Jaw dropping pictures capture beauty and drama from the four corners of the world in National Geographic's annual photography competition

Buffalo Race: Traditional buffalo racing in west Bali. Hundreds of pairs of buffaloes are teamed up together with their jockeys riding the traditional wooden ploughs that are slightly modified for the competition.Bram Paulussen

Crazy Journey: Bangladeshis sleep on the roof of a moving train as they rush home to their respective villages to be with their families, in Dhaka, Bangladesh. AM Ahad

The Secrets of Cady Creek: A year ago I discovered a place that glows with hundreds of fire flies on warm summer evenings. With the perfect weather I set out to capture what I had envisioned a year earlier. Waiting for darkness to consume the valley I watched as the fire flies began to come to life. Glowing here and there like the stars burning in the sky. With a group of hundreds of fire flies glowing in front of me I waited for our Milky Way galaxy to get in the right position. Arching just above the bluffs. Adam Dorn

Hold Tight: A woman holds her child close during a sandstorm in a Maasi village in the Monduli region near Arusha, Tanzania, Africa. Clay Cook

Lightning at horseshoe: I've got several lightning shots at horseshoe bend while I traveled this canyon last time but this is the most I like. The reason why I like is because the lightning has a solid line and I can actually see the lightning is hitting the hill and it also reflected in the water. It's just amazing and beautiful. In addition, I can see the actual movement of the storm in the picture that makes this scene alive. J Cho

Follow the leader: It's just past 6AM, and -25 degrees C on our last day in Antarctica. With wind so strong it's difficult to walk and stay upright, I decide to lay flat on the frozen ground to watch Gentoo Penguins move from the water to their nests on Cuverville Island. As the strong winds whip up fine layers of ice and snow over the horizon, two lone penguins follow each other battling with Mother Nature in one of the harshest environments on the planet. Anthony Ponzo

Matterhorn- Switzerland's alpine Emblem: The famous Matterhorn (14,692-foot /4,478-meter) is an iconic emblem of Switzerland and Alps , but also the most-photographed mountain in the world. I want to add an element in the image that convey the eye to the pyramid shaped mountain. The best time to photograph the Matterhorn is during the sunrise when the top become red. Alessandra Meniconzi

Toss: Fishermen finished fishing and came back to a port. A man was throwing fish straight up. He had extremely precise skill to toss. It was so powerful and beautiful scene. Hideki Mizuta

Evening streeeetch: This was one of the most curious interactive squirrels I have ever come across. We sat down to enjoy the view and have a snooze and we were interrupted by this little guy scurrying over our camera bags. He was trying to reach for a friends camera that was also taking pictures just out of my frame. Ian Duncan

Dressed for adventure: Whilst shooting the majestic Southern Stingray in the crystal clear water of the Sandbar in Grand Cayman, I was stunned when this newly wed couple arrived, the bride was still in her wedding dress! This shot "Dressed for Adventure" for me captures the beginning of a new life together, one where a couple will brave the troubles of the world hand in hand. The couple march confidently towards the clouds in the frame ignoring the beasts at their feet, this is an adventure they will seek together. Jennifer Jo Stock