National Geographic's 'Pictures of the Year': A Collection of Stunning Photos

This week, National Geographic unveiled its annual "Pictures of the Year" issue, featuring 20 exceptional photographs from a pool of over 2.3 million entries that capture compelling images of nature, wildlife, and human bonding with the world.

Here are CNBC's picks of the best of the best.

A leap of faith

Atka Bay, Antarctica

Through a combination of determination and fortune, Bertie Gregory was able to capture the image of a young emperor penguin taking its first swim from a 50-foot cliff.

As climate change alters their surroundings, emperor penguins are relocating from low-lying ice to higher, more stable ice shelves, reports National Geographic.

These chicks, who were abandoned by their parents a month ago, are now learning to hunt on their own, according to the report.

'A lot of patience'

Konstanz, Germany

An ant colony, usually concealed in the woods, was observed by photographer Ingo Arndt at Germany's University of Konstanz.

The hatchling cracked open its cocoon with its jaws, and adult females assisted in breaking it free from the remaining cocoon.

Arndt explained that in order to capture this image, he had to work under controlled conditions in a lab. He constructed a miniature ant nest there, which allowed him to take the picture with a great deal of patience.

'A deep sense of urgency'

Nanyuki, Kenya

In January, a southern white rhino embryo was transferred into a southern white rhino female at the BioRescue project. However, the rhino passed away from a bacterial infection before the pregnancy was confirmed. The fetus was later discovered at 70 days old.

Scientists are optimistic that the successful impregnation may aid efforts to save the endangered Northern white rhino, with only two remaining according to National Geographic.

For the past 15 years, Ami Vitale has been reporting on a story.

"I felt a deep sense of urgency and recognized our shared responsibility after realizing how close we are to losing countless species, including the rhino," she said. "My hope is that this work will help raise awareness of the urgent challenges facing our planet."

Backlit by the stars

Concan, Texas

The Frio Bat Cave hosts one of the world's largest bat colonies, with up to 20 million bats during the summer.

Babak Tafreshi captured this stunning image of Mexican free-tailed bats emerging from a cave at sunset to feed on moths. He used a 30-second exposure with multiple soft flashes to reveal the bats, which were also illuminated by the constellations of Orion and Taurus in the night sky.

He shared with CNBC Travel how much he learned about bats on the project, including their intelligence, accuracy in flight, and their contribution to the ecosystem and local farmers and Texas economy.

When cold and warm collide

Fanning Springs State Park, Florida

An early winter morning photograph was captured at a location where warm spring water met the dark, chilly Suwannee River water.

Jason Gulley, a photographer, submerged himself in the water while wearing a drysuit and waited patiently to capture the fish moving between the warm and cold temperatures.

Gulley, with years of experience on the Suwannee River, knew he would have unique and visually stunning conditions that morning, as he told CNBC Travel.

"Advantages of shooting in my figurative backyard include years of experience learning how different water levels, seasons, and weather affect the environment."

Fuel from the sun

Jülich, Germany

Solar synthetic fluid, made using sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide, may one day power trucks, ships, and planes without the need for retrofitting their engines, according to National Geographic.

In June, Synhelion launched the world's first industrial-scale facility for generating an alternative energy source.

Photographer Davide Monteleone stated that the photo he took in an improvised studio at the company's facility aimed to abstractly depict the fuel generated by two basic elements: air and sun. He used a mirror to support the fuel droplets and a gradient light to simulate the sun and sky.

'I felt and heard a rumble'

Antigua, Guatemala

Peter Fisher stated that the one-day hike up Acatenango, Fuego's dormant twin, while carrying 45 pounds of camera gear, was one of the most challenging tasks he has ever undertaken.

Taking a moment to catch his breath unexpectedly turned out to be beneficial.

"Thirty seconds after stopping, I felt and heard a rumble, then saw lava spew into the sky. The timing couldn't have been more perfect," he told CNBC. "The sun had just set, so the silhouettes of the other climbers were still visible, and if I had continued climbing, the perspective shift would have made their bodies disappear into the dark volcanic ash surrounding them."

A friend of Fisher's who was climbing with him added "a nice pop of light in the foreground" using a flashlight.

He stated that it was "an unplanned moment when everything aligns perfectly."

Visit NatGeo.com/Photos to view National Geographic's "Pictures of the Year 2024."