Pictures We Love: Best of January

Suspiciously Quiet
Photograph by Dean Lewins, European Pressphoto Agency
A plush penguin toy gets a genuine penguin grooming in Antarctica on January 13—just one of the National Geographic Digital Media photo editors' favorite pictures from January.
The Adélie penguins were observed by researchers and crew aboard the icebreaker Aurora Australis, which was in Antarctica to celebrate the hundredth anniversary of Australian explorer Douglas Mawson's landing on the continent. (Also see "Rare Pictures: Scott's South Pole Expedition, 100 Years Later.")
Adélie penguins live on the Antarctic continent and on many small surrounding coastal islands. Male Adélies help their mates rear their young, taking turns sitting on eggs to keep them warm and safe from predators.
Why We Love It
"The composition of this image reinforces what to me is its main point: communication. The 'talking heads' are not sure what to make of this oddly familiar intruder."—Monica Corcoran, senior photo editor
"Isn't anthropomorphism fun? I love the humor of this picture and imagine it took a bit of patience to get this frame-however staged the situation may have been."—Chris Combs, news photo editor
—Korena Di Roma
Published February 1, 2012
Rings of Fire
Photograph by Gemunu Amarasinghe, AP
A fire dancer performs in an annual Buddhist procession in Kelaniya-near Colombo, Sri Lanka-on January 8. Hundreds of traditional dancers, drummers, and monks take part in the Duruthu Perahera, or Kelani Procession, one of the country's biggest festivals. Commemorating a visit by the Buddha to Kelaniya Temple, the event takes place before the full moon each January. (See more Sri Lanka pictures.)
Buddhism is the dominant religion in Sri Lanka. The tropical island, formerly known as Ceylon, lies close to the southern tip of India (map).
Why We Love It
"Taking the photo from the middle of the procession allowed the photographer to perfectly capture the energy and passion of these performers. The viewer can practically feel the heat and hear the swoosh of the fireball as it travels around the dancer."—Monica Corcoran, senior photo editor
"The rhythmic circles of fire dance throughout the frame and draw the viewer into the festival. As the fire fills not only the foreground but also the background, a sense of revelry and excitement is apparent."—Sarah Polger, senior photo editor
Published February 1, 2012
Capsized Concordia
Photograph by Gregorio Borgia, AP
Italian navy divers approach the cruise ship Costa Concordia on January 17—four days after the luxury liner ran aground near the Italian island of Giglio. Capt. Francesco Schettino is accused of causing the wreck after navigating the ship dangerously close to the island, where contact with the reef tore its hull.
Seventeen people are confirmed dead, according to the Associated Press, which reported that Italian officials have now called off the search in the submerged part of the ship for 16 people who remain missing, citing safety concerns.
(Related pictures: "Five Cruise Ship Disasters That Changed Travel.")
Why We Love It
"What I find most compelling about this frame is how the simple, uncluttered composition—with the bold, upright 'C'—at first conveys a sense of order. But as your eye moves toward the tilted stairwells and rescue boat, the panic and disorder of the tragedy is revealed."—Alexa Keefe, photography producer
"The tragic and widely covered story of the Costa Concordia seems succinctly explained by this one frame. Nothing is as it should be. At once the photograph confuses and alarms, as the viewer is faced with visual information that is literally turned the wrong way and made to realize the scale of the disaster."—Sarah Polger, senior photo editor
Published February 1, 2012
Wish U Were Here
Photograph by Brandon Smith, Your Shot
New Year's revelers welcome 2012 with kisses—and mobile devices—in a picture taken in Los Angeles.
Why We Love It
"I could make a sweeping statement about how this photo is a commentary on the way our relationships with technology supplant meaningful human interaction, but I'm drawn to this image for a far more visceral reason: I'd much rather be one of the people on the left than the guy on the right. And so would you."—Dawn Deeks, associate photo editor
"Bright and brash, the flash is what makes this image, highlighting youthful, sexy partygoers in contemporary life—simultaneously engaged and disengaged in a crowded room."–Sarah Polger, senior photo editor
Published February 1, 2012
The Red and the Black
Photograph by Ben Bronselaer, Your Shot
A southern ground hornbill glowers from this picture submitted to National Geographic's Your Shot in January. Native to sub-Saharan Africa, the species can climb trees in pursuit of prey. In flight, it can reach up to 18 miles (29 kilometers) an hour.
