Photograph by Aaron Huey, National Geographic
Nine-year-old Wakinyan Two Bulls places prayer flags in a tree near Mato Tipila ("bear lodge"), or Devils Tower, in Wyoming . The story of the Oglala their spirituality and their fight to remedy old wrongs goes well beyond the Pine Ridge Reservation.
Learn about the Pine Ridge Community Storytelling Project » See pictures from National Geographic Photo Camp at Pine Ridge »
Photograph by Anthony Byrne , My Shot
Captured on Muckross Lake as the first green shoots appear on a day of typical weather in Killarney, County Kerry, Ireland
(This photo and caption were submitted to My Shot.)
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Photograph by Lee Daubney, Your Shot
Peering into a pineapple plant while on a trek within Parque Nacional Alejandro de Humboldt, Cuba , I was surprised to find a new subject.
(This photo and caption were submitted to Your Shot. Have a great shot? Send it to us for possible publication in National Geographic magazine.)
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Photograph by Cory Richards, National Geographic
Climbers and scientists follow a trail above the Kali Gandaki River in Nepal 's remote Mustang region. More than 60 feet above are rows of unexplored man-made caves dug centuries ago. There may be thousands in the region.
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Photograph by Susan Stevenson, Your Shot
I took this photo from my back deck in North Pole, Alaska . It was early evening and the full moon was moving through the sky, illuminating the frosted trees and turning the sky cobalt blue.
(This photo and caption were submitted to Your Shot. Have a great shot? Send it to us for possible publication in National Geographic magazine.)
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Photograph by Brian Skerry , National Geographic
An orange sheephead, slender wrasses, and other fish swim through a forest of coralline algae and kelp stalks swaying in the current around Cortes Bank. "The communities you find on seamounts are like oases in otherwise deep water," says Bruce Robison, senior scientist at the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute in California.
Browse pictures of ocean wildlife » See more underwater pictures by Brian Skerry »
Photograph by Carsten Peter , National Geographic
With a 1,600-pound camera he calls the Kahuna in tow, storm chaser Tim Samaras is on the hunt for an elusive shot of a lightning strike the moment it is born.
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Photograph by Michael Melford , National Geographic
Conifers green the crevices of Catamount Mountain while the forest below is in its last incandescence before winter.
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Photograph by Allison Choate , My Shot
Cheetah and cub
(This photo and caption were submitted to My Shot.)
Photograph by Max Edin, Your Shot
I was visiting Longyearbyen, Svalbard, way up over the Arctic Circle, when I decided one clear night to go out and photograph the stars. After I made it to the location I'd chosen and had set up my exposure, the most beautiful aurora borealis show I've ever witnessed happened right overhead. The full moon at the time helped brighten up the foreground, creating this image.
(This photo and caption were submitted to Your Shot. Have a great shot? Send it to us for possible publication in National Geographic magazine.)
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Photograph by Dmitry Marchenko, Your Shot
Gaze of a green turtle . South Egypt , Red Sea. Taken November 27, 2010.
(This photo and caption were submitted to Your Shot. Have a great shot? Send it to us for possible publication in National Geographic magazine.)
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Photograph by Kamraan Saleem, Your Shot
Winter in Sialkot, Punjab, Pakistan
(This photo and caption were submitted to Your Shot. Have a great shot? Send it to us for possible publication in National Geographic magazine.)
See pictures of winter landscapes » Get tips on photographing weather » See pictures of the seven stans »
Photograph by Orsolya and Erlend Haarberg
The volcano Eyjafjallaj kull, in Iceland , just before dawn on April 23, 2010: The worst is over. Lava flows freely. Earlier, as it punched through the ice cap, it triggered a meltwater flood that destroyed roads and farms, and a steam explosion that hurled ash into the stratosphere, stopping air traffic for a week.
See pictures of wild weather » See pictures of Eyjafjallaj kull's eruption »
Photograph by Brian Skerry , National Geographic
Mangroves contribute to the system by trapping reef-bound sediment, filtering out pollution, and serving as nursery for many reef fish and invertebrates. The arched roots of mangroves like these form gateways through which multitudes of juveniles swim toward adulthood on the reef.
