National Geographic names it “Photos of the Year” — take a look inside

National Geographic released its annual “Photos of the Year” issue this week, showcasing 20 images — out of nearly 2.3 million in competition — that capture stunning scenes of nature, wildlife and man’s connection to the world.

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

With “a lot of perseverance and a lot of luck”, Bertie Gregory was able to capture the moment a young emperor penguin jumped off a 50-foot cliff on his first swim.

Emperor penguins are increasingly moving from lower ice to higher, more permanent ice shelves as climate change alters their environment, according to National Geographic.

She added that these chicks, which were abandoned by their parents a month ago, are learning to hunt on their own.

At the University of Konstanz in Germany, photographer Ingo Arndt observed an ant colony that is usually hidden in the forest.

It was there to catch the slit that opened its cocoon with its jaws, and the adult females would then help free it from the rest of the cocoon.

“To take this photo, it was necessary to work under controlled conditions in the laboratory,” Arendt said. “I built a small wooden ant nest there, so I was able to take this photo with a lot of patience.”

In January, scientists with the BioRescue project transferred a southern white rhino embryo into a female southern white rhino. But before the pregnancy could be confirmed, the rhino died from a bacterial infection. Scientists later discovered the 70-day-old fetus.

However, scientists hope successful vaccination will help efforts to save the northern white rhino, which is on the brink of extinction. There are only two left, according to National Geographic.

It's a story Ami Vitale has been covering for the past 15 years.

“Realizing how close we came to losing not only rhinos, but countless other species, instilled in me a deep sense of urgency and recognition of our shared responsibility,” she said. “I hope this work helps raise awareness of the pressing challenges facing our planet.”

Background by stars

Konkan, Texas

With 10 million bats, the Frio Bat Cave is home to one of the largest colonies in the world, although their numbers can sometimes double in summer.

These Mexican free-tailed bats leave the cave at sunset to feed, primarily on moths, in a nocturnal ritual that can take up to three hours. With dozens of bats emerging from the cave every second, Babak Tafreshi said he got this shot using a 30-second exposure with multiple soft flashes to reveal the bats, which were also lit by the constellations Orion and Taurus in the night sky. .

“I learned a lot about bats in this project,” he told CNBC Travel. “How smart they are, how incredibly precise their flight path is. And how productive they are for the ecosystem, for local farmers, and for the Texas economy.”

When cold meets warmth

Fanning Springs State Park, Florida

This photo was taken on an early winter morning at the point where warm spring water meets the cool, dark waters of the Suwanee River.

Photographer Jason Jolly said he donned a dry suit, jumped into the water and waited motionless to film the fish dancing between warm and cold temperatures.

“It was years of experience dealing with springs on the Suwannee River that let me know I would have unique and visually stunning conditions that morning,” Jolly told CNBC Travel.

“The advantage of shooting in my metaphorical backyard is that I spent years 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, could one day power trucks, ships and planes without needing to upgrade their engines, according to National Geographic.

In June, the Swiss company Sinhelion opened the world's first industrial-scale plant for producing alternative energy.

“The image attempts to represent in the abstract the fuel produced by two simple, basic elements: air and the sun. The image was taken in an improvised studio at the company’s facility using a mirror to support droplets of fuel, and a graduated light that would evoke the sun and the sky,” said photographer Davide Monteleone.

“I felt and heard a rumble”

Antigua, Guatemala

The day-long trip to Fuego's sleeping twin, Acatenango, to capture this shot — carrying 45 pounds of camera equipment — was one of the toughest trips Peter Fisher says he's ever made.

But the timely break to catch his breath was a serendipitous moment.

“About 30 seconds after I stopped, I felt and heard a rumbling sound, and then I saw lava shooting into the sky. The timing couldn't have been more perfect,” he told CNBC. “The sun had just set, so you could still see the silhouettes of other climbers, and if you kept climbing, the perspective shift would make their bodies disappear into the dark volcanic ash surrounding them.”

Fisher said a friend climbing with him added “great light up front” with a flashlight.

He said it's “one of those moments you can't plan for and everything comes together just right.”

To see more of National Geographic's “Photos of the Year 2024,” visit NatGeo.com/Photos.