Guaranteed to Raise a Smile

Photograph by Mirco Balboni , National Geographic Your Shot

Musicians relax after a daylong photo shoot near the town of Renazzo in Emilia-Romagna, Italy. My intention was to capture the joy that these guys have making music together, writes Mirco Balboni, a member of our Your Shot community. The members of the band kept playing and joking as they entered the field. At that point, I saw that the situation was perfect the evening light was great and they were carefree in the field, as if they were still children. I saw the happiness in their faces and the joy of playing together.

Balboni s picture recently appeared in Your Shot s Daily Dozen .

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Turtle Power

Photograph by Montse Grillo

On the coast of Tenerife in the Canary Islands, we have quite the selection of affectionate green turtles, writes photographer Montse Grillo. This turtle was coming [down] from the surface. The sun behind it and the sun rays surrounding it gave it a special majesty.

This photo was submitted to the 2014 National Geographic Photo Contest . Enter your best shot by October 31 for a chance to win.

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Valley Flames

Photograph by Judge Helbig

Wildfires rage in a valley behind iconic Half Dome in California s Yosemite National Park. Judge Helbig captured the photo at 3 a.m. using a one-minute exposure.

This photo was submitted to the 2014 National Geographic Photo Contest . Enter your best shot by October 31 for a chance to win.

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Leap of Faith

Photograph by Nicole Cambr

A migrating wildebeest leaps into the low waters of the Mara River in Tanzania. Wildebeests begin their annual migration at the edge of the Serengeti Plains. On their enormous loop following seasonal rains, the more than 1.5 million animals encounter deadly crossings like this one at the Mara, infamous home of the giant Nile crocodile.

This photo was submitted to the 2014 National Geographic Photo Contest . Enter your best shot by October 31 for a chance to win.

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Through the Woods

Photograph by Gary Migues

Rain dampens the forest floor along a trail in Montana s Glacier National Park. Located in the Northern Rocky Mountains, the crown of the continent spans more than a million acres of rugged natural terrain. Among the features preserved within its borders are lakes and forests, alpine meadows, and valleys carved from the glaciers that give the park its name.

This photo was submitted to the 2014 National Geographic Photo Contest .

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Lord of the Seas

Photograph by Marc Henauer

Off the coast of Guadalupe Island, great white sharks gather to feed on sea lions, writes Marc Henauer of this scene he captured near the island off Baja California, Mexico. It s an ideal place to observe these majestic animals in their natural state.

This photo was submitted to the 2014 National Geographic Photo Contest .

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Lake Effect

Photograph by Ben Leshchinsky

Canoers paddle the opaque surface of Lake Louise in Alberta, Canada s Banff National Park. Ben Leshchinsky captured the disorienting photo from a cliff overlooking the lake. Even boulders the size of large cars seemed like pebbles from a high vantage point, he writes.

This photo was submitted to the 2014 National Geographic Photo Contest .

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The Blue Universe

Photograph by Hiroki Kondu

About 4.5 million Nemophila menziesii a California wildflower commonly known as baby blue eyes carpet the hills at Hitachi Seaside Park in Japan. According to photographer Hiroki Kondu, who calls this landscape the blue universe, the flowers peak from the end of April to the first week of May.

This photo was submitted to the 2014 National Geographic Photo Contest .

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Success

Photograph by Peter Allinson

An Atlantic puffin returns from a successful fishing expedition in this picture captured in Iceland. A puffin can grip 20 or more fish in its beak. Those with chicks make up to eight food runs a day.

This photo was submitted to the 2014 National Geographic Photo Contest .

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Morning Java

Photograph by Achmad Sumawijaya

Photographer Achmad Sumawijaya waited three hours to capture this picture of Mount Bromo (in foreground) and Mount Semeru (in background) on a misty morning in East Java, Indonesia. Some Indonesians believe that the volcanoes are portals to a subterranean world.

This photo was submitted to the 2014 National Geographic Photo Contest .

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Near and Far

Photograph by Yaron Shmid

Elephants appear to patrol the Serengeti in this picture taken in Tanzania. A recent study found that ivory-seeking poachers have killed 100,000 African elephants in just three years. During 2011 alone, roughly one of every twelve African elephants was killed by a poacher. Demand for ivory, most notably in China and elsewhere in Asia, has helped keep black market prices high.

This photo was submitted to the 2014 National Geographic Photo Contest .

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Napoleon Invasion

Photograph by Christian Miller

A humphead wrasse, also known as a Napoleon wrasse, builds a living frame as it swims through a school of fish in the waters off Australia. Photographer Christian Miller captured the shot on a windy day right after a cyclone had passed the far northern Great Barrier Reef. Never before [had I seen] that many glass fish on this particular coral bommie [outcrop], he writes.

This photo was submitted to the 2014 National Geographic Photo Contest .

