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Nat Geo shares its most popular Instagram photos in new exhibit

Maggie Bartolomeo | mbartolomeo@wtop.com

November 16, 2016, 1:36 AM

Inspiring rangers are hand-raising three baby rhinos at Lewa Wildlife Conservancy in Kenya. The photo is part of the National Geographic exhibition "@NATGEO: The Most Popular Instagram Photos,” open at the National Geographic Museum in Washington D.C. from November 11, 2016 – April 30, 2017. (Ami Vitale/National Geographic)
Inspiring rangers hand-raise three baby rhinos at Lewa Wildlife Conservancy in Kenya. The photo is part of the National Geographic exhibition “@NATGEO: The Most Popular Instagram Photos,” open at the National Geographic Museum in D.C. from Nov. 11, 2016 to April 30, 2017. (Courtesy Ami Vitale/National Geographic)
Courtesy Ami Vitale/National Geographic
PERMITTED USE: This image may be downloaded or is otherwise provided at no charge for one-time use for coverage or promotion of the National Geographic exhibit "@NATGEO: The Most Popular Instagram Photos.” Copying, distribution, archiving, sublicensing, sale, or resale of the image is prohibited. REQUIRED CREDIT AND CAPTION: Any and all image uses must (1) be properly credited to the relevant photographer, as shown in this metadata, and (2) be accompanied by a caption that makes reference to the National Geographic exhibition "@NATGEO: The Most Popular Instagram Photos,” open at the National Geographic Museum from November 11, 2016 – April 30, 2017. DEFAULT: Failure to comply with the prohibitions and requirements set forth above will obligate the individual or entity receiving this image to pay a fee determined by National Geographic. (Please note: you may select up to 6 images for online use and 3 images for print) 01: Photo by Ed Kashi/National Geographic These candy-colored homes in Port-au-Prince exemplify both the vibrancy and poverty of Haiti.
These candy-colored homes in Port-au-Prince exemplify both the vibrancy and poverty of Haiti. The photo is part of the National Geographic exhibition “@NATGEO: The Most Popular Instagram Photos,” open at the National Geographic Museum in D.C. from Nov. 11, 2016 to  April 30, 2017.  (Courtesy Ed Kashi/National Geographic)
Courtesy Ed Kashi/National Geographic
PERMITTED USE: This image may be downloaded or is otherwise provided at no charge for one-time use for coverage or promotion of the National Geographic exhibit "@NATGEO: The Most Popular Instagram Photos.” Copying, distribution, archiving, sublicensing, sale, or resale of the image is prohibited. REQUIRED CREDIT AND CAPTION: Any and all image uses must (1) be properly credited to the relevant photographer, as shown in this metadata, and (2) be accompanied by a caption that makes reference to the National Geographic exhibition "@NATGEO: The Most Popular Instagram Photos,” open at the National Geographic Museum from November 11, 2016 – April 30, 2017. DEFAULT: Failure to comply with the prohibitions and requirements set forth above will obligate the individual or entity receiving this image to pay a fee determined by National Geographic. (Please note: you may select up to 6 images for online use and 3 images for print) 02: Photo by Keith Ladzinski/National Geographic A hiker turns a celebratory cartwheel over placid Yellowstone Lake in Yellowstone National Park.
A hiker turns a celebratory cartwheel over placid Yellowstone Lake in Yellowstone National Park. The photo is part of the National Geographic exhibition “@NATGEO: The Most Popular Instagram Photos,” open at the National Geographic Museum in D.C. from Nov. 11, 2016 to April 30, 2017. (Courtesy Keith Ladzinski/National Geographic)
Courtesy Keith Ladzinski/National Geographic
PERMITTED USE: This image may be downloaded or is otherwise provided at no charge for one-time use for coverage or promotion of the National Geographic exhibit "@NATGEO: The Most Popular Instagram Photos.” Copying, distribution, archiving, sublicensing, sale, or resale of the image is prohibited. REQUIRED CREDIT AND CAPTION: Any and all image uses must (1) be properly credited to the relevant photographer, as shown in this metadata, and (2) be accompanied by a caption that makes reference to the National Geographic exhibition "@NATGEO: The Most Popular Instagram Photos,” open at the National Geographic Museum from November 11, 2016 – April 30, 2017. DEFAULT: Failure to comply with the prohibitions and requirements set forth above will obligate the individual or entity receiving this image to pay a fee determined by National Geographic. (Please note: you may select up to 6 images for online use and 3 images for print) 03: Photo by Corey Rich Climbers leave their suspended camp on the Dawn Wall of Yosemite’s El Capitan.
