See Rare, Extraordinary鈥攁nd Natural鈥擯hotos From NatGeo’s New Book
The publication continues its century-long tradition of delivering stunning images from around the world.
When National Geographic published the 听in 1906, its board members were outraged鈥攖hey couldn鈥檛 understand why the eminent adventure magazine would sensationalize itself by turning听into "." But the readers were hooked right away, and over the last century, their enthusiasm has inspired Nat Geo to become a powerhouse source of wildlife imagery.
In today's image-driven world of media, Nat Geo continues to astound and delight. Lucky for us, many of those projects听focus on birds鈥攁 2012听听on all 39 species of birds-of-paradise was the result of听a several-year expedition by two ornithologists to more than 28 tropical locations.听That same year听Nat Geo teamed up with The Wild Bird Trust to launch听a semi-weekly听online听photo series centered around听threatened avians and conservation efforts from all over the world鈥攖he collection is now in its听.听
Nat Geo听also supports solo听conservation crusades.听About ten years ago, freelance photographer听Joel Sartore began documenting听every captive animal species around the world to highlight the modern extinction crisis. The project, known as , is partially funded by Nat Geo.听More than 4,500 creatures have been photographed to date, including numerous听birds, from oystercatchers and Sanderlings, to hornbills听and Sunbitterns鈥攁濒濒 of the images can be听found .听Some of Sartore鈥檚 other work can also been seen in the group's latest book.
The book, Rarely Seen: Photographs of the Extraordinary,听holds 400 gorgeous pages of international marvels. And amidst the mammals and landscapes are plenty of delightful shots of birds.听Scroll down to view some of our favorite scenes听from the book.
Mortal Combat
Black Tie Affair
Organized Hoarding
Sashimi to Go
Yin and Yang
Feathers on Fleek
Warmth in Numbers
Antarctica's Next Top Model
听
Rarely Seen Photographs of the Extraordinary, foreward by Stephen Alvarez,听National Geographic Books, 400 pages, $22.11. Buy it on听.