The National Geographic Travel Photography competition finds photographers who can capture the world’s beautiful landscapes, people and moments like no other. We know that when this list of the best of the best is released, we’re in for a real treat.

This year’s competition received more than 15,000 entries in the category of nature, people and cities, from travellers around the world. Sergio Tapiro Velasco took the grand prize for his image of an active volcano in Mexico, alongside an amazing list of other snapshots that won positions of runners up, special mentions and people’s choices.

This gallery of images not only shows our planet at its most sublime, it also demonstrates the impact of a talented photographer’s eye on a final composition. These snapshots may all fall into the same category in photography, but no two are of the same family. Enjoy….