Climbers leave their suspended camp on the Dawn Wall of Yosemite’s El Capitan. The photo is part of the National Geographic exhibition “@NATGEO: The Most Popular Instagram Photos,” open at the National Geographic Museum in D.C. from Nov. 11, 2016 to April 30, 2017. (Courtesy Corey Rich/National Geographic)
Courtesy Corey Rich/National Geographic
PERMITTED USE: This image may be downloaded or is otherwise provided at no charge for one-time use for coverage or promotion of the National Geographic exhibit "@NATGEO: The Most Popular Instagram Photos.” Copying, distribution, archiving, sublicensing, sale, or resale of the image is prohibited. REQUIRED CREDIT AND CAPTION: Any and all image uses must (1) be properly credited to the relevant photographer, as shown in this metadata, and (2) be accompanied by a caption that makes reference to the National Geographic exhibition "@NATGEO: The Most Popular Instagram Photos,” open at the National Geographic Museum from November 11, 2016 – April 30, 2017. DEFAULT: Failure to comply with the prohibitions and requirements set forth above will obligate the individual or entity receiving this image to pay a fee determined by National Geographic. (Please note: you may select up to 6 images for online use and 3 images for print) 05: Photo by Paul Nicklen/National Geographic A giant ocean sunfish and a diver perform a blue-water ballet off the coast of British Columbia.
A giant ocean sunfish and a diver perform a blue-water ballet off the coast of British Columbia. The photo is part of the National Geographic exhibition “@NATGEO: The Most Popular Instagram Photos,” open at the National Geographic Museum in D.C. from Nov. 11, 2016 to April 30, 2017. (Courtesy Paul Nicklen/National Geographic)
Courtesy Paul Nicklen/National Geographic
PERMITTED USE: This image may be downloaded or is otherwise provided at no charge for one-time use for coverage or promotion of the National Geographic exhibit "@NATGEO: The Most Popular Instagram Photos.” Copying, distribution, archiving, sublicensing, sale, or resale of the image is prohibited. REQUIRED CREDIT AND CAPTION: Any and all image uses must (1) be properly credited to the relevant photographer, as shown in this metadata, and (2) be accompanied by a caption that makes reference to the National Geographic exhibition "@NATGEO: The Most Popular Instagram Photos,” open at the National Geographic Museum from November 11, 2016 – April 30, 2017. DEFAULT: Failure to comply with the prohibitions and requirements set forth above will obligate the individual or entity receiving this image to pay a fee determined by National Geographic. (Please note: you may select up to 6 images for online use and 3 images for print) 06: Photo by David Doubilet/National Geographic Divers explore underwater limestone chambers in Australia.
Divers explore underwater limestone chambers in Australia. The photo is part of the National Geographic exhibition “@NATGEO: The Most Popular Instagram Photos,” open at the National Geographic Museum in D.C. from Nov. 11, 2016 to April 30, 2017. (Courtesy David Doubilet/National Geographic)
Courtesy David Doubilet/National Geographic
PERMITTED USE: This image may be downloaded or is otherwise provided at no charge for one-time use for coverage or promotion of the National Geographic exhibit "@NATGEO: The Most Popular Instagram Photos.” Copying, distribution, archiving, sublicensing, sale, or resale of the image is prohibited. REQUIRED CREDIT AND CAPTION: Any and all image uses must (1) be properly credited to the relevant photographer, as shown in this metadata, and (2) be accompanied by a caption that makes reference to the National Geographic exhibition "@NATGEO: The Most Popular Instagram Photos,” open at the National Geographic Museum from November 11, 2016 – April 30, 2017. DEFAULT: Failure to comply with the prohibitions and requirements set forth above will obligate the individual or entity receiving this image to pay a fee determined by National Geographic. (Please note: you may select up to 6 images for online use and 3 images for print) 07: Photo by Paul Nicklen/National Geographic A bounty of little aucks, also known as dovekies, fill the landscape on the shores of Svalbard, Norway.
