geographic Traveller photography competition finalists

Shortlisted images across six categories range from Northern Ireland to Nepal. The winners will be announced on 28 February

Main image: The skies turned dark but the sun snuck through the clouds bathing the forest in a beautiful golden light. Then out of the purple heather came a herd of horses, heading for the watering hole for their evening drink Photograph: Daren Baker/National Geographic Traveller UK

  • Moremi game reserve, Botswana. Category: portfolio

    This photograph was taken from a Cessna plane and shows the approach to the reserve in Botswana’s Okavango Delta region. This is one of the many tributaries of the Okavango basin that snake through the landscape following the annual run-off of rain from the Angolan highlands.
    Moremi Game Reserve in Botswana a bird’s-eye view of the approach to the the reserve in Botswana’s Okavango Delta region.

  • Nambiti game reserve, South Africa. Category: portfolio.

    Our game ranger had been informed of mating activity within a group of lions. When we found the group, the sudden torrential downpour put a halt to the lions’ activities but created a different photographic opportunity. The lions were completely exposed to the elements with no nearby shelter on offer.
    Nambiti game reserve, South Africa. Category: portfolio.

  • Yala national park, Sri Lanka. Category: action

    The daylight was fading and I was scanning the bush for a leopard. Then, I saw this garden lizard and a common bronzeback snake in the road. When the snake struck, the lizard performed amazing acrobatics to avoid it. The snake didn’t enjoy the extra attention from the crowd of jeeps. The distraction gave the lizard the chance to live another day.
    Yala National Park, Sri Lanka. a garden lizard being chased by a common bronzeback snake in the middle of the road

  • Corcovado, Rio de Janeiro. Category: urban

    After a couple of hours waiting between rain showers and with the light fading, I had almost given up hope of seeing the classic vista across to Sugarloaf mountain. But suddenly the clouds parted to reveal Rio in all its glory. As light flooded across the city, I noticed the shadow of Christ the Redeemer fill my frame and quickly took a series of shots, just as a rainbow briefly gave the statue its own halo.
    Corcovado, Rio de Janeiro. As light flooded across the city, I noticed the shadow of Christ the Redeemer fill my frame and quickly took a series of shots, as a rainbow briefly gave the statue its own halo.

  • The Watering hole, New Forest, England. Category: nature

    The skies turned dark but the sun snuck through the clouds bathing the forest in a beautiful golden light. Then out of the purple heather came a herd of horses, heading for the watering hole for their evening drink. I took a number of shots but waited patiently in the hope that they would circle the water in perfect symmetry - and they almost did.
    The Watering hole. Fritham, New Forest, England. Category: Nature

  • Dunluce Castle, Co Antrim, Northern Ireland. Category: nature.

    I was due to catch a train and didn’t have much time, so I just took a few pictures quickly. When I got home I reluctantly inserted the memory card and I saw this picture. And I hadn’t even realised there was cloud like that on the day.
    Dunluce Castle, Co. Antrim, Northern Ireland. Category: Nature.

  • On the train, Jaipur, Rajasthan, India. Category: people

    I always ask permission before taking a photo and generally people are very generous, curious and helpful. I spent two mornings riding trains and this is the result.
    Two men looking through a train window, Jaipur, Rajasthan, India

  • Bead man, Kathmandu, Nepal. Category: people

    While touring Bhaktapur, near Kathmandu, the brightly coloured door and hanging beads of this shop caught my attention. This sweet old man in national dress took great pride in his handmade beads.
    Whilst on a tour of the Bhaktapur (Kathmandu) tourist area, I was walking along a number of local shops when the brightly coloured door and hanging beads of this particular shop caught my attention. Category: people

  • Day of the Dead, Cancun, Mexico. Category: people

    A woman dressed in skull-candy face paint and costume to celebrate the Day of the Dead festival in Cancun’s El Parque De Las Palapas.
    Day of the Dead, Cancu A woman dressed in skull-candy face paint and costume to celebrate the Day of the Dead festival

  • Sunset in Salalah, Oman. Category: nature

    Salalah was my starting point for an expedition to cross the Rub Al Khali desert, also known as the Empty Quarter. I was preparing my equipment when I spotted a young man training his horse on the beach, backlit by this beautiful orb of a sun. I grabbed my equipment and sprinted towards the beach, changed my lens to a 400mm and snapped about three shots before the sun disappeared below the horizon.
    Sunset in Salalah. Category: nature
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