National Geographic ‘Photos of the Year’ 2024: See top photos

The end of the year is (almost) here and National Geographic is closing out 2024 with its annual Photo of the Year issue, featuring the most breathtaking and culturally relevant images from photographers around the world.

“Photos of the Year is one of my favorite things we do all year,” Nathan Lump, editor-in-chief of National Geographic, told USA TODAY. “It’s more than just a collection of great images, it’s a reflection of everything National Geographic embodies: curiosity, exploration and a commitment to highlighting the beauty and complexity of our world.”

The magazine announced its top selection on Tuesday, chosen from stories it assigned to photographers working around the world in 2024 for its fifth annual year-end retrospective. The final 20 photos have been narrowed down from a total of 2.3 million — 300,000 more than in 2023, Lump said, adding that Nat Geo’s “dedicated team” carefully reviewed all photos with a single goal: “to find photos that are visually appealing and tell interesting and important stories that will arouse the curiosity of our audience.”

“The final twenty images serve as a reminder of photography’s ability to illuminate, provoke and foster a deeper connection with the world around us,” said Lump.

Lump said this year’s selection stands out with regard to “its dual power as mirror and lens – showing us the world as it is while offering a glimpse of what it could be.”

Describing the images as “visually arresting” and “deeply thought-provoking,” Lump said the photos “tell stories of resilience and courage in the face of change, innovation and adaptation that addresses challenges, and the enduring power of observation and documentation.” ‘

Lump hopes the collection “provides a better understanding of the world” and inspires the public to “want to learn more.”

“Whether it’s a penguin jumping off a 50-foot cliff to swim for the first time, or the awe-inspiring sight of a volcano erupting at night, or a group of scientists exploring a cave in Africa, each of these photos has a real story to tell about the planet and what we learn about it,” said Lump. “To me, these images serve as a reminder of how incredible our world is, and how much we need to cherish and preserve it.”

See: National Geographic’s 2024 ‘Photos of the Year’

Here are just some of the compelling images from National Geographic, photographed by Rena Effendi, Peter Fisher, Bertie Gregory, Matthieu Paley and John Stanmeyer.

See the full collection at NatGeo.com/Photos or in the December issue of National Geographic.

Saman Shafiq is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at [email protected] and follow her on X and Instagram @saman_shafiq7.