Talking pictures (National Geographic)

Joel Sartore

Rift in Paradise 

Albertine Rift, Uganda

A tree-climbing lion stirs in Uganda's Queen Elizabeth National Park.
"This photograph is so beautifully executed. The color is magnificent, with the cobalt blue sky in the background and the warm light on the lion. The composition is perfect. Yet underneath all that beauty is a message: Lions are in trouble. Joel Sartore has devoted himself to photographing animals out of balance, endangered, crying for a voice."
—Chris Johns, Editor in Chief

Carsten Peter 

Conquering an Infinite Cave 

Minh Hoa, Vietnam 

A giant cave column swagged in flowstone towers over explorers swimming through the depths of Hang Ken, one of 20 new caves discovered last year in Vietnam.
"Carsten Peter thrives on adventure. The more difficult the place, the more he wants to go. What's special about this photograph is its otherworldliness. It truly looks like another planet, because no one's ever seen it before. And the way the light is balanced between the divers and the stalagmites and stalactites in this huge space—absolutely flawless."
—Chris Johns, Editor in Chief

Stephanie Sinclair 

Too Young to Wed 

Herat, Afghanistan 

A veil of gauze protects a patient named Zahara from flies in a burn ward in Herat, Afghanistan. Afghan women who set themselves on fire may do so to escape abuse at home, believing they will die instantly. Yet many linger on with terrible injuries.
"This dreamlike photo belies tragedy. Under the soft gauze is the hard reality of a burn ward in Afghanistan; child brides sometimes set themselves on fire to escape arranged marriages. Stephanie Sinclair's poignant photograph speaks to her commitment to give a voice to those young women."
—Chris Johns, Editor in Chief

Lynsey Addario 

Baghdad After the Storm 

Iraq 

Moviegoers at Baghdad's first 4-D cinema get an extra thrill from shaking seats and wind machines during a 3-D sci-fi film. During the worst years of violence, families stayed home to watch TV or DVDs. Most cinemas closed, as did this one, though it has plans to expand and reopen.
"Not only did Lynsey Addario gain access to an undiscovered part of Baghdad; she did it with such flair. The blue light, the projector in the background, the people's expressions, those crazy-looking 3-D glasses. But you can also see this is a temporary structure, tentlike, and you think, with all they've been through, now they can enjoy life, have some fun."
—Chris Johns, Editor in Chief

Vincent J. Musi 

Taming the Wild 

Novosibirsk, Russia 

This brown rat's angry display at the photographer reflects 73 generations of breeding for hostility to humans. Scientists at Novosibirsk and in Germany are comparing the aggressive rat genome to that of rats selected for friendliness, attempting to untangle connections between DNA and behavior. 
"It looks like a prison cell with a bunch of mad prisoners, ready to lash out at each other, which is basically what these rats are doing. And the whole frame, the way it moves from not just the aggressive rat but to how the other rats are reacting to him, is a moment that is absolutely unforgettable."
—Chris Johns, Editor in Chief

Michael Nichols 

Orphans No More 

Nairobi Elephant Nursery, Kenya 

Dedicated keepers at the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust's Nairobi Elephant Nursery in Kenya protect baby Shukuru from the cold and rain, and the risk of pneumonia, with a custom-made raincoat. 
"This picture means so much to me because it eloquently addresses the powerful connection between the men who have devoted their lives to caring for these elephants and the vulnerable animals that share the strong bond with those men. The orange blanket; the green uniforms of the men; their hands silhouetted, holding the umbrellas. Those delicate raindrops on the elephant's head. Everything in this photograph works together and has a powerful, emotional message."
—Chris Johns, Editor in Chief

Paul Nicklen 

Spirit Bear 

Great Bear Rainforest, British Columbia 

In a moss-draped rain forest in British Columbia, towering red cedars live a thousand years, and black bears are born with white fur. "Paul Nicklen is a master at getting closer. He gets close enough to take this beautiful forest with this beautiful bear, eating a salmon, and make it all come together in a photograph that captures your imagination. I feel like I'm there. I can almost smell that forest, the bear. This is Paul's home. This looks like a photo he took in his backyard of a dear friend."
—Chris Johns, Editor in Chief

Erika Larsen 

Sami 

Gällivare, Sweden 

Sven Skaltje was saddened to find the carcasses of two female reindeer whose antlers had become entangled during a dominance struggle in northern Sweden. He estimates it took three days for them to die of starvation. After separating the bodies, he saw from the ear markings that one belonged to him and the other to his cousin. Skaltje is much admired by the younger Sami in his herding group, but he is unsure whether the skills he teaches them will endure. 
"There's a timeless quality to this photograph. The deep connection between Sami herders and the reindeer is hundreds of years old. You can see the expression on the man's face as he pauses in reverence for these magnificent animals. The snow, the dusting across his shoulders: It all works together in a quiet, reflective way that is true to the Sami people."
—Chris Johns, Editor in Chief

Pascal Maitre 

Rift in Paradise 

North Kivu, Democratic Republic of the Congo 

Rule of the gun prevails in North Kivu, a conflict-ravaged province in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The Mai-Mai Kifuafua, one of many local militias, flaunts its power on a road where it extorts money from villagers and travelers. For almost 20 years near-constant fighting over land, mining riches, and power has terrorized the people. 
"Pascal Maitre has an absolutely remarkable ability to go into the most dangerous, volatile situations and return with powerful images. In places where a civilization is literally coming unraveled, he sees human behavior that needs to be documented, because the suffering is unbelievable. This photograph in Central Africa conveys a sense of energy and immediacy—and it's also frightening."
—Chris Johns, Editor in Chief

Kitra Cahana 

Beautiful Teenage Brains 

Austin, Texas 

No elbows, no knees. Their "fight club" had rules. At least one Friday a month, boys gathered after school in the backyard of Bryan Campbell (at far left) to wrestle and box. Campbell's mother made sure they kept it safe; a bloody nose was the worst injury. The boys often used phones to film their contests, posting the videos to a private Facebook group so more friends could admire their prowess. The rush of a headlock, a bond between friends—their fights delivered both excitement and social rewards. 
"To make a memorable picture of teenagers, the picture has to speak across generations and be one of those photographs that when you see it, you go, Aha! Here are two boys wrestling down at the bottom of the frame, beautifully composed. And these two other guys, using their devices to record the two guys down there wrestling. Here they are, absorbed, as they're participating in complete and absolute horseplay."
—Chris Johns, Editor in Chief