Photo of the Day: Best of June 2009

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Swan on the River Avon

Photograph by Jason Wickens

Captured one morning along the River Avon, this beautiful swan was cleaning itself before stretching its wings in a classic pose. The early morning sun rays add to the surreal image as they burn away the river mist.

This photo and caption were submitted to Your Shot. Have a great shot? Send it to us for possible publication in National Geographic magazine.

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Aurora Borealis, Manitoba, Canada

Photograph by Kurt Baumgartner

The aurora borealis as seen from the subarctic tundra nightscape. Wapusk National Park, Manitoba, Canada.

This photo and caption were submitted to the 2008 International Photo Contest. See photo galleries, play jigsaw puzzles, and download wallpaper of images from more than 105,000 submissions.

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Colosseum, Rome

Photograph by Douglas Wylie

I got this shot while traveling through Italy in December. My wife spotted the puddles in the ground and suggested they would make a great reflection.

This photo and caption were submitted to Your Shot. Have a great shot? Send it to us for possible publication in National Geographic magazine.

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Football Stadium, Colorado

Photograph by Alex Benison

An amazing view of the sun setting behind the Flatirons of the Rocky Mountain front range in Boulder, Colorado. I caught this spectacular fireshow on the roof of the stadium, using five different exposures in a tone-mapping technique similar to the one Ansel Adams developed to capture scenes with high dynamic range.

This photo and caption were submitted to the 2008 International Photo Contest. See photo galleries, play jigsaw puzzles, and download wallpaper of images from more than 105,000 submissions.

Traveling Family Circus, Massachusetts

Photograph by Traer Scott

Parents watch their daughter's performance at a traveling family circus in Massachusetts.

This photo and caption were submitted to Your Shot. Have a great shot? Send it to us for possible publication in National Geographic magazine.

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Angkor Wat at Twilight

Photograph by Robert Clark

Icon of Khmer civilization, Angkor Wat in Cambodia endures as a revered religious shrine.

See more photographs from the July 2009 National Geographic magazine feature story "Divining Angkor."

Daredevil, India

Photograph by Chris Shirley

The actual name of this is "The well of death." Just look all the missing planks and holes in the "well." On hindsight, being up there was probably a bad idea.

This photo and caption were submitted to My Shot. Create and share albums, puzzles, and games with your photos in our My Shot community.

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State Fair Ride, Kansas

Photograph by Joel Sartore

A glowing top in a dizzying spin, the Remix II dazzles patrons wandering the Kansas State Fair midway after dark. Though state fairs sprang up as agricultural and educational venues, carnival rides are now must-haves. The state fair is the largest annual event in Kansas, and assistant fair manager Lori Mulch says it offers "a perfect blend of old-time favorites and new high-tech scream machines."

See more photographs from the June 2008 National Geographic magazine feature story "State Fairs."

Marrakech Market at Night

Photograph by Ben Carron

Featuring snake charmers, acrobats, storytellers, and open-air food stalls, nightfall at the Djemma el-fna in Marrakech attracts crowds of foreigners and jovial locals alike.

This photo and caption were submitted to the 2008 International Photo Contest. See photo galleries, play jigsaw puzzles, and download wallpaper of images from more than 105,000 submissions.