Posted August 03, 2017 14:14:01

Photo: A powerful eruption illuminates the slopes of Mexico's Colima Volcano on December 13, 2015. (National Geographic: Sergio Tapiro Velasco)

An erupting volcano, a ballet of swans, geometric architecture and a group of curious observers were just some of the subjects featured among the winners of National Geographic's 2017 travel photographer competition.

From the 15,000 entries, the Grand Prize was awarded to a photograph titled The Power of Nature, showing Mexico's Colima Volcano erupting with lava as it is hit by a bolt of lighting.

The hand behind the shot, Mexican Sergio Tapiro Velasco, took the photograph from around 12 kilometres away.

Mr Velasco had photographed the volcano for more than a decade and had been tracking its activity closely in the month leading up to the shot.

Mr Velasco told National Geographic he heard a booming noise and saw the biggest volcanic lightning he had ever seen. But it was not until he looked at the photos he had taken that he realised what a spectacular event he had captured.

"When I looked on the camera display, all I could do was stare," Mr Velasco said.

"What I was watching was impossible to conceive, the image showed those amazing forces of nature interacting on a volcano, while the lightning brightened the whole scene.

Photo: To Live took second place in the Nature category. It shows swans gliding over the water in Kabukurinuma, Osaki, Japan, a protected wetland. (National Geographic: Hiromi Kano)

"It's an impossible photograph and my once in a lifetime shot that shows the power of nature."

Mr Velasco was awarded a 10-day trip for two to the Galapagos Archipelago, as well as a $US2,500 prize.

In addition to the grand-prize winner, top photos were selected in each of three categories: Nature, People and Cities.

Photo: Levels of Reading took first place in the Cities category. It shows natural light filling the modern interior of the city library in Stuttgart, Germany. (National Geographic: Norbert Fritz)

National Geographic, a science, exploration, and adventure magazine featured all of the winners and honourable mentions on its website.

Photo: Second place winner in the People category shows spectators in front of Rembrandt's masterpiece, Syndics of the Drapers' Guild, at Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam. (National Geographic: Julius Y.)

Photo: Taking second place in the Cities category, Walled City #08 is an aerial view of Whampoa Garden, Hong Kong, reveals its densely packed buildings. (National Geographic: Andy Yeung)

Photo: The People's Choice award went to this photograph of a buff-tailed coronet feeling on flower nectar in the Ecuadorian forest. (National Geographic: Hymakar Valluri)

Topics: photography, arts-and-entertainment, animals-and-nature, volcanic-eruption, mexico