See the pictures we love, as chosen by National Geographic photo editors - from gravity-defying fighters to a "flaming" caterpillar.
| Fight and Flight |
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Kalaripayattu fighters seem to take flight as they engage in fierce swordplay during a show in Kerala, India. The South Indian martial art is thought to be among the oldest in the world, tracing its roots back 3,000 years.
Although no longer used in mortal combat, kalaripayattu is still practiced by devotees and serves as inspiration for modern dance and fitness choreographers. (Related: "Martial Artists' Moves Revealed in 'Fight Science' Lab.")
Why We Love It
"Obviously this is the kind of shot one can only wait but never plan for. The shadow on the ground adds more spice to the already fierce fight. The photographer captured the beauty and tension of a perfect moment, but left the rest of the story to our imagination." - Echo Xie, photo intern.
"The subdued colour palette and low light makes these fighters appear effortless as they defy gravity and fly." - Monica Corcoran, senior photo editor.
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| Silken Locks |
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Photograph by Michael Nagle, Getty Images.
Emma Echols holds her Yorkshire terrier, Tucker, during the Junior Showmanship Preliminaries at the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show on February 13 in New York City.
First held in 1877, the Westminster show is the second longest continuously held sporting event in the United States, second only to the Kentucky Derby. (See more pictures of dogs by National Geographic fans.)
Why We Love It
"By intentionally not showing the handler's face, the photographer reinforces the idea that the dog is the main focus, and the handler should 'disappear' in the show ring." - Monica Corcoran, senior photo editor.
"The shine of the woman's tailored suit - juxtaposed with the dog's shiny coat - conveys the pomp and circumstance of Westminster in one frame." - Sarah Polger, senior photo editor.
"The remarkable body language captured in this frame set it apart from other pictures of this well-covered event." - Chris Combs, news photo editor.
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| Sea of Stone |
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Photograph by Abir Sultan, European Pressphoto Agency.
Wind blows the hat from an ultra-Orthodox Jew during prayers on the Mount of Olives, on the eastern edge of old Jerusalem. According to Jewish tradition, the Mount of Olives is connected to future events that will happen at the time of the Redemption.
Due to the holiness of the site, its proximity to the city, and its easily chiselled soft chalk, the Mount has been a burial ground since the First Temple period, which lasted from the sixth to the eighth century B.C. (Related: "4,000-Year-Old Tombs Found Near Jerusalem Mall.")
Why We Love It
"The never-ending cycle of life and death continues despite attempts to control one's fate. The overall tone, the rows of gravestones, and the man losing his hat all add to this feeling of helplessness." - Monica Corcoran, senior photo editor.
"It's difficult to effectively 'fill the frame' with a wide-angle lens, but this photographer added to the power of a poignant scene by giving us a lot to look at and think about." - Chris Combs, news photo editor.
"Shot with a wide lens from above, the scale of the graveyard is enhanced by the ominous grey that seems to permeate the frame." - Sarah Polger, senior photo editor.
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| Electric Blanket |
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Photograph from NASA via AFP/Getty Images.
The soft green glow of the aurora borealis seems to swaddle the Pacific Northwest in a recently released picture taken by astronauts aboard the International Space Station.
Familiar green auroras appear lower in the atmosphere, around 60 miles (100 kilometres) above the surface. At altitudes round 185 to 310 miles (300 to 500 kilometres), the light displays are pure red. (See more aurora pictures.)
To the right in this frame, the bluish shine of a phenomenon called airglow - light spawned by various chemical interactions in the upper atmosphere - peeks from beneath the auroral blanket.
Why We Love It
"Hard to believe this is real, isn't it? Sometimes the beauty of the subject itself makes a picture compelling." - Chris Combs, news photo editor.
"The juxtaposition of the aurora - something we see from Earth often - and the light pollution from cities is just stunning. This image has such beautiful depth, and the dark exposure is just right." - Janna Dotschkal, associate photo editor.
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| Suddenly Soaked |
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People run toward shelter during an unexpected summer rainstorm in Chicago in a picture submitted this month to National Geographic's My Shot.
The large body of Lake Michigan tends to moderate temperatures in Chicago, causing relatively cooler summers and warmer winters. The lake also tends to increase cloudiness in the area but suppress summer precipitation, according to the Illinois State Climatologist Office.
Why We Love It
"This is a moment we all have experienced. However, the overall tone of this image, along with the hazy buildings in the distance, create a filmy feeling. Are those two people running to a shelter, or toward another space?" - Echo Xie, photo intern.
