Visions of Grandeur, Pain and Quiet Companionship: Your Pictures of the Week

Each week, our editors choose stunning photos submitted by members of Your Shot, National Geographic's photo community.

By Kristen McNicholas
Published 21 Jul 2019, 20:20 BST

Photography is a visual language. Its invention gave us the ability to document our lives unlike other visual mediums had done before. Photography continues to be a form of communication that allows us to educate, exchange ideas, and connect people to the world around them. The photographers telling visual stories each week on Your Shot give us opportunities to learn about lives different from our own and see the beauty of the world around us.

Justin Mott’s photograph of Peter Esegon lying with two white rhinos in central Africa took my breath away. The thoughtful way Justin made this photograph taught me about Peter’s compassion, gentle personality, and dedication to the conservation of these beautiful creatures. This photo encapsulates so much information in one moment.

Sam Tippetts' photograph of someone’s fingers bleeding after rock climbing creates a visual narrative detailing their determination and commitment to the sport. This detail of a climber’s hands gives us a sense of their personality without even seeing their entire being.

In the visual language of photography, composition, exposure, and focus are the photographer’s words. Photography offers us a way to communicate stories that allows viewers to see for themselves, reach their own conclusions, and feel emotions in ways that sometimes words cannot.

Associate Photo Editor Kristen McNicholas looks at daily uploads from Your Shot, starting each day by sifting through thousands of photographs. This series is a selection of her favorites from the past week.
 
This story was updated on 22 July to correct a spelling mistake. 
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