curved limestone rock and a misty river, Norway
a group of southern carmine bee-eater birds taking flight in Namibia
people in hammocks watching the sunset.
two bears chasing each other, Kamchatka, Russia
an airborne surfboard over a cresting wave, Maui, Hawaii
patrons in Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam, Netherlands
a snake's shed skin on a large leaf, Pennsylvania
a storm arriving on an island.
1 of 8
Carved in StoneGlacial river water conjures an evanescent mist at the Norwegian rock formation known as Marmorslottet (the Marble Castle). Located in Mo i Rana, the Marble Castle is limestone that has been carved into sinuous-looking curves by the rushing river fed by the Svartisen glacier, Norway’s second largest.
Photograph by Therese Jaegtvik, National Geographic Your Shot

Photo of the Day: Best of January

Every day, we feature an image chosen from thousands submitted to our photo community Your Shot. Here are eight favorites from January.

ByJeanne Modderman
February 09, 2017

I’ve found that the quietest people often have the best stories to tell, and January’s top photos are no different. While minimalistic at face value, they each have a single defining element that is powerful enough to carry the frame and narrative. Their simplicity allows your mind to let go of the present and to imagine the before and after of each moment.

Jeanne M. Modderman is the editor of Photo of the Day , a curated look at photography from National Geographic’s photo community, Your Shot . Liane DiStefano and Brett Weisband write the captions and titles. Submit your photos and you could be published in our magazines and online.

FREE BONUS ISSUE

Go Further