A bounty of little aucks, also known as dovekies, fill the landscape on the shores of Svalbard, Norway. The photo is part of the National Geographic exhibition “@NATGEO: The Most Popular Instagram Photos,” open at the National Geographic Museum in D.C. from Nov. 11, 2016 to April 30, 2017. (Courtesy Paul Nicklen/National Geographic)
Courtesy Paul Nicklen/National Geographic
PERMITTED USE: This image may be downloaded or is otherwise provided at no charge for one-time use for coverage or promotion of the National Geographic exhibit "@NATGEO: The Most Popular Instagram Photos.” Copying, distribution, archiving, sublicensing, sale, or resale of the image is prohibited. REQUIRED CREDIT AND CAPTION: Any and all image uses must (1) be properly credited to the relevant photographer, as shown in this metadata, and (2) be accompanied by a caption that makes reference to the National Geographic exhibition "@NATGEO: The Most Popular Instagram Photos,” open at the National Geographic Museum from November 11, 2016 – April 30, 2017. DEFAULT: Failure to comply with the prohibitions and requirements set forth above will obligate the individual or entity receiving this image to pay a fee determined by National Geographic. (Please note: you may select up to 6 images for online use and 3 images for print) 08: Photo by Katie Orlinsky Dogs that have been dropped from their teams, either as a result of injury or as part of a musher’s strategy, wait to fly out of Eagle, Alaska. Bags keep the dogs calm in flight. These resilient husky mixed breeds, unique to the region, are competitors in the Yukon Quest, the world’s toughest sled-dog race. Crossing 1,000 bone-freezing miles (1,600 km) of northern Canada through some of the wildest backcountry in the world, teams commonly face high winds and whiteouts. At minus 50*F (-45*C), mushers face daunting sleep deprivation and fear while starving off frostbite and dehydration. But most often the dogs trot into the next checkpoint with tails wagging, smiling wide dog smiles.
Dogs that have been dropped from their teams, either as a result of injury or as part of a musher’s strategy, wait to fly out of Eagle, Alaska, wearing bags that keep the dogs calm during flight. The photo is part of the National Geographic exhibition “@NATGEO: The Most Popular Instagram Photos,” open at the National Geographic Museum in D.C. from Nov. 11, 2016 to April 30, 2017.  (Courtesy Katie Orlinsky/National Geographic)
Courtesy Katie Orlinsky/National Geographic
PERMITTED USE: This image may be downloaded or is otherwise provided at no charge for one-time use for coverage or promotion of the National Geographic exhibit "@NATGEO: The Most Popular Instagram Photos.” Copying, distribution, archiving, sublicensing, sale, or resale of the image is prohibited. REQUIRED CREDIT AND CAPTION: Any and all image uses must (1) be properly credited to the relevant photographer, as shown in this metadata, and (2) be accompanied by a caption that makes reference to the National Geographic exhibition "@NATGEO: The Most Popular Instagram Photos,” open at the National Geographic Museum from November 11, 2016 – April 30, 2017. DEFAULT: Failure to comply with the prohibitions and requirements set forth above will obligate the individual or entity receiving this image to pay a fee determined by National Geographic. (Please note: you may select up to 6 images for online use and 3 images for print) 09: Photo by Joe Riis/National Geographic Campfire embers on the elk migration trail in Yellowstone National Park.
Campfire embers spark on the elk migration trail in Yellowstone National Park. The photo is part of the National Geographic exhibition “@NATGEO: The Most Popular Instagram Photos,” open at the National Geographic Museum in D.C. from Nov. 11, 2016 to April 30, 2017. (Courtesy Joe Riis/National Geographic)
Courtesy Joe Riis/National Geographic
PERMITTED USE: This image may be downloaded or is otherwise provided at no charge for one-time use for coverage or promotion of the National Geographic exhibit "@NATGEO: The Most Popular Instagram Photos.” Copying, distribution, archiving, sublicensing, sale, or resale of the image is prohibited. REQUIRED CREDIT AND CAPTION: Any and all image uses must (1) be properly credited to the relevant photographer, as shown in this metadata, and (2) be accompanied by a caption that makes reference to the National Geographic exhibition "@NATGEO: The Most Popular Instagram Photos,” open at the National Geographic Museum from November 11, 2016 – April 30, 2017. DEFAULT: Failure to comply with the prohibitions and requirements set forth above will obligate the individual or entity receiving this image to pay a fee determined by National Geographic. (Please note: you may select up to 6 images for online use and 3 images for print) 10: Photo by Beverly Joubert/National Geographic Giraffes are famous for long necks, but their 20-inch (50cm) tongues are also impressive. These gentle herbivores spend most of their time eating, consuming hundreds of pounds of leaves each week and traveling miles to find enough food. Given that they eat for hours, the darker coloring of their tongues helps prevent sunburn! Giraffe tongues have also developed a thick skin and exceptional dexterity as protection against the vicious thorns that grow on their favorite food, the acacia tree. Although they are largely classified as a species of least concern, wild giraffes declined by 40 percent in the past 15 years and need protection from poaching and habitat loss.
