Lucia Sicos Mamani, a Quechua alpaquera (alpaca-herder, hand-spinner and traditional weaver) hand spinning wool at the top of the mountain while watching over her herd of alpaca and sheep.

Celebrate photography’s enduring impact with these stunning photos

Stare into the eyes of an Amazon tree snake, explore the inside of a lava tube, and dive into an underwater cave. Find your inner National Geographic Explorer in these photos.

Lucia Sicos Mamani, a Quechua alpaquera (alpaca-herder, hand-spinner and traditional weaver) hand spinning wool at the top of the mountain while watching over her herd of alpaca and sheep.
Photograph by Ashli Akins
May 9, 2025

Photography has the power to connect, inspire and allow individuals to explore our world and what lies beyond it. These breathtaking photos were made by or in support of National Geographic Explorers and their impactful grant work. Learn more about their work at NationalGeographic.org.

National Geographic Explorer Francesco Sauro takes mineral and biological samples on the roof of a still hot lava tube. He is assisted by La Venta speleologists Giovanni Rossi and Tommaso Santagata. Santagata takes measures of temperature with a thermal camera. They use protective equipment like masks and suits. Volcano Fagradasfjall, Iceland.
National Geographic Explorer Francesco Sauro takes mineral and biological samples on the roof of a still hot lava tube. He is assisted by La Venta speleologists Giovanni Rossi and Tommaso Santagata. Santagata takes measures of temperature with a thermal camera. They use protective equipment like masks and suits. Fagradasfjall Volcano, Iceland.
Photograph by Robbie Shone
Fuji 268, one of the last fire fishing boats, lights up a flame that startles the small species of sardine that they target in coastal waters of New Taipei City, Taiwan. As of 2023, Fuji 268 was the sole survivor of this fishing method that is a national cultural heritage of Taiwan, where the crew tries to preserve this tradition by partnering with tour operators in the surrounding area, and developing their own educational program to help with the operating cost and declining fishes. The program is becoming successful with over 5,000 tourists in 2024 – doubled from the previous year. Another fire fishing boat returned to operation with this new business model.
Fuji 268, one of the last fire fishing boats, lights up a flame that startles the small species of sardine that they target in coastal waters of New Taipei City, Taiwan. As of 2023, Fuji 268 was the sole survivor of this fishing method that is a national cultural heritage of Taiwan, where the crew tries to preserve this tradition by partnering with tour operators in the surrounding area, and developing their own educational program to help with the operating cost and declining fishes. The program is becoming successful with over 5,000 tourists in 2024 – doubled from the previous year. Another fire fishing boat returned to operation with this new business model.
Photograph by Sirachai Arunrugstichai
An Amazon Basin tree snake (Imantodes lentiferus) found climbing a limb during a night hike in the Zanja Arajuno Ecological Center, Pastaza, Ecuador.
An Amazon Basin tree snake (Imantodes lentiferus) found climbing a limb during a night hike in the Zanja Arajuno Ecological Center, Pastaza, Ecuador.
Photograph by Tristan Vratil
A cave diver (Christopher Keene) explores a massive underwater cave chamber that is reached by diving through a hole at the bottom of a non-descript pond in the middle of a swamp on Florida's Gulf Coast.
A cave diver explores a massive underwater cave chamber that is reached by diving through a hole at the bottom of a non-descript pond in the middle of a swamp on Florida's Gulf Coast.
Photograph by Jason Gulley
Wind whips spinach leaves during a stormy harvest after dusk at Vessey Farm in the Imperial Valley in California. When temperatures pass a certain threshold, spinach needs to be harvested after sunset to prevent the leaf from wilting. Vegetable production requires an incredible amount of labor, and each year Jack Vessey employs over a dozen salaried employees that help oversee hundreds of seasonal workers.
Wind whips spinach leaves during a stormy harvest after dusk at Vessey Farm in the Imperial Valley in California. When temperatures pass a certain threshold, spinach needs to be harvested after sunset to prevent the leaf from wilting. Vegetable production requires an incredible amount of labor, and each year Jack Vessey employs over a dozen salaried employees that help oversee hundreds of seasonal workers.
Photograph by Caitlin Ochs
A solitary bee rests on a flower in a riparian forest area of the cerrado in Chapada dos Guimarães in Mato Grosso, Brazil. Most stingless bees in the cerrado are not social, meaning they live and build their nests alone, rather than in hives.
A solitary bee rests on a flower in a riparian forest area of the cerrado in Chapada dos Guimarães in Mato Grosso, Brazil. Most stingless bees in the cerrado are not social, meaning they live and build their nests alone, rather than in hives.
