NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC REVEALS ANNUAL PICTURES OF THE YEAR RETROSPECTIVE, HIGHLIGHTING TOP 20 MOMENTS CAPTURED BY NAT GEO PHOTOGRAPHERS IN 2024

(WASHINGTON, D.C. – Nov. 19, 2024) This year, from more than 2.3 million images created by National Geographic photographers working across every continent, 20 were selected to be featured in PICTURES OF THE YEAR 2024, the brand’s annual selection of the best and most compelling photos captured by photographers in the field.

While Nat Geo is known for capturing striking photography and portraits, this year’s retrospective features several noteworthy — and difficult-to-capture — moments. From the first filming of an emperor penguin chick leaping into the ocean from a 50-foot height to the photography of 100 marriages during the eclipse, PICTURES OF THE YEAR 2024 offers extraordinary glimpses into the wonder and promise of our shared planet, as seen through the lens of the National Geographic photographers exploring it.

“A compendium of the best recent work from National Geographic’s photographers in the field, PICTURES OF THE YEAR is an annual highlight of our editorial calendar. This year’s selection is both timeless and timely,” said Nathan Lump, Editor-in-Chief of National Geographic. “Our 2024 photos are visually captivating, to be sure, but they also bring to life the urgent challenges facing us as well as the ingenuity that’s been sparked in meeting them – from an effort to save rhinos to advances in green technology to adaptations in animal behavior. We hope that these images will stop audiences in their tracks and inspire them to learn more.”

This year’s online edition also includes behind-the-scenes features, shared by the National Geographic photographers themselves.

PICTURES OF THE YEAR 2024 is available online now and in the print December 2024 issue.

Visuals — including b-roll — are available here. A spokesperson is available upon request.

Photo by Bertie Gregory for National Geographic          Photo by M’hammed Kilito for National Geographic

About National Geographic Content
Award-winning and critically acclaimed National Geographic Content, part of a joint venture between The Walt Disney Company and the National Geographic Society, creates and delivers riveting stories and experiences in natural history, science, adventure and exploration. The brand is the largest on social media with over three quarters of a billion followers across all major platforms that generate over one billion impressions each month. Inspiring a deeper connection to the world, National Geographic Content reaches 300 million people worldwide in 180 countries and 33 languages as a digital, social and print publisher and across the global National Geographic channels (National Geographic Channel, Nat Geo WILD, Nat Geo MUNDO), National Geographic Documentary Films, and direct-to-consumer platforms Disney+ and Hulu. For more information, visit natgeotv.com or nationalgeographic.com, or follow Nat Geo on Facebook, X, Instagram, Threads, YouTube, LinkedIn, TikTok, and Reddit.

Media Contact:
Caitlin Holbrook
caitlin.holbrook@natgeo.com