This month, our Photo of the Day editor shares why she chose the shots that you liked best.
1. Whale Shark, Gulf of Tadjoura, Djibouti
In winter young whale sharks come to feed on plankton in the nutrient-rich waters of the Gulf of Tadjoura, off the arid coast of Djibouti. The world's largest fish - weighing more than an elephant - is becoming a symbol of Arabia's bountiful, but largely unprotected, marine heritage.
What Made This a Photo of the Day
I'm often drawn to over/under shots like these, in which you get a glimpse of a hidden world just below the surface of the waves. And in this case, the immediacy of coming face to face with such a beautiful creature is thrilling - as is imagining yourself in the water with it. - Alexa Keefe, Photo of the Day editor.
2. Desert Rivers, Mexico
(This photo and caption were submitted to Your Shot.)
Photograph credit link: Adriana Franco, Your Shot.
What Made This a Photo of the Day
The vantage point afforded by aerial photography is particularly compelling when patterns like these are revealed. For a moment, you wonder whether you're seeing a macro view of a river reaching into the barrenness of the desert or a micro view of the arteries in a living creature. - Alexa Keefe, Photo of the Day editor.
3. Rubbing Stone, Washington State, USA
Looking as if it fell from the sky, a 40-ton erratic stands on the Colville Indian Reservation in Washington State. Such boulders are sometimes called rubbing stones because bison scratched up against them.
What Made This a Photo of the Day
The brilliantly starry sky makes a perfect backdrop for this ancient rock, reenforcing the sense of timelessness. It feels as if the boulder itself were as old as the cosmos above it. - Alexa Keefe, Photo of the Day editor.
4. Canyon, Zion National Park, Utah, USA
Inside Zion National Park's famous Subway slot canyon, my hiking and photography friend, Suzanne, ponders the way ahead.
(This photo and caption were submitted to Your Shot.)
What Made This a Photo of the Day
People add a sense of scale and intrigue to landscape scenes like this one. I like the way the person is looking around the bend, perhaps into another enclave that she's about to explore. Not to mention the colours are also beautiful. - Alexa Keefe, Photo of the Day editor.
5. Godafoss, Iceland
A glacial torrent pours over a 40-foot-high ledge at Gođafoss, "waterfall of the gods." After the Icelandic assembly adopted Christianity in 1000, its leader threw his pagan idols into the falls. The mossy island, notes geographer Guđrún Gísladóttir, "is protected from sheep."
What Made This a Photo of the Day
One of the criteria for a Photo of the Day is whether it is an image that you want to spend time with. The crisp green of the island against the smooth expanse of flowing water is so beautiful you are in awe that this scene truly exists. - Alexa Keefe, Photo of the Day editor.
6. Hraunfossar Waterfall, Iceland
Hraunfossar waterfall in September looks much as it would have in Viking days: birch trees, bog bilberries, and the Hvítá River, white with silt. The waterfall is a series of springs that plunge into the river on the far bank.
What Made This a Photo of the Day
The layers of colour and texture in this frame create an impressionistic tapestry that I find immensely pleasing. Part of putting together an edit for Photo of the Day is choosing a selection of images that have a visual variety of scale, colour, and composition - so this was a welcome addition to the mix. - Alexa Keefe, Photo of the Day editor.
7. Arch Rock, Joshua Tree National Park, California, USA
A clear night at Arch Rock, Joshua Tree National Park. This is a self-portrait, made during a four-day stay hiking, camping, and climbing after being sent to a conference at San Diego by Johns Hopkins - it was the perfect combination of work and fun.
(This photo and caption were submitted to My Shot.)
What Made This a Photo of the Day
I like how clearly delineated the elements in this photograph are. The clean lines of the rock, the clear sky, and the subject well-placed among them work in concert to convey a sense of peaceful solitude. The headlamp echoing the first stars in the sky is also a nice touch, and a clever way to illuminate the subject's face, as well as the rock overhead. - Alexa Keefe, Photo of the Day editor.
8. Alligator, Florida, USA
I made this image at Myakka River State Park in Sarasota, Florida, this past spring. There had been no rain in the river valley for quite a while, and the waters were at drought level. I found this guy in a shallow depression in the riverbed, along with some trapped fish, and knew I had a good chance for an evening shot with flash.
(This photo and caption were submitted to My Shot.)
What Made This a Photo of the Day
What I liked about this photo off the bat was that it's at once creepy and colourful. I also like the way that the head-on composition beckons me to his level, though I'm equally glad to not really be in that river with him. - Alexa Keefe, Photo of the Day editor.
9. Hoh Rain Forest, Olympic National Park, Washington State, USA
Most people know about the Hoh Rain Forest in Olympic National Park, but only a few are lucky to discover the wonder near Sol Duc.
(This photo and caption were submitted to Your Shot.)
Photograph credit link: Wai Chee Wong, Your Shot.
What Made This a Photo of the Day
The cool dampness of this forest is almost palpable. The rocky stream bed provides an entry point and a path for the eyes to follow, which is important in a scene such as this in which the mass of trees might otherwise overwhelm the eye. - Alexa Keefe, Photo of the Day editor.
10. Shoebill, Uganda
The shoebill is a bizarre bird, named because of its big bill. This shot was taken at Mbamba swamp in Uganda.
(This photo and caption were submitted to Your Shot.)
Photograph credit link: Cantay Gok, Your Shot.
What Made This a Photo of the Day
I make an effort to not anthropomorphize when choosing pictures of animals, but this one was love at first sight, from the "I am not amused" expression all the way to the tousled-looking feathers on the top of its head. But subject aside, what really makes this one a success is that the eyes are sharp. Without that, this bird would not have made the cut, no matter how unusual-looking. - Alexa Keefe, Photo of the Day editor.
Top image: Mendenhall Glacier, Juneau, Alaska (left) and Sea stacks, Shi Shi Beach, Washington State (right).
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