Why We Love It
"Detail photographs like this offer a new way of looking at the world. The shallow depth of field allows us to notice the bird's extraordinary eyelashes and coarse skin."—Janna Dotschkal, assistant photo editor
Published February 1, 2012
Watertight
Photograph by Robin Utrecht, European Pressphoto Agency
A man keeps an eye on rising water from inside his home in Dordrecht in the Netherlands on January 5, 2012.
Heavy rains in early January threatened dikes and forced the evacuation of hundreds, according to Reuters. More than 1,491 miles (2,400 kilometers) of dikes shield the low, flat land of the country—almost half of which lies below sea level.
Why We Love It
"The simplicity of the photo—the lack of extraneous elements and the tight framing—keeps me locked in this man's gaze. His expression says it all: just another day in the low-lying Netherlands."—Monica Corcoran, senior photo editor
Published February 1, 2012
Through the Fire
Photograph by Daniel Ochoa de Olza, AP
A man rides a horse through a bonfire in San Bartolome de Pinares, Spain, on January 16, 2012. On the eve of each St. Anthony's Day, hundreds in the small village ride horses through the streets in honor of the patron saint of domestic animals.
Called the Luminarias, the tradition dates back 500 years. Riding a horse through a bonfire is believed to purify the animal and protect it in the year to come. (See Your Spain Photos.)
Why We Love It
"Separating the artistic merits of a photograph from the judgements we make about content isn't always easy. This image doesn't document war or a natural disaster, but if it did, would it be considered less beautiful?"—Dawn Deeks, associate photo editor
Published February 1, 2012
In Stitches
Photograph by Kevin Frayer, AP
The services of a streetside tailor prove useful to a man with damaged pants in New Delhi, India, on January 19, 2012. (See Your India Photos.)
Why We Love It
"I love a picture that makes you work a little. The rectangular shapes of the hanging blankets and the graphic pattern created by the stairs are enough to keep your eyes bouncing around the image until you stumble on the pantsless payoff. It's an interesting little story captured in one simple frame."—Dawn Deeks, associate photo editor
Published February 1, 2012
Cry of Protest
Photograph by Sarah Rice, Getty Images
Black material stretched over their faces, a group of performers makes its way among the Occupy Wall Street West protests in San Francisco's financial district on January 20, 2012. Protesters were rallying at the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, where they delivered a proposed 28th amendment to the U.S. Constitution that would outlaw "corporate personhood."
Why We Love It
"I love seeing this face emerging from an amorphous blob, made all the more so by the blurred background. Beautiful, creepy, and slightly comical, all at the same time."—Alexa Keefe, photography producer
"The texture of this image grabs me immediately. Soft light falls on the fabric, and the features of the man poke through the black plane, making me wonder whether I'm witnessing a protest or a horror movie."—Sarah Polger, senior photo editor
Published February 1, 2012
Train of Thought
Photograph from AFP/Getty Images
Train passengers in Beijing wait to return home for the Lunar New Year, or Spring Festival, on January 8. Train service is provided to migrant workers by the local government.
The world's largest annual migration of people takes place in China each January, when more than 200 million people travel home for New Year's celebrations.
Why We Love It
"This quiet moment has a beautiful color palette and nice, diffused light that accents the man's expression. He seems to be drifting between being awake and sleeping, as many people do on long train journeys."—Janna Dotschkal, assistant photo editor
"This picture's composition adds to an unsettled mood—the large expanse of green seat, the strip of heads at the top of the frame, the sides and backs of people that we want to see but can't quite make out."—Chris Combs, news photo editor
Published February 1, 2012
Next: Pictures We Love - December >>
Photograph by Rahul Talukder, My Shot
Published February 1, 2012