Manatees swim close to the water's surface because they are air-breathing mammals. They use their stiff facial bristles to guide food into their mouths.

Picture of a fjord in western Norway

This Major Mitchell's cockatoo (Lophochroa leadbeateri), also known as Leadbeater's cockatoo or pink cockatoo, lives at Parrots in Paradise, a bird attraction in Glass House Mountains, Queensland, Australia. Sartore photographed the cockatoo as part of his Photo Ark project, through which he is doc

On Sundays during Mes de la Cometas, or Kite Month, the sky over Cartagena, Colombia, fills with colorful kites moving in every direction. "I knew this was a great opportunity for photography," says Your Shot contributor Massimo Rumi, who on arriving at a park found that the many colors, families,

No more than five inches long, a baby garden lizard of the Calotes genus rests on a cactus in Your Shot contributor Arpan Parui's backyard. "I first saw it on a winter morning sitting on a brick," Parui says. "Its dreamy eyes, basking in the pleasures of its surroundings, caught my attention." A r

A forest floor in North Carolina is traced with the movement of blue ghost fireflies in this time-lapse image by Your Shot contributor Spencer Black, who says the element of surprise compels him toward long-exposure photography. "These fireflies are unique because their blink pattern is much longer

Photographer H. Armstrong Roberts captured this image of women sharing a conversation along the Loire River in Saumur, France, in 1928. Set in the Loire Valley, the city in western France is surrounded by vineyards and is home to several impressive chateaus.

A 1928 Autochrome image by Jules Gervais Courtellemont shows a view of the arcades along the main street in Morella, Spain.

Fifty-two stories above Chicago, city noises fade and vistas expand for guests at a Marina City residence around 1967.

Children gather around a French Quarter snowball wagon in this Autochrome image originally published in the April 1930 issue of National Geographic. "These are the only 'snowballs' the children of New Orleans have ever seen," says the picture's caption, "as snow has not fallen there in fifty years."

A Venice canal reflects the summer sky in this Autochrome picture from 1927. Photographer Hans Hildenbrand became famous for the color pictures he made around Europe during World War I.

In Paris, old limestone quarries fan out in a deep and intricate web under many neighborhoods, mostly in the southern part of the metropolis. Here, a fire thrower named Louis spins light at a gathering in one old quarry. Nearly all of the more than 180 miles of quarry tunnels are off-limits, but par

Arches frame a street in Limassol, Cyprus—also called Lemesos—in this photo from the 1920s. An ancient port city that's home to numerous archaeological sites, Limassol today is the Mediterranean island's wine capital and a popular beach destination.

"Traveling by train is the most convenient way to travel in Japan," says photographer Danilo Dungo, a member of the National Geographic Your Shot community. Here, a train operator announces the approach to Tokyo's Shinagawa subway station on the busy Yamanote Line.

Photographer James Stanfield captured the city of Salvador, Brazil, for a 1969 story on Charles Darwin's voyage aboard the H.M.S. Beagle. "A peculiar and rather fantastic style of architecture," National Geographic quotes Darwin, who was impressed by the city and its grand view of All Saints Bay. "B

Structural engineer and Your Shot community member Akira Takaue captured this shot at the Mall of Asia while on a business trip in Manila, Philippines. The city "has a lot of interesting and characteristic architecture," says Takaue. Check out the bold new look and feel of Your Shot, where you can

It's a snug fit for Chicago's famous "L" tracks, here shot from above by National Geographic Your Shot community member Angie McMonigal. Flanked on two sides by the elevated rail, the art deco Trustees System Service Building, now a condominium, dates to 1930.

Fox kits spar along the Ugashik River in the Alaska Peninsula. This area, in the southeastern part of the 49th state, is home to waterways, volcanoes, and a variety of wildlife.

A red-spotted porcelain crab clings to an anemone in this underwater photo from a member of our Your Shot community. The tiny crustaceans often tuck themselves away under stones, among sponges, amid mussels, and in other hiding spots. Check out the bold new look and feel of Your Shot, where you can

Wild elephants live in India's fertile Kaziranga floodplain, where marshland, tall grass, and forests provide shelter and food. Kaziranga National Park takes in 50 miles of the Brahmaputra River and harbors some 1,300 elephants.

Manatees swim close to the water's surface because they are air-breathing mammals. They use their stiff facial bristles to guide food into their mouths.

This image was taken during the Hindu religious ritual known as Theyyam. This photo and caption were submitted to Your Shot. Check out the new and improved website, where you can share and connect with fellow photographers from around the globe

This photo and caption were submitted to Your Shot. Check out the new and improved website, where you can share and connect with fellow photographers from around the globe.

Picture of a fisherman casting a net off of Bira Beach, Indonesia

I don't claim the status of a photographer, I just take the pictures. When a subject catches my attention there's no time for analysis or composition. My work is instinctual.