National Geographic's International Photography Contest 2009

2009-12-01 10:18 BJT

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Nazroo, a mahout (elephant driver), poses for a portrait while taking
his elephant, Rajan, out for a swim in front of Radha Nagar Beach in
Havelock, Andaman Islands. Rajan is one of the few elephants in
Havelock that can swim, so when he is not dragging timber in the forest
he is used as a tourist attraction. The relationship between the mahout
and his elephant usually lasts for their entire lives, creating an
extremely strong tie between the animal and the human being. (Photo and
caption by Cesare Naldi)

On the final leg of a six-week United States of America road trip, I
was driving east across Interstate 40 when a spot storm with golf
ball-sized hail struck. A sign near Groom, Texas, announcing the
"largest cross in the western hemisphere" explained the large crucifix
I抎 been wondering about for miles on the highway; it seemed like
an OK place to wait out the storm. On my way to getting stuck in the
mud and a giant double rainbow, I saw this silhouetted view of the
cross, splitting the sunny sky from the stormy plains. (Photo and
caption by Brad Maule)