Every week of the year, our ships send back compelling images captured on expeditions around the globe by our talented and dedicated naturalists and certified photo instructors. From an astounding fire dance performance in Samoa to a stunning close-up of a flamingo in the Galápagos and a curious raft of king penguins in the Subantarctic Isles, these are some of our favorite photos from the past year.
Macquarie Island, Australia
Epic Antarctica:From the Peninsulato the Ross Sea & Beyond
King penguins swim at the side gate of the National Geographic Endurance. —Marylou Blakeslee, Naturalist
Torres del Paine National Park, Patagonia, Chile
Patagonia: Chilean Fjords and Argentina's Staten Island
A guanaco ran in from one side and hopped the fence, right in the middle of our hiking group. —Sue Forbes, Naturalist/Certified Photo Instructor
Napier, New Zealand
Southern Odyssey: New Zealand and the Subantarctic Islands
At the headlands of Kidnappers Bay, we visited a gannet colony. Bird colonies are unique places with not only hundreds of birds at the nesting sites but also a swirl of birds overhead as they continually come and go from nests. These colonies are magical places where we can behold a celebration of life. —Steve Morello, Naturalist/Certified Photo Instructor
San Ignacio, Baja California, Mexico
Baja California:A Remarkable Journey
Palm oasis and natural spring in San Ignacio in Baja California Sur, Mexico. —Rich Reid, National Geographic Photography Expert
Western Greenland
Iceland & Greenland: Edge of the Arctic
A guest walks across an amazing landscape reflected in a small tide pool. —Dave Katz, Expedition Leader
Santa Cruz Island, Galápagos
Galapagos Aboard National Geographic Endeavour II
Galápagos giant tortoise “smiling.” —Bernardo Jacome, Naturalist
Cascade Creek, Alaska
Wild Alaska Escape: LeConte Bay, Wrangell, and the Misty Fjords
One of the many humpback whales seen from the bow of the ship. —Leonardo Carrizo, Naturalist/Certified Photo Instructor
Inverewe, Scotland
Exploring Scotland’sWild Isles:Shetlands, Orkneys, andInner Hebrides
Our morning started with a short Zodiac ride. As we approached the shore, the haunting sound of the bagpipes reached us. Soon we could make out the solitary figure of a piper on the rocks welcoming us to Inverewe Gardens. —Mairi Fenton, Naturalist (photo by Lisa Hornak)
Stromboli, Italy
Mediterranean Gems: Southern Italy and Sicily aboard Sea Cloud
With a stop at Stromboli under a full moon, evening fireworks were in store. We howled at the moon and cheered the pyrotechnics of Stromboli. —Linda M. Burback, Naturalist/Certified Photo Instructor
Guna Yala, Panama
Panama and Colombia: Exploring the Caribbean Coast
On National Geographic Quest, we had the amazing opportunity to explore the Guna Yala archipelago. We landed on the famous Hollandes Keys: a remote island where only eight families live. It's surrounded by a big coral reef, and we had the opportunity to swim and snorkel in the clear, pristine waters and see different varieties of coral. —Joshua Hall, Naturalist
Apia, Samoa
Fiji and Tahiti Adventure: Vibrant Reefs and Cultural History
At sunset, we were treated to a spectacular and energetic fire dancing performance at the dock. —Andrew Peacock, Naturalist/Certified Photo Instructor
Rabida Island, Galápagos
We went for a walk along the beach and observed several American flamingos feeding in a brackish water lagoon. We spotted close to two dozen American flamingos feeding on the brine shrimp while others mated along the shores. —Jonathan Aguas, Naturalist/Certified Photo Instructor
Baffin Island, Canada
Northwest Passage: Greenland to Alaska
A lone polar bear emerges from the waters of Prince Regent Inlet just astern of the National Geographic Resolution. —Eric Guth, Naturalist/Certified Photo Instructor
Miyajima, Japan
Coastal Japan: Imperial Dynasties and Modern Culture
A boy walks out into the waters of Hiroshima Bay towards the Great Torii Gate which marks the entrance to the 12th-century Itsukushima Shrine, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Here in the serene island of Miyajima, the gate creates the spectacular illusion that it's floating when the tide is high. —Photo: David Vargas
Gros Morne National Park, Canada
The Canadian Maritimes and Newfoundland
An otherworldly display of northern lights over the horizon. —Shayne Sanders, Naturalist/Certified Photo Instructor
Qaanaaq, Greenland
High Arctic Archipelago: Canada & Greenland
One of several inquisitive Greenland husky puppies that followed us around town. —Jamie Coleman, Naturalist/Certified Photo Instructor
Ithaki, Vathy, Greece
Under Sail: Greece and the Dalmatian Coast aboard Sea Cloud
Sea Cloud and the entrance into the protected bay of Ithaca. —Sue Forbes, Naturalist/Certified Photo Instructor
Pulau Belitung, Indonesia
Jewels of the Java Sea: An Exploration Between Bali and Singapore
Our beach welcome involved dancers in colorful costumes. —Andrew Peacock, Naturalist/Certified Photo Instructor
Boca de Soledad, Baja California
Wild Baja California Escape:The Whales of Magdalena Bay
Today our guests ventured to the northern end of Magdalena Bay known as Boca De Soledad, where we were treated to multiple mother and calf pairs. One particular calf kept lifting its head out of the water with every exhale, giving us great looks at the whale's eye and cute little face. These babies were practicing swimming in the bay’s opening with its challenging, swift moving water.
Grytviken, South Georgia Island
South Georgia andthe Falklands
A small colony of gentoo penguins with the National Geographic Endurance and a dramatic landscape. —Ezra Siegel, Naturalist
Fatu Hiva, Marquesas
Ancient Polynesia:Tuamotu andMarquesas Islands
Scuba diving in Fatu Hiva is a remarkable experience characterized by nutrient-rich waters filled with diverse marine life. —Christine Regent West, Undersea Specialist
Port Charcot, Antarctica
Journey to Antarctica: The White Continent
A chinstrap observes us as we hike up to the cairn on Port Charcot. —Guadalupe Canale, Cultural Specialist
Española Island, Galápagos
Galápagos Aboard National Geographic Endeavour II
Two families of Española mockingbirds fight over territory at the beach. Their dances are very fun to watch. —Gilda Gonzalez, Naturalist (Photo by Cristian Villarroel)
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