Giraffes are famous for long necks, but their 20-inch tongues are impressive. The photo is part of the National Geographic exhibition “@NATGEO: The Most Popular Instagram Photos,” open at the National Geographic Museum in D.C. from Nov. 11, 2016 to April 30, 2017. (Courtesy Beverly Joubert/National Geographic)
Courtesy Beverly Joubert/National Geographic
PERMITTED USE: This image may be downloaded or is otherwise provided at no charge for one-time use for coverage or promotion of the National Geographic exhibit "@NATGEO: The Most Popular Instagram Photos.” Copying, distribution, archiving, sublicensing, sale, or resale of the image is prohibited. REQUIRED CREDIT AND CAPTION: Any and all image uses must (1) be properly credited to the relevant photographer, as shown in this metadata, and (2) be accompanied by a caption that makes reference to the National Geographic exhibition "@NATGEO: The Most Popular Instagram Photos,” open at the National Geographic Museum from November 11, 2016 – April 30, 2017. DEFAULT: Failure to comply with the prohibitions and requirements set forth above will obligate the individual or entity receiving this image to pay a fee determined by National Geographic. (Please note: you may select up to 6 images for online use and 3 images for print) 11: Photo by Robbie Shone/National Geographic A 17th-century storm drain built under Sheffield, England, is dubbed Megatron by urban explorers.
A 17th-century storm drain built under Sheffield, England, is dubbed Megatron by urban explorers. The photo is part of the National Geographic exhibition “@NATGEO: The Most Popular Instagram Photos,” open at the National Geographic Museum in D.C. from Nov. 11, 2016 to April 30, 2017. (Courtesy Robbie Shone/National Geographic)
Courtesy Robbie Shone/National Geographic
PERMITTED USE: This image may be downloaded or is otherwise provided at no charge for one-time use for coverage or promotion of the National Geographic exhibit "@NATGEO: The Most Popular Instagram Photos.” Copying, distribution, archiving, sublicensing, sale, or resale of the image is prohibited. REQUIRED CREDIT AND CAPTION: Any and all image uses must (1) be properly credited to the relevant photographer, as shown in this metadata, and (2) be accompanied by a caption that makes reference to the National Geographic exhibition "@NATGEO: The Most Popular Instagram Photos,” open at the National Geographic Museum from November 11, 2016 – April 30, 2017. DEFAULT: Failure to comply with the prohibitions and requirements set forth above will obligate the individual or entity receiving this image to pay a fee determined by National Geographic. (Please note: you may select up to 6 images for online use and 3 images for print) 12: Photo by Tim Laman/National Geographic These baby orangutans are wards of the International Animal Rescue center in Ketapang, Indonesia. They are transported by wheelbarrow from their night cages to a forest play area, where they spend the day learning skills to survive in the world. Orangutans have an uncommonly long childhood. Our primate cousins cling to their mother’s body for the first years of their life and will remain close to her for 7 to 11 years. Unfortunately, many baby orangutans are kept illegally as pets; they’re obtained by killing their mothers in the wild. When confiscated, the babies end up at centers like this. Successful release is challenging, but some do make it back to the wild.
