National Geographic The Photographs: Iconic Images from National Geographic

by National Geographic, Jimmy Chin (foreword)

Genres: Nonfiction, Photography, Art and Photography

464 pages, Hardcover

Published October 28, 2025

Reviews

[Lizzy (reviewsshewrote) · Rating 4 out of 5]

BEAUTIFUL book full of famous National Geographic photographs. My only complaint is that I would have loved just a bit more background info about each picture, but other than that, this is a fascinating book that will be perfect for photography and nature lovers

[Lori L (She Treads Softly) · Rating 5 out of 5]

National Geographic The Photographs: Iconic Images from National Geographic is a very highly recommended collection of over 250 photographs. This is a perfect gift, especially for anyone who loves photography or has a sense of wonder. The seven photographs in the opening pages leading up to the table of contents will immediately grab your attention and are a perfect introduction to the wonder that awaits you. These include in part: a lion waking up in a tree in Uganda, a sailboat tracing an 1847 voyage to the Northwest Passage through icebergs, a cougar with the Hollywood sign in the background, and an empire penguin chick jumping off a tall iceberg in Antarctica.

The photographs accompanying the stories found in National Geographic over the years have been a great part of what made the magazine. This iconic collection makes that abundantly clear. For example, it is one thing to read about climbing El Capitan in Yosemite National Park or even see the climbers from a distance, on the ground. It opens up a whole breath taking new world to see the photos from a climber's point of view. Or seeing someone on the 130 foot Sky Ladder in Austria. That is a small part of the wonder and the new worlds National Geographic has helped open through it's photographs over the years.

Parring down all the images National Geographic has published over the years to create a collection is a feat unto itself. As pointed out in 2023 more than 2 million images were taken by 165 photographers. Of these around 850 were published. For this collection the photographs are groups into five chapters/collections. These include: Adventure & Exploration, The Power to Discover; Wildlife & Conservation, The Power to Protect; People & Culture, The Power to Honor; Landscapes & Environment, The Power to Cherish; and Science & Technology, The Power to Reveal. At the end of the book there are Illustration Credits, a Photography Index, and Information about the contributors.

Included are interviews with Camille Seaman (iceberg photos), David Doubilet (marine biologist rising through a cloud of nonstinging jellyfish), Erika Larsen, Kris Graves, and Robert Clark. Additionally there are biographies of Jody McDonald (Asian elephant on India's Havelock Island), Carsten Peter (Mexico's Cave of Crystals) Keith Ladzinski, Brian Skerry, Joel Sartore ( Blue waxbills from Mozanbique), Beverly Joubert, Hannah Reyes Morales, Jodi Cobb, Lynn Johnson, Sofia Jaramillo, Frans Lanting, Aaron Huey, Anand Varma, Helene Schmitz, and Nichole Sobecki.

Noted in parenthesis behind the photographer are a few photos of over 20 I flagged while reading as being ones I found especially intriguing. Obviously I haven't mentioned all the photos I loved, but I especially loved two composite photos. One was made composed of many photos capturing the activity around a water hole in the Serengeti National Park by Stephen Wilkes. Another by Marcio Esteves Cabral was of the Milky Way above a field of wild flowers in Brazil.

Thanks to Disney Publishing Group for providing me with a reader's copy in partnership with TLC Book Tours. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion
http://www.shetreadssoftly.com/2025/1...

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Before I ever learned to read, I learned to look. My grandfather kept neat stacks of National Geographic magazines in his den — golden spines lined like treasure, each issue a portal. I remember flipping through the glossy pages, the scent of paper and ink as much a part of the experience as the photos themselves. Faces, creatures, storms, and ruins — the world felt vast and intimate all at once.

The Photographs rekindles that same sense of wonder, distilled into one breathtaking collection. Across more than 250 images, National Geographic’s legendary photographers remind us what it means to see — truly see — our planet and ourselves. There’s the iconic Afghan girl, her gaze as piercing now as it was decades ago. The ghostly prow of the Titanic resting on the ocean floor. And there — a line of surfers, tiny yet fearless, framed against an impossible blue wave. That image, especially, feels like a heartbeat: humanity poised at the edge of nature’s vastness, daring and small all at once.

What makes this volume remarkable isn’t just its scope — though it spans continents and decades — but its restraint. Each image stands almost alone: no essays, no captions beyond a name, a place, a year. That sparseness lets the photography breathe, invites silence, reflection. The book itself is beautifully made, large enough to do justice to its subjects, and designed with reverence rather than spectacle.

For anyone who grew up tracing the edges of the world through National Geographic, this collection is both time capsule and testament. For newcomers, it’s a revelation — proof that the human eye, when paired with patience, empathy, and craft, can still surprise us.

The Photographs isn’t merely a coffee-table book. It’s a reminder that beauty has always been both fragile and ferocious — and that our world, still, is worth looking at closely.

Goes well with: a strong cup of Ethiopian coffee, a lazy Sunday morning, and a window that catches the light just right.

[Robert Yokoyama · Rating 5 out of 5]

The pictures in this book are beautiful. I admire the talent of photographers because some of these shots seem hard to get. Each photo changes my perspective on health, animals and even trees.

There is a picture a person receiving laser surgery to improve their eyesight. I might need laser surgery as I get older, so I think it is great to know I have this option. There is a picture of a patient getting a face transplant. I have never seen this medical procedure done before, and so I think this photo is truly insightful. There is a picture of a circle of barracuda fish underwater. I never thought of barracuda fish to be serene animals, so this photo is an eye opener for me. There are pictures of the towering Sequoia trees in California and an equally majestic cypress tree in Mexico. These trees are absolutely stunning to look at. There is a picture of a beautiful bird called a cassowary eating a fruit called a quandong. I have never heard of such a bird or fruit before, so this one photo is filled with new discoveries for me. There is a picture of a blue jelly fish and a water bear. I have never seen these animals before, so I truly love looking at these photos.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this book through a Goodreads Giveaway.

As is typical of National Geographic products, this book is top quality in both the materials used to print and bind it, as well as the superb content.

The photos are magnificent and the written content is very interesting.
I enjoyed the interviews with the photographers and the explanations of the philosophies behind the photos and various techniques to obtain them.

The sections of the book include images of various types including adventure, exploration, wildlife, landscapes, people, culture, and even amazing science and tech contributions. This book should be placed in an area where it can be enjoyed over and over again due to the detail available.
The captions can lead the viewer to search for more on each page. They led me to take a closer look and really appreciate each photo more.

[Dharani · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful hardcover with raised lettering. About the size, thickness, and weight of a college textbook. Nice gloss paper and stitched binding. Stunning depth of color for the photographs and each one is captioned with the photographer, year, and relevant context. You'll see a lot of the classic National Geographic photos in the collection. Biographies, interviews, and quotes by photographers are interspersed through out. It's a beautiful coffee table book - uncontroversial and nice to look through when you're bored. If you have the money to spare I wouldn't dissuade you.

Disclaimer: Giveaway recipient, and not a professional photographer nor deeply involved in that world.

[Candace S. · Rating 4 out of 5]

You pick up this book for the absolutely stunning photographs, obviously. But don’t skip the fascinating interviews with the National Geographic photographers. I loved reading about what made each of them fall in love with photography, how they found their specialties, and how they see their place in the world. 🌍

[Debra Kane-janse · Rating 5 out of 5]

beautiful photographs!

[Dee Jay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gorgeous photos. Lovely coffee table book.

[Saleah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful photographs and history told.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Stunning and melancholy. So many stunning pictures. So many pictures of places ravished by climate change, environmental degradation, and war.

I am grateful to National Geographic.