National Geographic's Best Shots of the Year

Every day, the National Geographic editors get a lot of pictures from different parts of our planet. Thousands of photographers wait for the right moment and take amazing pictures that are simply breathtaking.

Throughout 2014, the editors selected for you the best photos that capture the extraordinary grace of the natural world and everyday life. This article contains the brightest shots.

(Total 31 photos)

1. Night Watch, Russia (© Svetlana Shupenko)

2. House in Ergaki, Russia (© Alexey Degtyarev)

3. Lucky Horse, USA (© Daniel Muzman)

4. Early morning, late autumn. Canada (© Suman Aryal)

5. Swimming lessons, Kamchatka, Russia (© Marco Matiussi)

6. Sunset, China (© James Bean)

7. Desert Love, India (© Abhinav Sah)

8. Where is the money, Zin? East Africa (© Alexander Perov)

9. Saratov City Park, Russia (© Anton Sadomov)

10. Giant ice cave under Mutnovsky volcano, Kamchatka, Russia (© Dmitry Korzhonov)

11. Curious Otter, USA (© Roman Golubenko)

12. Blueberries, Russia (© Andrey Korochkin)

13. Happiness is a warm sun, Estonia (© Kersti Kalberg)

14. King's Comb, Guyana (© Andrew Snyder)

15. Polar bear on vacation (© JongSung Ru)

16. Fuji and sakura, Japan (© Yugi Kurita)

17. Camel drivers, Abu Dhabi emirate (© Karim Sahib)

18. Motherly love, Mexico (© Oscar Medina)

19. Atlantic puffins, UK (© Danny Green)

20. Old fields, China (© John Chu)

21. Me in the house, UK (© Mark Bridger)

22. Cold Encounter, France (© Nicolas Le Boulanger)

23. Atlantic Puffin, Scotland (© Danny Green)

24. Slime, Portugal (© Luis Godinho)

25. Frozen waves, USA (© Nicholas Roemmelt)

26. Pose on a tree, Kuwait (© Mont Corsid)

27. Canyon, USA (© Peter Lik)

28. Walk, Falkland Islands (© Shanu Subra)

29. Anger of nature, Japan (© Tshioshi Nishin)

30. Panda pretends to be pregnant for extra buns, China (© La Prize)

31. A fleeing rhinoceros, Africa (© Geoffrey Lam)