National Geographic Photos of the Day (Selects from November and December)

Another round of magnificent images from National Geographic.com:

NOVEMBER 3, 2013
Cyclists, Thailand
Photograph by Songkran Weelapong, Your Shot
Cyclists participate in the Trek-Shimano Century Ride along Chao Lao Beach in Chantaburi, Thailand.
What Makes This a Photo of the Day? Pattern, texture, palette, detail ... This well-composed frame has them all. My favorite part of looking at this photograph is how my eye travels from the broad strokes of the coastline and rocky cliffs to the detail of the tiny cyclists traveling along the road. —Alexa Keefe, Photo of the Day editor
NOVEMBER 10, 2013
Street Art, Tel Aviv
Photograph by Lydia Polimeni, Your Shot
I was captivated by this airbrushed artwork in an industrial section of Tel Aviv, Israel. It really appeared as if a window to another dimension had opened up. As you look at the picture you will also notice other artworks on the facade of the building.
What Makes This a Photo of the Day? I am delighted by this atypical "picture of a picture." I stared at it for a few minutes, wondering if the tiny dancers were actually real people photographed through a smudged window. Once that question was answered my eye took in the other details of the facade. This is a detail shot I want to spend time exploring. —Alexa Keefe, Photo of the Day editor
NOVEMBER 11, 2013
Penguin Pair, Antarctica
Photograph by Marius Ilies, Your Shot
I took this picture at Port Lockroy during my trip to Antartica in 2010. The two penguins almost touching flippers, looking at each other, and captured against the majestic frozen background, seemed romantically involved.
What Makes This a Photo of the Day? Ah, penguin love. In addition to the unavoidable invitation to anthropomorphize this pair, I am taken by the composition. The layers of this frame take it one step beyond the obvious. —Alexa Keefe, Photo of the Day editor
NOVEMBER 12, 2013
High Tide, Chioggia
Photograph by Mattia Oselladore, Your Shot
In autumn, the high tide often submerges Chioggia, a small town in the Venetian Lagoon, creating reflections and an enchanting atmosphere. This phenomenon is called acqua alta, which means high water.
What Makes This a Photo of the Day? Ambiance, color, reflection. I love night shots that go beyond the usual. This quiet scene is complete in itself while also leaving room for the imagination. —Alexa Keefe, Photo of the Day editor
NOVEMBER 29, 2013
Grasshopper and Moss
Photograph by Andrey Antov, Your Shot
A green grasshopper rests aboard a red mushroom boat in a sea of moss.
What Makes This a Photo of the Day? I like how this is simply what it is—color and texture playing off each other to create an eye-catching tableau. —Alexa Keefe, Photo of the Day editor
DECEMBER 3, 2013
Lake Carezza, Italy
Photograph by Antonio Chiumenti
This Month in Photo of the Day: National Geographic Photo Contest Images
Lake Carezza is a pearl of the Dolomites. Nestled between an ancient forest of grand firs and Latemar mountain, it's a place of legends and beauty—a nymph lives under its emerald waters. I threw a little stone in the water to add a little mystery to the scene.
DECEMBER 10, 2013
Landscape, Latvia
Photograph by Mihails Ignats
This Month in Photo of the Day: National Geographic Photo Contest Images
This image was taken in Lielvārde, Latvia.
DECEMBER 16, 2013
Sunbathing Cows, Andalusia
Photograph by Andrew Lever
This Month in Photo of the Day: National Geographic Photo Contest Images
I was driving along the beach highway when I noticed the bulls sunbathing on the empty beach. I initially thought I was seeing things, but no, it really was sunbathing cows! I had to park my car a fair distance away, and that meant a long walk along the beach in 35 [degrees Celsius] heat. It did not matter because I had to get the shot. When I got closer to them I was careful not to spook them so I crawled on my stomach on the hot sand to get a good picture of them. Mission accomplished! It was worth the effort. Tarifa Beach, Andalusia, Spain.
DECEMBER 20, 2013
Imperiled Rhino
Photograph by Richard Young
This Month in Photo of the Day: National Geographic Photo Contest Images
Zimbabwe's Matopos National Park had 86 white and 36 black rhinos ten years ago. Poachers have reduced these numbers to only 9 white 17 black rhinos today. These numbers say it all. The park's oldest white rhino, Gumboot, was killed by poachers just two weeks before I took this picture of Swazi 2, his horn cut off to help protect him from poaching. If we do not act now to save them from poaching, we will be the generation responsible for the extinction of the rhino in the wild.
DECEMBER 23, 2013
There's Always One
Photograph by Yashani Shantha
This Month in Photo of the Day: National Geographic Photo Contest Images
Elephants at the elephant orphanage in Pinnawala, Sri Lanka. The orphanage was originally founded in order to afford care and protection to the many orphaned elephants found in the jungle. As of 2003, there were 65 elephants. Since the captive breeding program was launched in 1982, over 20 elephants have been born. The aim of the orphanage is to simulate the natural world. However, there are some exceptions: The elephants are taken to the river twice daily for a bath, and all the babies under three years of age are still bottle-fed by the mahouts and volunteers.
photos and text via NationalGeographic.com's Photo of the Day

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