UK photographers have submitted images in six categories – Action, Animal, People, River, Rural and Urban – since the competition was officially opened in September by National Geographic Traveller magazine.

The finalist images – one from each category – cover a range of destinations and subjects, including a train journey through Sri Lanka, New Year’s celebrations in Romania, and an urban shot taken from the heart of London.

Pat Riddell, Editor, National Geographic Traveller said: ‘We’ve been incredibly impressed with the response to our annual Photography Competition, with a phenomenally high standard of creativity and photographic quality.’

To view all the shortlisted images for each category, head to National Geographic Traveller’s website.

The grand prize winner will be announced at the Telegraph Outdoor Adventure & Travel Show in London on February 14. The winner will receive a wildlife photography tour in the Masai Mara National Reserve in Kenya.