Photograph by Lucas Ninno
Wade Stovet enters data between rock deliveries at the Lordsburg Playa in New Mexico. He and a team are working to restore grasslands in an attempt to reduce dust storms that have caused dozens of fatal accidents on nearby Interstate 10.
Wade Stovet enters data between rock deliveries at the Lordsburg Playa in New Mexico. He and a team are working to restore grasslands in an attempt to reduce dust storms that have caused dozens of fatal accidents on nearby Interstate 10.
Photograph by Esha B. Chiocchio
Sunrise in the city of Anamã during the biggest flood in the history of the Amazon River. Anamã, Amazonas, Brazil
Sunrise in the city of Anamã during the biggest flood in the history of the Amazon River.
Photograph by Christian Braga
Nokota studs at Kuntz Nokota Ranch in Linton, North Dakota.
Nokota studs at Kuntz Nokota Ranch in Linton, North Dakota.
Photograph by Sabina Louise Pierce
Aerial view of Julissa Barrios in an area that was worked with legal mining and is now in the process of recovery. Julissa belongs to the Barrios family, who manage the concession "Los Cinco Rebeldes." For some time now, the family has been trying to leave behind mining practices to start with projects that are more environmentally responsible. The Huepetuhe area currently belongs to what is known as the "mining corridor", a sacrifice area where these practices have been allowed in a regulated manner. Mining in this area has been going on for decades and the impact on the territory has been very significant. Some businesses, such as the "Los Cinco Rebeldes" concession, have tried to generate more sustainable alternatives to their business, such as eco-tourism. For some years now, the Amazonian area of Madre de Dios in Peru has been impacted by legal, illegal, and informal gold mining. To tap the gold, miners literally turn the jungle upside down. They arrive in a humid, leafy, abundant territory and leave behind a desert, often contaminated by mercury, a fundamental element for gold mining.
Aerial view of Julissa Barrios in an area that was worked with legal mining and is now in the process of recovery. Julissa belongs to the Barrios family, who manage the concession "Los Cinco Rebeldes." For some time now, the family has been trying to leave behind mining practices to start with projects that are more environmentally responsible. The Huepetuhe area currently belongs to what is known as the "mining corridor", a sacrifice area where these practices have been allowed in a regulated manner. Mining in this area has been going on for decades and the impact on the territory has been very significant. Some businesses, such as the "Los Cinco Rebeldes" concession, have tried to generate more sustainable alternatives to their business, such as eco-tourism. For some years now, the Amazonian area of Madre de Dios in Peru has been impacted by legal, illegal, and informal gold mining. To tap the gold, miners literally turn the jungle upside down. They arrive in a humid, leafy, abundant territory and leave behind a desert, often contaminated by mercury, a fundamental element for gold mining.
Photograph by Luján Agusti
Wild European bisons, the wisent, in Germany's Rothaar Mountains. They are the only wild roaming herd in Western Europe and have grown into a population of 40. A few months after this photo, the forester responsible for the project suddenly passed away and no successor could be found. The son of the lord who had funded the project showed no interest in proceeding. The project started to face many problems, mostly of small forest farmers accusing the project of the roaming herd and destruction of their trees. For a long while reparations had been paid but with no successor there was no money left and the Wisent-Welt had to declare insolvency. The future of the project remains unclear.
Wild European bisons, also known as the wisent, in Germany's Rothaar Mountains. They are the only wild roaming herd in Western Europe and have grown into a population of 40. A few months after this photo, part of a project to document the dire situation of forest dieback in Germany, the forester responsible for the project suddenly passed away and no successor could be found. The son of the lord who had funded the project showed no interest in proceeding. It started to face many problems, mostly due to small forest farmers accusing the project of the roaming herd’s destruction of their trees. For a long while reparations had been paid but with no successor there was no money left and the Wisent-Welt had to declare insolvency. The future of the project remains unclear.
Photograph by Sarah Pabst
NEWF Founder and National Geographic Explorer Noel Kok on a dive in the Indian Ocean with NEWF Fellows.
NEWF Founder and National Geographic Explorer Noel Kok on a dive in the Indian Ocean with NEWF Fellows.
Photograph by Jahawi Bertolli
This work is funded by the National Geographic Society.