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  3. 100 Stunning Photos of the World: Our Favorites from the 2016 T+L Photo Contest

100 Stunning Photos of the World: Our Favorites from the 2016 T+L Photo Contest

By Travel + Leisure and Travel + Leisure Staff
December 09, 2016
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Travel + Leisure Photo Contest Finalists
Credit: Noe DeWitt
We’re all travel photographers, when you think about it. Whether you find yourself pulling your phone out to capture a gorgeous sunset from your backyard, or packing serious camera equipment to go off and document a remote village along the Amazon River, you’re inspiring wanderlust in whoever sees your Instagram post.

When we asked the world to share their best photos under a number of categories: Sunsets and Sunrises, Water, Animals, Architecture, Staycation, and Nature, we were overwhelmed by the response. Tens of thousands of photo submissions made tough work for our team of contest judges. In the end, nine entrants became finalists. (Meet all the 2016 T+L Photo Contest Finalists)

Our finalists not only showcased technical skill with their submissions, but they also incorporated unexpected angles and views, throwing us straight into the frame itself.

While this handful of photographers will be competing for the grand prize of a seven-day trip to Colombia, there were still so many stunning shots worth sharing. Here, we’ve pulled together 100 of our favorite entries highlighting places big and small around the world. Expect to explore beaches, mountains, deserts, city scenes, museums, temples, forests, monuments, crowds of penguins—it’s enough to keep you lost in the throws of a mental vacation for days.

These photos are an extension of our #TLPicks community on Instagram. While it may not be the same people submitting their work in the 2016 T+L Photo Contest (and in some cases, it is!), the theory stands: Share your view of the world with the world, and help inspire someone to visit a new place.

Whether you’re looking for some inspiration to take your own photos of the world, need a quick work break, or just want to look at some stunning photos, scroll on.
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Best of the Travel + Leisure Photo Contest
Credit: Lisset Saenz

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Best of the Travel + Leisure Photo Contest
Credit: Veronica Espinoza

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Best of the Travel + Leisure Photo Contest
Credit: Mary Hurley

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Best of the Travel + Leisure Photo Contest
Credit: Jamie Pan

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Best of the Travel + Leisure Photo Contest
Credit: Paige Kleckner

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Best of the Travel + Leisure Photo Contest
Credit: Emily Coey

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Best of the Travel + Leisure Photo Contest
Credit: Daniel Caspi

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Best of the Travel + Leisure Photo Contest
Credit: Jennifer

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Best of the Travel + Leisure Photo Contest
Credit: Ben Garrett

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Best of the Travel + Leisure Photo Contest
Credit: Kambria Nagy

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Best of the Travel + Leisure Photo Contest
Credit: Jacqueline Knowles

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Best of the Travel + Leisure Photo Contest
Credit: Ann Schwede

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Best of the Travel + Leisure Photo Contest
Credit: Ben Norton

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Best of the Travel + Leisure Photo Contest
Credit: Bill Taylor

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Best of the Travel + Leisure Photo Contest
Credit: Brandi Hall

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Best of the Travel + Leisure Photo Contest
Credit: Zachary Asato

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Best of the Travel + Leisure Photo Contest
Credit: Deb Fong

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Best of the Travel + Leisure Photo Contest
Credit: Tom Baker

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Best of the Travel + Leisure Photo Contest
Credit: Jordan Plumhoff

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Best of the Travel + Leisure Photo Contest
Credit: Christopher King

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Best of the Travel + Leisure Photo Contest
Credit: Tori Taylor

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Best of the Travel + Leisure Photo Contest
Credit: Emily Coey

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Best of the Travel + Leisure Photo Contest
Credit: aneesh kothari

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Best of the Travel + Leisure Photo Contest
Credit: William Woodward

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Best of the Travel + Leisure Photo Contest
Credit: Jaana Eleftheriou

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Best of the Travel + Leisure Photo Contest
Credit: Armand Ludick

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Best of the Travel + Leisure Photo Contest
Credit: Craig Marimpietri

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Best of the Travel + Leisure Photo Contest
Credit: Jodi Nasser

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Best of the Travel + Leisure Photo Contest
Credit: Ariel Fried

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Best of the Travel + Leisure Photo Contest
Credit: Aneesh Kothari

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Best of the Travel + Leisure Photo Contest
Credit: Armand Ludick

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Best of the Travel + Leisure Photo Contest
Credit: Armand Luddick

Armand

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Best of the Travel + Leisure Photo Contest
Credit: Albert Chung

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Best of the Travel + Leisure Photo Contest
Credit: jie pan

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Best of the Travel + Leisure Photo Contest
Credit: Jonathan Huang

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Best of the Travel + Leisure Photo Contest
Credit: Aneesh Kothari

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Best of the Travel + Leisure Photo Contest
Credit: Matthew Ciminero

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Best of the Travel + Leisure Photo Contest
Credit: William O. T. Smith

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Best of the Travel + Leisure Photo Contest
Credit: Alec Bernstein

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Best of the Travel + Leisure Photo Contest
Credit: Tessa Petry

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Best of the Travel + Leisure Photo Contest
Credit: Michael Duggan

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Best of the Travel + Leisure Photo Contest
Credit: Zachary Asato

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Best of the Travel + Leisure Photo Contest
Credit: Jon Schoeller

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Best of the Travel + Leisure Photo Contest
Credit: Matthew Ciminero

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Best of the Travel + Leisure Photo Contest
Credit: Alicia Bourdeau

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Best of the Travel + Leisure Photo Contest
Credit: Douglas Robinson

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Best of the Travel + Leisure Photo Contest
Credit: Kalee Fambrough

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Best of the Travel + Leisure Photo Contest
Credit: Dante Fattoruso

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Best of the Travel + Leisure Photo Contest
Credit: Elizabeth A. Abts

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Best of the Travel + Leisure Photo Contest
Credit: Paul DiBlasi

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Best of the Travel + Leisure Photo Contest
Credit: Alan Herzog

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Best of the Travel + Leisure Photo Contest
Credit: Alicia Houston

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Best of the Travel + Leisure Photo Contest
Credit: Olivier Miche

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Best of the Travel + Leisure Photo Contest
Credit: Deb Fong

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Best of the Travel + Leisure Photo Contest
Credit: Krystal Greven

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Best of the Travel + Leisure Photo Contest
Credit: Armand Ludick

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Best of the Travel + Leisure Photo Contest
Credit: Emma Mutino

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