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Tottori Sand Dunes

Photograph by Hideyuki Katagiri

The Tottori sand dunes the largest in Japan rise toward the horizon in the country s south. The coastal dunes were formed by sand and wind over 100,000 years. In the distance, lighted squid-fishing boats bob on the Sea of Japan.

This photo was submitted to the 2014 National Geographic Photo Contest .

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Over the River

Photograph by Garth Lenz

A tar mine edges up to a boreal forest and the MacKay River in northern Alberta, Canada. Photographer Garth Lenz speaks of the insane scale of the industrialization he photographs in the province, which has undergone dramatic changes since oil sands development began. Lenz uses aerial photography to capture the immensity of the altered landscape.

Garth Lenz s aerial photographs of landscapes transformed by energy production were recently featured on our photography blog, Proof .

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Stars Over Shivling

Photograph by Pete McBride

At 21,467 feet, India s Mount Shivling rises toward a clear night sky. Here in the Garhwal Himalaya lies the Gangotri glacier and the headwaters of the Ganges River.

Pete McBride s source-to-sea expedition , following the length of the Ganges River, was recently featured on our photography blog, Proof .

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Rains in Africa

Photograph by Keith Willette , National Geographic Your Shot

The clouds initially caught my eye, writes Your Shot member Keith Willette . This rumbling storm was coming in and I was hoping to catch some lightning bolts. Then I noticed the giraffe.

Willette had been photographing giraffes and elephants in Kenya s Masai Mara and was about to return to camp because of the storm. I asked to stay just a little longer because the smell of the storm and the peaceful quietness were something I wanted to enjoy just a bit more, he writes. Luckily, clouds broke through and illuminated the giraffe.

Willette s picture recently appeared in Your Shot s Daily Dozen .

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Autumn in Aomori

Photograph by Sho Shibata

The morning sun kindles a view of fall foliage on Lake Towada in Aomori, Japan. Sitting at the base of Mount Hakkoda, the lake and the annual autumn display of its forested banks are a popular tourist draw.

This photo was submitted to the 2014 National Geographic Photo Contest .

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Moonlit Mountaineers

Photograph by Pete McBride

At 16,700 feet and a temperature of minus 20 F, Jake Norton (right) and Dave Morton eat a quick dinner under moonlight as they prepare to climb the unclimbed Chaukhamba IV looming behind them. Along with photographer Pete McBride, the climbers spent 45 days trekking every mile of the Ganges River.

McBride s source-to-sea expedition, following the length of the Ganges River, was recently featured on our photography blog, Proof . See more pictures and read McBride's dispatch from the start of his journey high in the Himalaya.

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Barn Storm

Photograph by Mark Duffy , National Geographic Your Shot

Sunlit storm clouds near Saskatchewan, Canada s Qu Appelle Valley capped a day of storm chasing for Your Shot member Mark Duffy. The day for the most part was fairly flat, except for one developing thunderhead, so I started heading toward the back of this cloud formation, he writes. I went through the Qu Appelle Valley from the north at Marquis and ended up at sunset at Tuxford. The sun shone through at the horizon and created a beautiful stormy sunset. I thought the shapes and color of the granary and Quonset were an interesting anchor for the shot.

This photo was submitted to Your Shot . Check out the new and improved website, where you can share photos, take part in assignments, lend your voice to stories, and connect with fellow photographers from around the globe.

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Bird Break

Photograph by Tylee Parvin

A brilliantly colored flamingo nuzzles into its feathers during a midday break at the Birmingham Zoo in Alabama. The beauty was captivating, writes photographer Tylee Parvin. There's a sense of peace and tranquility in her eyes.

This photo was submitted to the 2014 National Geographic Photo Contest .

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House of Annapurna

Photograph by Daniel Hoshizaki , National Geographic Your Shot

Taking the less traveled foot trails on Nepal s Annapurna Circuit can be immensely rewarding, writes Your Shot member Daniel Hoshizaki. He captured this shot from a trail between Chamje and Tal, now skipped by most in favor of a new and much easier road. But taking the road means missing some of the most spectacular scenery on the entire circuit, he writes. The unfolding view of the river, canyon, and lush vegetation kept beckoning me to climb higher up the trail in order to capture the magnificence of the range s landscape.

This photo was submitted to Your Shot . Check out the new and improved website, where you can share photos, take part in assignments, lend your voice to stories, and connect with fellow photographers from around the globe.

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Rock Art

Photograph by Alexey Kharitnov

The shadows of rocks both tumbled and towering dip into valleys on the floor of the Sahara. Here on a plateau in the Tassili n'Ajjer region of Algeria, the desert and its rock forests shelter prehistoric remnants dating to 10,000 B.C. Ceramic materials, paintings, and 15,000 engravings among other artifacts have been identified since the first discoveries at Tassili in 1933.

This photo was submitted to the 2014 National Geographic Photo Contest .

