Concrete Playground

Already in its 24th year, the National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest never ceases to amaze and excite with its stunning displays of photography from around the world. With the current increase in popularity of amateur photography and the pervasion of social media, this year's competition already has a whopping 12,400 entries.

Flick through the entries at the National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest 2012 website and experience some of the most incredible and awe-inspiring sights, people and moments this Earth has to offer.

This year's contest has four categories - Outdoor Scenes, Sense of Place, Travel Portraits and Spontaneous Moments - to cover a wide range of spectacular photo opportunities. Here we've collated just a sample of what we find to be some of the most remarkable shots from the 2012 contest.

Keep a lookout for the winners, which will be announced in August.

Northern Lights by Christine Peterson

Location: Northern Iceland

Monsoon by Enrique Lopez-Tapia

Location: Sundarbands, Bangladesh

The Rise by James Davies

Location: Lizard Point, the UK's most Southerly location, Cornwall

African Queen - Madagascar by Lisa Labinjoh

Location: North West Madagascar

Sun-Kissed Faces by Erwin Choachuy

Location: San Remigio, Cebu, Philippines

Tamblingan Lake by Agung Krisprimandoyo

Location: Gubug Temple, Tamblingan Lake, Bali, Indonesia

Up in the Air by Martin Fietkiewicz

Location: Wreck Beach, Vancouver, BC, Canada

Fox in the Grass by Kathryn Triplett

Location: Kodiak Island, Alaska

Butts by Laysa Quintero

Location: Samburu National Reserve, Kenya

Outside Pandora's Box by Johnathan Bareng

Location: Ubud, Bali. Indonesia

The Great off Isla Damas by Esteban Delgado

Location: Puntarenas, Quepos, Isla Damas, Costa Rica