The International Animal Rescue center in Ketapang, Indonesia, transports baby orangutans by wheelbarrow from their night cages to a forest play area, where they spend the day learning skills to survive in the world. The photo is part of the National Geographic exhibition “@NATGEO: The Most Popular Instagram Photos,” open at the National Geographic Museum in D.C. from Nov. 11, 2016 to April 30, 2017. (Courtesy Tim Laman/National Geographic)
Courtesy Tim Laman/National Geographic
PERMITTED USE: This image may be downloaded or is otherwise provided at no charge for one-time use for coverage or promotion of the National Geographic exhibit "@NATGEO: The Most Popular Instagram Photos.” Copying, distribution, archiving, sublicensing, sale, or resale of the image is prohibited. REQUIRED CREDIT AND CAPTION: Any and all image uses must (1) be properly credited to the relevant photographer, as shown in this metadata, and (2) be accompanied by a caption that makes reference to the National Geographic exhibition "@NATGEO: The Most Popular Instagram Photos,” open at the National Geographic Museum from November 11, 2016 – April 30, 2017. DEFAULT: Failure to comply with the prohibitions and requirements set forth above will obligate the individual or entity receiving this image to pay a fee determined by National Geographic. (Please note: you may select up to 6 images for online use and 3 images for print) 13: Photo by Paul Nicklen/National Geographic An inquisitive polar bear inspects the photographer’s gear as he retreats to a safe distance.
An inquisitive polar bear inspects the photographer’s gear as he retreats to a safe distance. The photo is part of the National Geographic exhibition “@NATGEO: The Most Popular Instagram Photos,” open at the National Geographic Museum in D.C. from Nov. 11, 2016 to April 30, 2017. (Courtesy Paul Nicklen/National Geographic)
Courtesy Paul Nicklen/National Geographic
PERMITTED USE: This image may be downloaded or is otherwise provided at no charge for one-time use for coverage or promotion of the National Geographic exhibit "@NATGEO: The Most Popular Instagram Photos.” Copying, distribution, archiving, sublicensing, sale, or resale of the image is prohibited. REQUIRED CREDIT AND CAPTION: Any and all image uses must (1) be properly credited to the relevant photographer, as shown in this metadata, and (2) be accompanied by a caption that makes reference to the National Geographic exhibition "@NATGEO: The Most Popular Instagram Photos,” open at the National Geographic Museum from November 11, 2016 – April 30, 2017. DEFAULT: Failure to comply with the prohibitions and requirements set forth above will obligate the individual or entity receiving this image to pay a fee determined by National Geographic. (Please note: you may select up to 6 images for online use and 3 images for print) 14: Photo by Cory Richards/National Geographic Walruses off Hooker Island in Franz Josef Land, Russia.
Walruses swim off Hooker Island in Franz Josef Land, Russia. The photo is part of the National Geographic exhibition “@NATGEO: The Most Popular Instagram Photos,” open at the National Geographic Museum in D.C. from Nov. 11, 2016 to April 30, 2017. (Courtesy Cory Richards/National Geographic)
Courtesy Cory Richards/National Geographic
PERMITTED USE: This image may be downloaded or is otherwise provided at no charge for one-time use for coverage or promotion of the National Geographic exhibit "@NATGEO: The Most Popular Instagram Photos.” Copying, distribution, archiving, sublicensing, sale, or resale of the image is prohibited. REQUIRED CREDIT AND CAPTION: Any and all image uses must (1) be properly credited to the relevant photographer, as shown in this metadata, and (2) be accompanied by a caption that makes reference to the National Geographic exhibition "@NATGEO: The Most Popular Instagram Photos,” open at the National Geographic Museum from November 11, 2016 – April 30, 2017. DEFAULT: Failure to comply with the prohibitions and requirements set forth above will obligate the individual or entity receiving this image to pay a fee determined by National Geographic. (Please note: you may select up to 6 images for online use and 3 images for print) 15: Photo by Ira Block/National Geographic Spring brings cherry blossoms to New York City.
