The final 20 photos were narrowed down from a pool of 2.3 million − 300,000 more than in 2023, Nat Geo Editor-in-Chief Nathan Lump said.

Emperor penguins taking the plunge, an Arkansas family experiencing a total solar eclipse, and a scientist holding a rare white rhino fetus are among the most striking and important images captured this year,

National Geographic's 2024 "Pictures of the Year" highlights 20 remarkable images chosen from over 2.3 million submissions. The photos capture moments of resilience, innovation, and natural beauty, including a young emperor penguin's first leap from a cliff,