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Golden Goal

Photograph by Florian Goppold , National Geographic Your Shot

I was sitting in a small bar watching the kids playing soccer in the sunset, writes Your Shot member Florian Goppold, whose trip through Brazil took him for a few days to Salvador da Bahia. It was one of these great moments on the Praia do Farol da Barra. I was fascinated the waves were high and the sea was roaring. The setting sun produced amazing colors. Goppold waited for the right moment to capture the silhouettes of the soccer players with the lighthouse in the background. It was my golden goal, he writes.

Goppold s picture recently appeared in Your Shot s Daily Dozen .

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The Dreaming Tree

Photograph by Christian Spencer

In the Strzelecki Desert of Australia, a flock of galahs replenishes with the small amount of water available at the base of a lonely tree. It was a rare opportunity to get such a clear and symmetrical shot of these beautiful birds in flight in the middle of the desert, writes photographer Christian Spencer.

This photo was submitted to the 2014 National Geographic Photo Contest .

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Inside Out

Photograph by Ragnheidur Arngr msd ttir

Flying with my father over B r arbunga to experience this eruption from inside our Earth was amazing, writes photographer Ragnheidur Arngr msd ttir, who captured this picture near Iceland s Holuhraun lava field. The power, heat, and beauty were overwhelming. On many occasions you feel how small you are [beside] nature. This was one of those times for me.

This photo was submitted to the 2014 National Geographic Photo Contest .

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Flying Leap

Photograph by Pete McBride

A wild ibex soars across Tapovan Creek, one of the many small tributaries that form the headwaters of India s Ganges River. Photographer Pete McBride captured this photo while on an expedition following the Hindus sacred river from its source in the Himalaya to the Bay of Bengal.

Pete McBride s story, " High in the Himalaya: Avalanches and a Silent Refuge " was recently featured on our photography blog, Proof .

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Whale of a Tail

Photograph by Shane Gross , National Geographic Your Shot

A sperm whale waves goodbye to Your Shot member Shane Gross, who had traveled to Sri Lanka s east coast hoping to photograph blue whales. While we did have some success with the blues, it was the sperm whales that stole the show, he writes. He captured this picture toward the end of the six-day expedition. It was late in the day and the sun was low as this small pod swam toward me, and I did my best to keep quiet so as to not frighten them. This one started to dive and I free dove right after her, trying to get as close to that massive tail as possible. I knew she might be the last whale I'd encounter on the trip, and indeed, she was.

Gross s picture recently appeared in Your Shot s Daily Dozen .

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Under Thin Ice

Photograph by Sergey Krasnoshchokov , National Geographic Your Shot

On Russia s Kamchatka Peninsula, fire and ice meet to form an otherworldly underground. Located on a slope of the peninsula s Mutnovsky volcano, the cave s stream is fed by volcanic hot springs. Sunlight filters through thinning glacial ice above.

It took me two trips to the shoreline and a number of attempts to obtain the image I wanted, he writes. It was meant to emphasize the incredible number of birds, their sense of freedom, and the sheer power of nature.

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Making Hay

Photograph by Andrius Jonusas , National Geographic Your Shot

My camera is always with me when I jump in a cockpit, writes Your Shot member Andrius Jonusas , who s taken to merging his two hobbies flying and photography. He captured this shot on a flight from Poci nai, Lithuania, to Leszno, Poland. My colleague and I were flying to see a day of the World Gliding Championships, he writes. This was taken about 50 kilometers [31 miles] east of Olsztyn in the Masurian region of northern Poland.

Jonusas s picture recently appeared in Your Shot s Daily Dozen .

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A Window on Wonder

Photograph by Pete McBride

Pilgrims and tourists from all over the world come to the holy city of Rishikesh, India, to visit the Ganges and give offerings. Shops lining the streets display spiritual items and colorful toys, here captivating a boy s attention.

Pete McBride s source-to-sea expedition , following the length of the Ganges River, was recently featured on our photography blog, Proof .

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Dangerous Beauty

Photograph by Garth Lenz

Disguised by the beauty of a reflection, this toxic tailings pond in Alberta, Canada, is a considerable health risk. Such vast lakes made up of oil sands development residue, or tailings are completely unlined, and 19 of them lie on either side of the Athabasca River. Individual ponds can range in size up to 8,850 acres.

Garth Lenz s aerial photographs of landscapes transformed by energy production were recently featured on our photography blog, Proof .

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Summer Pattern

Photograph by Sven Zacek , National Geographic Your Shot

Sunbathers make a haphazard pattern on the sand at P rnu, the so-called summer capital of Estonia. Your Shot member Sven Zacek had been thinking up ideas for a book showing the country as our national bird, the barn swallow, sees it. One of the motifs he hoped to capture was a summer day on the beach in P rnu, where people come together at the height of the season. With aerial photography, the most important thing is to get the weather right, he says. On a July day at around 2 p.m., when the sun was at its hottest, I hired an airplane and we circled the beach and got some nice waves from the people. After a while they stopped paying attention and then I got the photos I wanted.

Zacek s picture recently appeared in Your Shot s Daily Dozen .

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