Grand Prize Winner : The Power Of Nature , Rancho De Aguirre , Colima , MexicoA powerful eruption illuminates the slopes of Mexico ’ s Colima Volcano on December 13 , 2015 . I was in the town of Comala when I suddenly saw incandescence above the volcano ' s crater and started shooting . Seconds later , a powerful volcanic explosion expelled a cloud of ash particles and a massive lightning bolt illuminated most of the dark scene . It was one of the most exciting moments of my life . Honorable Mention , Nature : Forest Of The Fairy , Tamba , JapanIn a remote village in the Tamba region of Japan , twinkling fireflies light up the Forest of the Gods on a summer evening . The fireflies carpet a stairway leading to a small shrine revered by the local people , creating a magical atmosphere . Honorable Mention , Nature : Marble Caves , ChileMy dad and I traveled to Patagonia earlier this year , and we wanted to see something off the beaten path . After a 10 - hour drive and traversing a long , dirt trail , we finally came upon the marble caves . We chartered a boat to take us closer , and I waited for the perfect light to capture these intricate blue swirls . The extra effort it took to reach the caves was worth it . People ' s Choice Winner , Cities : Colorful Market , Bangkok , ThailandAs night falls over Bangkok , Thailand , rows of rainbow - colored market stalls come to life . Third Place Winner , People : Under The Wave , Tavarua , FijiI recently traveled to Tavarua , Fiji , with professional surfer Donavon Frankenreiter and captured this image at Cloudbreak . The usual surf shots have all been done , so we decided to get creative and looked for new angles and perspectives . Third Place Winner , Cities : Henningsvær Football Field , Henningsvær , Nordland , NorwayIn Norway ’ s Lofoten Islands , the Henningsvær football field is considered one of the most amazing in Europe . This photo was taken during a sailing trip from Tromsø to the Lofoten Archipelago . After a week of cold and rainy weather , the sky finally cleared up enough to fly my drone . We were absolutely astonished to learn that the entire football field is heated , so after lying down and soaking in the . .. Second Place Winner , People : Interesting Moment , Amsterdam , North Holland , NetherlandsA crowd of spectators stands in front of Rembrandt ’ s masterpiece , Syndics of the Drapers ’ Guild , at Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam . As I observed the scene I laughed when I realized that the people in the painting also appear to be curiously watching the visitors . I managed to take two shots before the audience moved away — one is out of focus , but this one was perfect . People ' s Choice Winner , Nature : Buff Tailed Coronet , EcuadorA buff - tailed coronet feeds on flower nectar in the Ecuadorian forest , a paradise for hummingbirds . First Place Winner , People : Workship , Konya , TurkeyBeams of light filter through a historic building in Konya , Turkey , where a whirling dervish performs an ecstatic dance . The ceremony represents a mystical journey of man ' s spiritual ascent towards truth and love , and represents the constant revolution of all living things . For example , the Earth itself is in a state of rotation as well as the atoms that make up everything on it . Honorable Mention , Nature : Mt . Bromo , East Java , IndonesiaMount Bromo is a small but active volcano on East Java , Indonesia . On January 17 , 2016 , I was nearby when an increase in seismic activity triggered an alert . This photo was taken from the patio of a local hotel , where I was waiting with my camera . Just as the volcano erupted , the ashes seemed to glow with light . This photo is very special to me — a rare eruption of Mount Bromo . .. Honorable Mention , People : The Man ' s Stare , Gazipur , BangladeshA train coming from Dhaka pauses at Tongi Railway Station in Gazipur , Bangladesh , on a rainy morning . Suddenly I saw a pair of curious eyes looking at me through the misty window , and next to him a black umbrella shielded passengers from the rain . Together , it created a dreamy moment . First Place Winner , Cities : Levels Of Reading , Stuttgart , GermanyNatural light fills the modern interior of the city library in Stuttgart , Germany . With its stark white floors , open spaces , and large windows , it provides a unique atmosphere to broaden your knowledge . Third Place Winner , Nature : Crocodiles At Rio Tarcoles , Costa RicaAmerican crocodiles gather along the bank of the Tarcoles River in Costa Rica . When our guide told us there would be 30 to 40 crocodiles in the river , we thought he was exaggerating . We walked along a narrow bridge and peered over the waist - high railing , where several crocodiles were moving in and out of the water . I wanted to capture the stark contrast between their partially covered bodies in the . .. Second Place Winner , Nature : To Live , Oinukake , Miyagi , JapanSwans glide over the water in Kabukurinuma , Osaki , Japan , a protected wetland . Since many of Japan ’ s wetlands have been lost , this area has become a rare wintering place for birds and may be a last paradise for them . I was particularly impressed by the swans , and careful not to disturb them when taking pictures . I took into account wind direction and shutter speed to capture the strength and elegance of . . Honorable Mention , Cities : Al Ain , Al Buraymī , Al Muharram , OmanNew buildings rise from the desert floor near Al Ain in the United Arab Emirates . Honorable Mention , Nature : In Your Face , CubaThe Gardens of the Queen is a remote marine area south of Cuba , and has been protected since the 1960 s . Predators , like these Caribbean reef sharks , are abundant — a sign of a healthy ecosystem . Large and fully - protected marine areas like this may be our best chance in the fight to save our fragile oceans . To get this image I placed my camera on a rock where I knew the sharks frequent , ... Honorable Mention , Cities : Colorful Apartment , Kitagata , Gifu , JapanThis building is a 20 - minute drive from my office — it ' s a functioning apartment complex in Gifu Prefecture , Japan , where people live . The modern style of the building is a strange contrast to my sleepy country town , and for a long time I couldn ’ t quite capture its character . The woman dressed in red was perfectly consonant with the mood of this image . Without her , I couldn ’ t have made this image . People ' s Choice Winner , People : Sand Porter , Munshiganj , Dhaka , BangladeshThis photograph was taken from the bank of The river Dhaleswari in Munshiganj , Bangladesh during sand porters were carrying sand to preserve them on a place near the river . Honorable Mention , People : Bridging Generation , New Delhi , Nct , IndiaA father and son dressed in traditional white clothing sit at a mosque in New Delhi , India , under a blue sky on Eid al - Fitr , the conclusion of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan . This photo shows the beautiful bond between two generations . Second Place Winner , Cities : Walled City # 08 , Hong KongAn aerial view of Whampoa Garden , Hong Kong , reveals its densely packed buildings . I drew inspiration from the Kowloon Walled City — once the densest place on Earth – which was demolished nearly three decades ago . Hundreds of houses were stacked on top of each other and there was very little open space . The Kowloon Walled City may be gone , but its legacy remains . It exists in Hong Kong ’ s modern architecture and stacked apartments , ... Honorable Mention , People : Blessings At Besakih , BaliOn the beautiful island of Bali , Besakih Temple has been known to locals as the “ Mother Temple ” for more than a thousand years . Perched high on the slopes of Mount Agung , a sacred volcano , Besakih consists of three major temples dedicated to the Hindu trinity : Shiva , Brahma , and Vishnu . Here , Hindu Balinese often visit to pray , make offerings , and take blessings from pemangku ( priests ) .