Photo of the Day
Each day, we highlight one extraordinary photograph from National Geographic. Check out more of our photos here.
Two grey seals huddling together in water.
August 3, 2026 | Peas in a Pod
In the Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas), these month-old elephant seals take one of their first dips in the ocean. Photographer Matty Smith was there to document the moment the mothers depart this famous breeding ground and return to the South Atlantic, leaving hundreds of babies, newly weaned, to fend for themselves. “The pups were super friendly, trying to climb on me, trying to climb on my camera,” Smith says. These playful pups live off their blubber reserves until they learn to swim and start hunting for fish. This photo is featured in the "In Focus" series in the August 2026 issue of National Geographic.
