An Appreciation of Rare Images

Thought you guys would enjoy these….they’re all National Geographic Shots.

A Salty Snack
Photograph by Charlie Hamilton James
“Clay cliffs just outside Peru's Manú National Park form a natural salt lick that attracts various animals, including these red-and-green macaws. More than a thousand species of birds—10 percent of the world total—live in and around the park.”

What interested me about this pic was that I wasn't aware that birds did this too. I have seen other animals in our national parks licking limestone to get calcium in their system.

Jewels of the Jungle
Photograph by Brent Stirton
“A silverback from the 22-member Mapuwa family in Virunga National Park emerges from the jungle to keep an eye on a ranger patrol. The park in the Democratic Republic of the Congo has largely succeeded in protecting mountain gorillas, its top tourist draw, from violence. Their population is now growing.”

Dian Fossey would be so glad to know that these beautiful creatures have been protected over the past 30 years.

By a Thread
Photograph by Kieron Nelson,
“In northern Pakistan’s Hunza region, travelers cross what’s often called the most dangerous bridge in the world: the Hussaini Hanging Bridge, which looks almost as unforgiving as the landscape around it. “[The bridge] is extremely old and very narrow,” photographer Kieron Nelson writes. “Situated high above [Borit Lake], it is missing many of the original wooden planks.””

This image grabbed my attention as it captures not only the dangers of crossing this bridge, but the courage it takes to even take the first step.

Flying Light
Photograph by Jeff McIntosh,
“Like giant lanterns, hot-air balloons glow by the light of their burners “during a [sunset] kickoff for the Canadian Hot Air Balloon Championships,” writes photographer Jeff McIntosh, who made this photo during the 2013 event. The first hot-air balloon to carry passengers lifted off over France in 1783—bearing a sheep, a chicken, and a duck.”

What can I say, what a beautiful way to light up the night sky.

All photographs credited to the respective Photographers courtesy of National Geographic.

Good Night.