1 of 19

Lightning, DubaiVisions of Earth showcases the beauty, majesty, and wonder of the world around us and pays tribute to the photographers who capture its essence. In this gallery, see a selection of stunning scenes from the new National Geographic book, and decorate your desktop with your favorite images. Here, in Dubai, natural and man-made electricity illuminate the night. As jagged needles of lightning darn an overcast sky, the sail-shaped, 1,053-foot-tall (321-meter) Burj Al Arab hotel glows green on the edge of the Persian Gulf. (From the National Geographic book Visions of Earth) Buy the book Visions of Earth »
Watch a video of highlights from the book »
See more pictures in our monthly Visions of Earth feature »

Photograph by Maxim Shatrov, Your Shot