National Geographic has unveiled its breathtaking “Pictures of the Year” collection in its December 2024 issue, demonstrating why the publication is renowned for its exceptional photography.
From approximately 2.3 million photographs taken by Nat Geo photographers this year, editors selected just 20 images that they say “capture the wonder of our world” and inspire both thought and awe.
The striking collection includes a mesmerising shot of Guatemala’s Fuego volcano mid-eruption and a stunning sand dune in Egypt’s vast desert.
Other highlights feature a rare black tiger prowling in eastern India’s Similipal Tiger Reserve and a remarkable image of a young emperor penguin taking its first plunge from a cliff in Antarctica.
“These 20 final images serve as a reminder of photography’s power to illuminate, provoke, and encourage a deeper connection with the world around us”, said National Geographic Editor-in-Chief Nathan Lump.
“It’s more than just a collection of beautiful images – it’s a reflection of everything National Geographic embodies: curiosity, exploration, and a commitment to illuminating the beauty and complexity of our world”.
Here are National Geographic’s 20 Pictures of the Year:
Taking the Plunge, Atka Bay, Antarctica / Bertie GregoryA Forever Home, Benson, Arizona / Christie Hemm KlokDeep Knowledge, Ngounié Province, Gabon / Robbie ShoneAn Imperiled Haven, Siwa Oasis, Egypt / M’HAMMED KILITOAn Imperiled Haven, Siwa Oasis, Egypt / M’HAMMED KILITOShepherding Change, Coceneşti, Romania / Jasper DoestA Boom with a View, Antigua, Guatemala / Peter FisherWhere Faiths Converge, Pamir Mountains, Tajikistan / Matthieu PaleyTracking the Elusive Black Tiger, Odisha State, India / Prasenjeet YadavTiny Breakthrough, Konstanz, Germany / Ingo ArndtDangerous Crossroads, Sioma, Zambia / Jasper DoestA Fertilizing Frenzy, British Columbia, Canada / Ryan TidmanA Centuries-Old Love Song, Springfield, Illinois / John StanmeyerLiquid Fuel From the Sun, Jülich, Germany / Davide MonteleoneAtomic Aftermath, Chacha, India / Chinky ShuklaTotal Eclipse Of The Heart, Russellville, Arkansas / Aaron HueyDining at Dusk, Concan, Texas / Babak TafreshiWhen Waters Collide, Fanning Springs State Park, Florida / Jason GulleyPetal Pushers, Kalaat M’Gouna, Morocco / Rena EffendiNew Hope For Rhinos, Nanyuki, Kenya / Ami Vitale
