Picture of a person looking up toward a shaft of light in an underground cave in Indonesia
A traveler basks in the dramatic light of Jomblang Cave in Indonesia. The only way into the vertical cave is to rappel approximately 300 feet underground.
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Picture of hundreds of thousands of cars sitting in a desert in California
This aerial photo of the Californian desert shows the physical consequences of the Volkswagen emissions scandal. In 2015, The EPA discovered the Volkswagen had intentionally programmed cars to pass US emissions requirements—but in reality, the cars were emitting 40 times the permissible amounts of nitrogen oxides. Millions of cars around the world were recalled, and some of them were brought to this desert to be discarded.
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Picture of a group of penguins diving underwater
Penguins plummet through the waters off the coast of Antarctica. The trails of bubbles behind them help reduce the density of the water, making the penguins much faster underwater than they are on land.
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Picture of a seagull flying toward a polar bear in Alaska
In Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, a seagull narrowly misses a polar bears nose while coming in for a landing. The pattern of the gull's feathers indicate that it's young; it will likely turn all white with gray wings as it ages.
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Picture of the city of Positano, Italy, at sunset
The lights of Positano, Italy, glow at dusk. Your Shot photographer Peter Friedman took three versions of this shot at different exposures, and then blended them together to make an image that resembled what he saw in person.
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Picture of a mother lion carrying one cub in her mouth while another cub swims behind her in some water in Botswana
A lioness shepherds her cubs in Botswana. "One cub could barely swim and the other couldn't, so she carried it in her mouth over several water crossings, presumably to a kill," says Your Shot photographer Connie Bowen. "We were in awe of her mothering and tolerance."
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Picture of a young boy holding a plastic cup interacts with giraffes at a wildlife center in Folsom, Louisiana
A boy interacts with giraffes at the Global Wildlife Center in Folsom, Louisiana. The Center is home to more than 4,000 animals from around the globe.
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Picture of storm clouds and lightning over the Manhattan skyline
"I captured this image while escaping a thunderstorm in Manhattan by hopping on the Staten Island Ferry," says Your Shot photographer Austin Paz. "I stood at the back of the boat and kept shooting bursts of photos until I caught a strike. After about 30 frames or so, I was fortunate enough to end up with one frame with a burst of lightning behind this famous skyline."
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Picture of people in purple robes and black hoods march with drums and instruments during a Holy Week procession in Spain
Members of the Real, Muy Ilustre y Antiquísima Cofradía de la Esclavitud de Jesús Nazareno y Conversión de Santa María Magdalena (Royal, Illustrious, and Ancient Brotherhood of Jesus Nazareno and Conversion of Santa Maria Magdalena) participate in a procession during Holy Week in Zaragoza, Spain. The Brotherhood dates back to 1759.
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Picture of a toque macaque and its mother in Sri Lanka
An infant toque macaque clings to its mother as they traverse the Katagamuwa Sanctuary. The Old World monkey, which is endemic to Sri Lanka, is classified as endangered by the IUCN. Their habitat is coming under increasing pressure from encroaching plantations as more of Sri Lanka's forested areas are converted for agricultural use.
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Picture of the sun rising over Mandalay, Myanmar
The early morning sun bathes Mandalay, Myanmar, in golden light. Your Shot photographer Weng Sang Wong was not completely sure what kind of image he would capture when he got up that morning for this shot. “I reached the top of the mountain in the early morning without knowing what would happen next," he says. "Luckily, I saw the sunrise turning the blue sky into a crimson color, and then the amazing golden sunlight appeared."
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Picture of high-rise apartment buildings in Hong Kong
A modern high-rise building stands alongside older apartment complexes in Hong Kong's Central and Western District. The burgeoning metropolis, which is one of the most densely populated regions of the world, has experienced rapid economic development in recent decades—but now also suffers from stark wealth and income inequality.
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Picture of opera performers getting ready in Macau
Performers hasten to get ready backstage, 30 minutes before the start of an opera show in Macau. "I love these types of behind-of-the-scenes moments," says Your Shot producer David Lee.
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Picture of a peacock displaying its colorful feathers
A peacock spreads its tail feathers, which are famous for their iridescence and bright colors. The display is part of the species' elaborate mating ritual, where females are believed to pick their mates based on the size, color, and quality of the feathers. The term "peacock" actually only refers to males of the species; females are known as peahens.
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Picture of a man wearing a mud mask while floating in Iceland's Blue Lagoon
A man wearing a silica mud mask enjoys the warm waters of Iceland's Blue Lagoon. The geothermal spa is a popular destination for tourists.
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Picture of the sun rising on three jagged mountains in Torres del Paine National Park, Chile
"My concept of grandeur and natural beauty has changed drastically after visiting Torres del Paine National Park," says Your Shot photographer Victor Lima who visted the site in the Chilean portion of Patagonia last year. The park hosts more than a quarter million visitors every year.
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Picture of workers harvesting piles of salt in a field in Vietnam
Workers harvest salt in the province of Bac Lieu, Vietnam. Along the coast, seawater is brought to the fields, where it dries over the course of days and weeks, leaving salt behind.
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Picture of a tall, textured sand dune standing against a clear blue sky near Dubai, United Arab Emirates
A sand dune, made only by the wind, stands tall outside of Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The smooth side of the dune is known as the slipface, while the wind face is the textured side that bears the brunt of the wind.
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