Move Back
![Cold Coyote]()
It was one of my last images of 2008. I spotted this frozen coyote on the side of a gravel road on my way into town. This is exactly how I found the coyote—frozen stiff, sitting up, at the side of the road. We’d been having temps of below -30C for two weeks. I guess this is part of the natural selection.![Darvaza Natural Gas Crater]()
The Darvaza natural gas crater is located in the center of the Karakum desert in the Central Asian nation of Turkmenistan. The crater resulted from a Soviet natural gas exploration accident in the 1950's and has been burning ever since. The crater is approximately 60 meters in diameter and its depth is approximately 20 meters.![Blind Owl Eye]()
The eye of a blind owl resembles a galaxy of stars at the Baton Rouge Zoo in Louisiana.![Galveston Bay Estuary]()
This estuary is located in southern Texas just southwest of Galveston Bay. This area is home to a diverse population of organisms.![Gecko Eye]()
Staying in Asia for many years has given me the opportunity to get close to wildlife on many occasions. This female Smith's Green-eyed Gecko chose to live on one of the chalets next to my home, taking advantage of the insects attracted by the lights at night.![Iridescent Moth]()
Ever thought about what all the annoying creatures buzzing around your lamppost at night look like? Well, here's a sample of what emerges after dark in the south suburbs of Chicago, Illinois. Who would guess the moth repeatedly smashing itself into a hot bulb had so much color and intricate design?![Stars and Fireflies]()
This is about one hour of firefly activity near my home in rural Ontario. The precision of the background star trails is an interesting contrast to the chaotic pattern of the firefly flashes.![Iguana Cluster]()
In the Galapagos Islands, the wildlife is so abundant that tourists practically trip over them. The wildlife also trip over each other. This iguana could not keep his hands (or feet in this case) to himself. He is stepping on the tails of two neighbors. I felt that this composition best reflected the sense of density of the animals, while illustrating interesting detail such as claws and scales.![Man and Elephant]()
Nazroo, a Mahout (elephant driver), poses for a portrait while taking his elephant, Rajan, out for a swim in front of Radha Nagar Beach in Havelock, Andaman Islands. Rajan is one of the few elephants in Havelock that can swim, so when he is not dragging timber in the forest he is used as a tourist attraction. The relationship between the Mahout and his elephant usually lasts for their entire lives creating an extremely strong tie between the animal and the human being.![Diver in Labyrinth]()
Descending beneath a veil of tannic water on the Santa Fe River, Jill Heinerth glides into the veins of Mother Earth. Aquanauts exploring a labyrinth of underwater caves, offer important insight into the circulatory system of the planet. In Florida, these divers are exploring the conduits that feed farms, homes and a local bottler with clean, clear drinking water.Extremes of Nature: National Geographic's 2009 Photo Contest
Every year, National Geographic's International Photography Contest draws thousands of spectacular photos from users around the world. We've culled a selection of nature's extremes, including places, people and animals—captions by the photographers themselves. Can you do better? Well the contest isn't over yet! Get off your duff and visit the site, where you can vote for your favorite, play puzzles download wallpaper — and enter your own photo for a chance to win a digital camera kit and have your image published in the magazine.
Move Forward
- Extremes of Nature: National Geographic's 2009 Photo Contest