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Photograph by Mark W. Moffett , National Geographic
A desert rose anchors itself on the Maalah cliffs, in the company of more than 300 other rare plant species on Socotra. In the distance lies Qulansiyah, one of the island's largest towns.
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Photograph by Michael Melford , National Geographic
Bruneau River System Bruneau-Jarbidge Rivers Wilderness, Idaho 94.7 miles protected since 2009
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Photograph by Sigita Sica, Your Shot
This is autumn 2011 in the city center of Riga, the capital city of Latvia .
(This photo and caption were submitted to Your Shot. Have a great shot? Send it to us for possible publication in National Geographic magazine.)
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Photograph by Benjamin Jakabek , My Shot
This was taken on Santiago Island in the Galápagos Islands . The photo is of a Gal pagos fur seal and a Sally Lightfoot crab resting side by side.
(This photo and caption were submitted to My Shot.)
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Photograph by Wild Wonders of Europe
The first beams of a June day spotlight a ridge of rusty volcanic rhyolite at Landmannalaugar, a hikers' favorite. The Haarbergs hiked up to an overlook after midnight; at dawn, around 3 a.m., the clouds gave them a tiny break. "Five minutes and it was over," says Orsolya.
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Photograph by Paul Coleman , My Shot
Close-up of a crocodile s teeth
(This photo was submitted to My Shot.)
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Photograph by Sven Za ek
She looks sweet grooming her chick, but don't mess with mom's nest: Ural owls are aggressively territorial. "I've made an 'agreement' with the females that the price to band and measure one nestling is six hard punches on the head," says Finnish ornithologist Pertti Saurola.
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Photograph by Jonas Bendiksen , National Geographic
Summer, the short, sweet release from the interminable cocoon of Russian winter, is a time for swimming and riding, and sometimes both in the cottage community of Vyalki.
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Photograph by Brian Skerry, National Geographic
An expanse of cabbage coral attached to the slope of a seamount near Raja Ampat provides shelter for crabs, shrimps, and other animals. Passing schools of fish may feed on these invertebrates as well as on plankton brought up by strong currents.
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Photograph by Doug Croft, Your Shot
We sat in our safari vehicle and watched as several family groups of elephants (about 150 individuals) crossed the Sand River in the Mala Mala Game Reserve. As the light got better, the scene became even more surreal.
(This photo and caption were submitted to Your Shot. Have a great shot? Send it to us for possible publication in National Geographic magazine.)
Get tips on photographing wildlife » See pictures of South Africa shot by our fans »
Photograph by Munish Singla, Your Shot
At Inspiration Point, one of the best experiences ever. The place was so full of peace and calmness. I returned from this place completely relaxed and rejuvenated—exactly the way we want our vacation to end.
(This photo and caption were submitted to Your Shot. Have a great shot? Send it to us for possible publication in National Geographic magazine.)
Explore pictures of desert landscapes » See pictures of national parks » See pictures of earth and sky »
Photograph by Mitch Dobrowner
Regan, North Dakota A dying tornado like this one is said to be in the "roping out" phase.
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Photograph by Stephanie Sinclair , National Geographic
Lights atop the 300-foot minarets at four-year-old al Saleh Mosque glow during a storm in Sanaa. The $60 million house of worship is Yemen 's largest and most extravagant, named for Ali Abdullah Saleh, who stepped down in February after 33 years as president. It opened with claims of promoting moderate Islam. But militant groups have only gained strength.
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Photograph by Wild Wonders of Europe
At Litlanesfoss, the waterfall cross-sections an ancient lava flow, which formed columns as it cooled.
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Photograph by Jack Fusco, Your Shot
Taken on April 19, 2012, in Strathmere, New Jersey. These star trails show the Milky Way rising over the Atlantic Ocean.
(This photo and caption were submitted to Your Shot. Have a great shot? Send it to us for possible publication in National Geographic magazine.)
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Photograph by Andon Andonov , My Shot
In the garden
(This photo and caption were submitted to My Shot.)
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Photograph by Giovani Cordioli, My Shot
Brazilian capoeira is a traditional dance with amazing fight steps originating from slavery.
(This photo and caption were submitted to My Shot.)
