Montana Sunrise
31 breathtaking photos found in the Nat Geo archives
To mark the new season, I dove deep into the archives in search of images that embody what autumn symbolizes: transition. It's a broad concept that can mean different things to different people.
It may signify a new day. Photographer Michael Melford captured a beautiful sunrise on Kintla Peak in Montana's Glacier National Park. (Related: Here are some spectacular spots for sunrises and sunsets in America’s public lands.)
It could represent a somber end. Photographer Ami Vitale witnessed the passing of Sudan, the world's last male northern white rhino. Moments before his death in 2018, Sudan was comforted by one of his dedicated keepers at the Ol Pejeta Conservancy in Laikipia, Kenya.
It might also embody the passage of time. Photographer Karen Kasmauski visited actress Grace Bradley Boyd, as she taught tai chi to fellow seniors in Los Angeles, for a November 1997 story on aging. (Related: This island unlocked the secret to long life.)
Through still images, our photographers capture monumental and fleeting moments of change.
Breann Birkenbuel is the editor for Photo of the Day. Melody Rowell writes and researches the captions.
