“Pictures of the Year is a project that is always inspiring and thought-provoking,” said Nathan Lump, editor-in-chief of National Geographic. “Each year, our photographers and editors sift through thousands of images, searching for those rare moments that stop us in our tracks. For years, photographer Anand Varma has attempted to document when an egg yolk can still be seen but a bird form has clearly emerged. The cover of National Geographic’s 2025 Pictures of the Year. Image: National Geographic