The National Geographic Society has been around for so long… they were publishing their well-known geographic magazine way before the days of the internet – since 1888 to be precise. You might think the popularity of the internet and all the photographic sites there are would put National Geographic into the shade – but no, they have simply harnessed the power of the internet to expand and improve their commitment to ‘inspire people to care about the planet’. They remain a nonprofit scientific and educational institution. Here are (in my opinion) the very best examples of their Photo of the Day during August 2015.
Arabian Light – 3rd August 2015
In the United Arab Emirates, Your Shot member Rogel Tura captured this iconic silhouette while traveling in the desert at sunset. Tura was heading to his camp when he came upon the man and his camels at the top of the dunes.
Big Baby – 6th August 2015
A young humpback whale eyes Your Shot member Karim Iliya, who spotted the calf and its mother while diving in the waters off Tonga. “I could not help but wave and smile at the newborn whale almost three times my length,” Iliya writes. “Its curiosity got the better of it and emerging from under its mother’s fin, it swam toward me, approaching less than 30 centimeters [11 inches] from my face.”
A Night at Deadvlei – 9th August 2015
“The night before returning to Windhoek, we spent several hours at Deadvlei,” writes Beth McCarley, who was photographing in Namibia. “The moon was bright enough to illuminate the sand dunes in the distance, but the skies were still dark enough to clearly see the Milky Way and Magellanic Clouds. Deadvlei means ‘dead marsh.’ The camelthorn trees are believed to be about 900 years old but have not decomposed because the environment is so dry.”
Sea Life – 10th August 2015
Divers mingle with sharks in Cuba’s Jardines de la Reina marine preserve, located off the island country’s southern coast. Established in 1996, the protected swath of Caribbean harbors coral reefs, grouper, angelfish, and other marine life in addition to its healthy shark population. Photograph by Anuar Patjane, National Geographic Your Shot.
In the Frame – 13th August 2015
A woman harvests rice from a field in Thailand in this picture by Your Shot member Sarawut Intarob. The photo was included in the final story for the recent Your Shot assignment What’s in a Frame? “This picture comes together so well,” says National Geographic photographer Stephen Alvarez, who curated the assignment. Alvarez praised the light, the woman’s expression, and the way Intarob shot through the bundled rice plants to provide a low view.
When Penguins Fly – 18th August 2015
An emperor penguin bursts from its watery hunting ground in Gould Bay, Antarctica. The largest of all penguins, flightless emperors live on the Antarctic ice, employing physiological adaptations and cooperative behaviors to deal with the harsh environment.
Elusive Summit – 21st August 2015
Blocked by tooth-like spires, author and adventurer Mark Jenkins turns back from the ridge leading to the snowy summit of Hkakabo Razi in Myanmar (Burma), part of the largely unexplored Dandalika Range. Thought to be the tallest mountain in Southeast Asia, Hkakabo remains unmeasured by GPS—a task taken on by a mountaineering team that included Jenkins, photographer Cory Richards, and climber Emily Harrington. For Jenkins, it was a windy and emotional retreat after 41 days of effort and two previous attempts. To go on, the team would’ve had to spend a night without food, a tent, or sleeping bags. “We’d have lost digits, if not our lives,” says Richards.
Well, Hello There – 23rd August 2015
“It was a surreal experience to be in the presence of these magnificent creatures,” writes Your Shot member Laura Keene of photographing this seemingly approachable pair of bears in Alaska’s Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Keene says they stood and appeared to wave in greeting when a nearby pair of cubs captured their attention.”
New Tricks – 24th August 2015
Towing his dog behind him, a man bicycles down a sidewalk in Taipei, Taiwan. Your Shot member Chuan Teik Heng’s touching picture brings into individual focus a vibrant capital city that’s home to millions.
Rising Up – 27th August 2015
The famed water-bound willows of Glenorchy, New Zealand, rise from Lake Wakatipu on the country’s South Island. Your Shot member Paul Reiffer, who photographed the scene at sunrise, calls winter “a special time in New Zealand.”
Conclusion
If you would like to take a look at the complete Photo of the Day gallery, please visit National Geographic – you won’t be disappointed!