"The light and subject matter give this photo a cinematic feel. The viewer can interpret this image multiple ways and make up their own endings." - Monica Corcoran, senior photo editor.
"It's also nice to see a square frame used to full effect - there's something interesting to examine in each corner of this composition." - Chris Combs, news photo editor.
"The calming colour palette fills this scene, conveying the thick, warm summer night the couple is splashing through." - Sarah Polger, senior photo editor.
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| Self-Guided Bullet |
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Photograph from Sandia National Laboratories/AP.
What appears to be a white streamer billowing across the desert is actually the lighted path of a new self-guided bullet being tested at the Sandia National Laboratories facility in New Mexico. A long-exposure picture captured the bullet, which was fired at night after being fitted with an LED.
The bullet twists and turns to guide itself toward its target, making up to 30 corrections a second while in the air, Sandia engineers report. The "smart" projectile can hit a target more than a mile (1.6 kilometers) away. (Related: "Remote-Controlled Sharks: Next Navy Spies?")
Why We Love It
"This photo almost looks like a screenshot from a sci-fi movie. It's hard to believe this apocalypse scene is actually happening somewhere in our planet." - Echo Xie, photo intern.
"The bright, bold, mysterious path of light draws my eye into the photo and makes me wonder, What in the world is going on here?" - Rina Rodriguez, associate photo producer.
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| Island Living |
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Photograph by Kevin Frayer/AP.
An abandoned structure, meant to be part of an overpass, now serves as a concrete island in the Yamuna River in Delhi, India.
The Yamuna flows south through the Himalaya foothills, passing through the city of Delhi before joining with the Ganges, a confluence that is especially sacred to the Hindus.
Why We Love It
"The soft light conveys a peaceful feeling, which at first glance suggests to me that the rower is heading to the island to seek a quiet escape, perhaps from the energy and activity of wherever he has left." - Rina Rodriguez, associate photo producer.
"This feels like a frame that took a while to happen. I appreciate the photographer's patience in waiting to capture the right image of this strange, overlookable scene." - Chris Combs, news photo editor.
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| Living Flame |
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Photographer Leonardo Tavares Castro describes the poisonous moth larva as "a very friendly caterpillar with [a] lush coat, but that can cause serious burns if handled the wrong way."
Why We Love It
"This deceptive photo challenges my eyes. It makes me want to turn it over and see it from the other side. Who knows, maybe it will burst into flames anyway." - Echo Xie, photo intern.
"I love that the soft, orange glow surrounding the match is not, as I first assumed, the normal flame you would expect to see but instead a fuzzy caterpillar!" - Rina Rodriguez, associate photo producer.
"The rich detail of this picture rewards viewers who take the time to parse out what's happening in the frame." - Chris Combs, news photo editor.
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| Golden Years |
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Nadejda and Petru Cerva of Moldova smile for the camera as they celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary.
The Republic of Moldova is a small landlocked country that lies between Romania and Ukraine. Most of Moldova was part of Romania before World War II, and two-thirds of Moldovans speak Romanian. The Soviets annexed Moldova in 1940, and the country gained independence in 1991.
Why We Love It
"Everything about this image is simple: its composition, its background, its colour. Yet the photo is still filled with layers of stories and emotions. The smile on the wife's face and the tenderness in the husband's eyes tell us all." - Echo Xie, photo intern.
"This moment encompasses the charm of an elderly couple celebrating getting married. The light is harsh, but the shadows create definition in their faces, allowing us to see their expressions. The photo is simple, yet meaningful." - Janna Dotschkal, associate photo editor.
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| Heavenly View |
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Photograph by Serkant Hekimci, Your Shot.
A young visitor gazes upward during a visit to the Blue Mosque in Istanbul, Turkey, as hanging lights seem to mimic stars in the firmament.
The mosque was built during the rule of Sultan Ahmed I in the early 1600s, reportedly to rival the majesty of the Hagia Sophia, an ancient Byzantine cathedral later converted into a mosque. The sultan's creation earned its colourful moniker due to the thousands of blue ceramic tiles that decorate the interior.
Why We Love It
"I love the vague praying figures in the far end, in comparison to the boy's complete obsession over the lights. It's as if his heart shrinks and lights up at the same time. This photo reminds me we can never see the world the way others see in their eyes." - Echo Xie, photo intern.
"The boy's unusual pose makes this picture of an oft-photographed scene more compelling than most - and the photographer's careful composition kept us from being distracted by the many other details of the Sultan Ahmed Mosque." - Chris Combs, news photo editor.
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