National Geographic : Photo of the Day : Best of June 2012

Rainstorm, Chile

Photograph by Camila Massu

My sister in the south of Chile. We were sitting at home next to the fireplace in our southern lake house when it suddenly began to pour uncontrollably. Had to rush into the lake to take this snapshot!

Village, Faroe Islands

Photograph by Ken Bower

The village of Gásadalur with the island of Mykines in the background. Until a tunnel was built in 2004, the 16 residents living in Gásadalur had to take a strenuous hike or horseback ride over the steep 1,300-foot (400-meter) mountain in order to make it to the other villages. It was a rare sunny day in the Faroe Islands and I had to wait until the clouds rolled in to provide some softer light. I decided to go with a long exposure (1 minute and 10 seconds) to illustrate the force of the wind and a serene sea among the isolated islands.

Portrait, Brazil

Photograph by Geralyn Shukwit

Christiane, a child of the "roofless" movement in Salvador, Brazil. A beautiful spirit living a life not hers by choice, but she brings love and light to all around her.

Morning Forest, Germany

Photograph by David Sausse

Photo was taken on September 25, 2011, at 7:46 a.m. in Vorderweidenthal, a municipality in Südliche Weinstrafle district, in Rhineland-Palatinate, western Germany.

Falling Petals, Japan

Photograph by Hisao Mogi

I sat down on a stump for a rest after a stroll in Nara Park and watched the deer. They were eating fallen cherry blossom petals peacefully. Suddenly a strong wind blew and cherry blossom petals started to fall on the deer. It was like a shower of cherry blossom petals. In Japanese, it is called hana fubuki, which means flower snowstorm.

Matterhorn at Night

Photograph by Nenad Saljic

The Matterhorn, 14,691 feet (4,478 meters), at full moon

Girl and Baobabs, Madagascar

Photograph by Ken Thorne

Near the city of Morondava on the west coast of Madagascar lies an ancient forest of baobab trees. Unique to Madagascar, the endemic species is sacred to the Malagasy people, and rightly so. Walking amongst these giants is like nothing else on this planet. Some of the trees here are over a thousand years old. It is a spiritual place, almost magical.

Sunset, Sri Lanka

Photograph by Oswald Fernando

Driving along the coastal road by a river, the sunset seen as a myriad of colors and reflections in the water

Lions and Cubs, Kenya

Photograph by Brandon Harris

A lion and lioness share some quality time with their cubs. Governor's Camp, Kenya.

Svartifoss, Iceland

Photograph by Giacomo Ciangottini

Svartifoss (Black Fall) is surrounded by the dark lava columns that gave rise to its name. The hexagonal columns were formed inside a lava flow that cooled extremely slowly, giving rise to crystallization. Skaftafell National Park, Iceland.