5 stunning photos featured in National Geographic's Pictures of the Year

This years National Geographic Photo of the Year series showcases remarkable moments in nature and human life: a jaguar startling a photographer while he searches for an armadillo, a polar bear perched on a sperm whale, and other unforgettable scenes.

Our Pictures of the Year project consistently inspires and challenges us, said Nathan Lump, National Geographics editor-in-chief. Each year, our team of photographers and editors reviews thousands of images, seeking those rare instances that arrest our attention. Individually, each photo captures beauty, vulnerability, and wonder. Together, they convey an urgent messagehighlighting what must be preserved while reminding us of the poetic possibilities in striving for a brighter future.

Featured Photographs

Diego Paredes on Horseback
Diego Paredes stands atop his horse, Lobuno, overlooking a once-thriving trade route in northern Argentinas scenic valleys. Alongside his brother Hugo, Diego runs Renaciendo Costumbres (Reviving Traditions), offering educational horseback tours that breathe new life into the region.
Photo by Natalis Favre

Capturing Bird Embryos
Photographer Anand Varma has spent years documenting the moment when a developing bird embryo is visible within an egg yolk. By incubating embryos in artificial shells, he captured the transformation at 12 days old. Some of these embryos were later raised to chicks and given to local families.
Photo by Anand Varma

Jaguar Encounter in Brazil
While observing the burrow of a rare giant armadillo in Brazils Atlantic Forest, photographer Fernando Faciole encountered a jaguar. The species faces severe threats from deforestation, leaving possibly fewer than a dozen jaguars in the state park where this image was taken.
Photo by Fernando Faciole

Protecting the Coral Reefs of the Solomon Islands
The Solomon Islands are home to some of the worlds most diverse coral reefs. Earlier this year, the nation pledged to protect 59 million acres of its marine territories, forming part of the Coral Triangle, which spans six countries and hosts 76% of the planets coral species.
Photo by Manu San Flix

National Geographic 2025 Cover
The cover of National Geographics 2025 Pictures of the Year highlights these extraordinary moments in photography.
Photo by National Geographic

Author: Aiden Foster