How We Climbed an Iconic Norwegian Mountain for an Epic Aurora Photo
On March 23rd, 2023, Earth got hit by the strongest geomagnetic storm in six years. I was out executing my unique aurora shot of the year, titled The Platform.
Photos from the First-Ever Ascent of Mt. Michel, an Ultra-Remote Volcano
A team of National Geographic explorers led by Renan Ozturk and Emma Nicholson was able to reach the summit crater of Mount Michel -- a remote stratovolcano -- and confirm the existence of one of nature’s rarest phenomenons: a lava lake.
Arctic Dreams in Autochrome: Photos from 1912 Greenland Expedition
More than a century ago, a Swiss expedition sledged across Greenland’s ice sheet, recording their feats in full color. A new book and an exhibition give these images a new lease of life.
Rare Bird Not Seen for 140 Years Caught on Camera for First Time
The black-naped pheasant-pigeon, a large, ground-dwelling pigeon that only lives on one island, has been documented by scientists for the first time since its 1882 discovery and has been captured on camera for the first time ever.
Photographing the Diverse Wildlife and Nature of the Galápagos Islands
The Galápagos Islands are high on most wildlife photographers' bucket list, and for good reason. While photographers may not find intimidating predators like lions or larger than life land mammals like elephants, there is a reason the Galápagos is known as a “living museum and showcase of evolution.”
Photographing Antarctica: Penguins, Seals, and a Total Solar Eclipse
Antarctica is a bucket list destination for countless landscape and wildlife photographers, and for good reason. Dramatic, jagged mountain peaks rise high over colonies consisting of millions of penguins living on the frozen earth below. While photographing Antarctica is a rare experience in itself, photographing a total solar eclipse in Antarctica is akin to winning the lottery.
Ernest Shackleton’s Ship Endurance Found in Antarctic After 107 Years
107 years after it sank off the coast of Antarctica, Sir Ernest Shackleton's ship the HMS Endurance has been found in remarkably good condition, as new photos and 4K video shows.
This is What a Solar Eclipse Over Antarctica Looks Like From Space
On December 4, 2021, a total solar eclipse occurred over the skies of Antarctica. It was the only place on Earth where it was visible, and this photo from space shows the huge shadow the event cast over the southernmost continent.
This Photo of a Total Solar Eclipse was Taken from Antarctica
On December 4, a total solar eclipse was only visible from Antarctica, which is where Theo Boris and Christian A. Lockwood were positioned to photograph it and live stream the event for NASA.
Photographing Wild Bears of Alaska at Tuxedni Bay
When the plane left, I’ll admit, there was a sense of aloneness that fell over us. As the buzz of the Bush Hawk faded slowly away, we were indeed isolated. I can’t speak for everyone individually but here, on the north bank of Tuxedni Bay, this is about as far as I’ve ever been from civilization.
Nat Geo Photographer ‘Battle Tests’ Sony Alpha 1 in South America
Filmmaker and photographer Renan Ozturk recently returned from an expedition to Guyana to "battle test" the Sony Alpha 1 in some extreme conditions in the South American jungle.
A Photographer’s Journey to Yemen to Shoot the Dragon Blood Tree
Yemen isn't exactly a popular destination among photographers these days. The US government has issued a "Do Not Travel" advisory for the country, warning that there's a risk of terrorism, civil unrest, health risks, kidnapping, and armed conflict. But photographer Marsel van Oosten recently traveled to the Yemeni island of Socotra, the "jewel of the Arabian Sea," to photograph the dragon blood tree.
My Quest for the Perfect Polar Bear Picture
I’ve been saying it for years; all the easy pictures have been taken. But there are still some stupid and crazy ones left out there. I came up with the bright idea to travel north with at least one of them in mind. I went looking for the polar bear of my dreams.
Shooting a World First Expedition on the Essequibo River in Guyana
I removed the Canon C300 from its waterproof bag and attached the 24-105mm f/4.0 lens while swatting away the relentless mosquitoes. Bringing the viewfinder loupe up to my eye, my left hand flicked the power switch on, now a reflex action after shooting with this camera every day for the last three weeks. Nothing happened. Weird, I was certain I'd put in a fully charged battery.
Photographing Hang Son Doong, the World’s Largest Cave, by Gregg Jaden
In 2009, I was involved in a near fatal car crash when an oncoming car made an unsafe left turn in front of my vehicle, nearly killing me. This life changing incident was a blessing. It forced me to slow down and really assess how I was living and experiencing my life. This near-death experience revealed to me the need to be creative on a much higher level and really contribute to this planet.
Wild and Pure: Photographing Wildlife in Kamchatka
Kamchatka. Just the name evokes so many different and exotic feelings as flashbacks emerge from National Geographic features.
In recent years, as a pro wildlife photographer, I’ve been doing incredible features worldwide, but Russia is complicated and Kamchatka is remote and isolated… so it took me a couple of years to get everything ready for my special photography project in one of the last wild places on earth.
NASA Creates Movie Parody Posters Featuring Its ISS Expedition Astronauts
The image above may look like a poster for the upcoming Star Wars movie, but it's actually a portrait NASA just released of its Expedition 45 crew. It's a long-standing tradition of the space agency for its crews to pose for a wacky photo shoot for posters that are often parodies of popular Hollywood movies.
Cambridge Looks to Save ‘Lost’ Negatives from Antarctic Expedition
Led by Captain Robert Scott, a team of scientists and their journey photographer, Herbert Ponting, made a polar expedition to Antarctica in 1911. Currently, The Scott Polar Research Institute in Cambridge (a sub-division of Cambridge) holds all of Ponting's resulting negatives from this journey, as well as a collection of photographic work from the other scientists along for the exploration.
There is still, however, a piece (or pieces, rather) of the collection missing. That piece includes 113 'lost' images taken by expedition leader Captain Scott, with a little bit of camera help from Ponting.
Photographer Trapped Aboard an Antarctic Icebreaker Documents the Experience
A few weeks back we shared an incredible Antarctic find: photographs taken nearly 100 years ago by the photographer on one of Sir Earnest Shackleton's expeditions into the frozen wasteland. The irony is that, as we were sharing these amazing photos, a present-day photographer was himself stuck on a ship in Antarctica awaiting rescue.
Photog Documented Being Stranded in the Antarctic Nearly 100 Years Ago
If you ever need some encouragement for sticking with photography when times get tough, you should read about the adventures of Frank Hurley. Born in Australia in 1885, he took up photography as a young man and eventually became skilled enough to be selected as the official photographer for multiple expeditions to Antarctica and for the Australian military in both world wars. Among his many photographic escapades, one stands out from among the rest: being stranded in the Antarctic for nearly two years.
Photographer Jimmy Chin Shooting on the Cliffs of Yosemite
National Geographic recently gave expedition photographer Jimmy Chin the assignment of shooting a …