Spring brings cherry blossoms to New York City. The photo is part of the National Geographic exhibition “@NATGEO: The Most Popular Instagram Photos,” open at the National Geographic Museum in D.C. from Nov. 11, 2016 to April 30, 2017. (Courtesy Ira Block/National Geographic)
Courtesy Ira Block/National Geographic
PERMITTED USE: This image may be downloaded or is otherwise provided at no charge for one-time use for coverage or promotion of the National Geographic exhibit "@NATGEO: The Most Popular Instagram Photos.” Copying, distribution, archiving, sublicensing, sale, or resale of the image is prohibited. REQUIRED CREDIT AND CAPTION: Any and all image uses must (1) be properly credited to the relevant photographer, as shown in this metadata, and (2) be accompanied by a caption that makes reference to the National Geographic exhibition "@NATGEO: The Most Popular Instagram Photos,” open at the National Geographic Museum from November 11, 2016 – April 30, 2017. DEFAULT: Failure to comply with the prohibitions and requirements set forth above will obligate the individual or entity receiving this image to pay a fee determined by National Geographic. (Please note: you may select up to 6 images for online use and 3 images for print) 16: Photo by Cory Richards/National Geographic Stars trail over the temples in Tsarang, Nepal, a center of Buddhist scholarship and art.
Stars trail over the temples in Tsarang, Nepal, a center of Buddhist scholarship and art. The photo is part of the National Geographic exhibition “@NATGEO: The Most Popular Instagram Photos,” open at the National Geographic Museum in D.C. from Nov. 11, 2016 to April 30, 2017. (Courtesy Cory Richards/National Geographic)
Courtesy Cory Richards/National Geographic
Nat Geo’s Instagram exhibit is seen here. (WTOP/Maggie Bartolomeo)
WTOP/Maggie Bartolomeo
Nat Geo’s Instagram exhibit is seen here. (WTOP/Maggie Bartolomeo)
WTOP/Maggie Bartolomeo
Nat Geo’s Instagram exhibit features some of its best photography. (WTOP/Maggie Bartolomeo)
WTOP/Maggie Bartolomeo
Nat Geo’s Instagram exhibit will be open until April. (WTOP/Maggie Bartolomeo)
WTOP/Maggie Bartolomeo
Nat Geo’s Instagram exhibit shows off some of its best photos. (WTOP/Maggie Bartolomeo)
WTOP/Maggie Bartolomeo
Nat Geo’s Instagram exhibit runs now through April 30, 2017. (WTOP/Maggie Bartolomeo)
WTOP/Maggie Bartolomeo
Nat Geo’s Instagram exhibit runs now through April 30, 2017. (WTOP/Maggie Bartolomeo)
WTOP/Maggie Bartolomeo
Nat Geo’s Instagram exhibit includes some awe-inspiring photos. (WTOP/Maggie Bartolomeo)
WTOP/Maggie Bartolomeo
Elephants are part of the Nat Geo’s Instagram exhibit. (WTOP/Maggie Bartolomeo)
WTOP/Maggie Bartolomeo
People take in the exhibit that is part of FotoWeek DC. (WTOP/Maggie Bartolomeo)
WTOP/Maggie Bartolomeo
The photos aren’t only of nature at FotoWeek DC.   (WTOP/Maggie Bartolomeo)
WTOP/Maggie Bartolomeo
The photos at FotoWeek DC may inspire you to take a few more shots. (WTOP/Maggie Bartolomeo)
WTOP/Maggie Bartolomeo
If the photo strikes an emotional chord, visitors can actually record their own thoughts and feelings on the photo. (WTOP/Maggie Bartolomeo)
WTOP/Maggie Bartolomeo
Nat Geo photos at FotoWeek DC have also been put into a commemorative book. (WTOP/Maggie Bartolomeo)
WTOP/Maggie Bartolomeo
The exhibit at FotoWeek DC includes eight little nooks where visitors can sit and look at each Instagram photo and hear the photographer’s description. (WTOP/Maggie Bartolomeo)
WTOP/Maggie Bartolomeo
The folks at the National Geographic Museum in Northwest D.C. have teamed up with FotoWeekDC to host this year’s FotoWeekCentral. (WTOP/Maggie Bartolomeo)
WTOP/Maggie Bartolomeo
National Geographic’s Instagram account has more than 63 million followers, so you may have seen the photos on your feed.   (WTOP/Maggie Bartolomeo)
WTOP/Maggie Bartolomeo
An opening party celebrated the exhibit.   (WTOP/Maggie Bartolomeo)
WTOP/Maggie Bartolomeo
People gathered for the exhibit’s opening party. (WTOP/Maggie Bartolomeo)
WTOP/Maggie Bartolomeo
At the opening party, people look at the colorful and powerful exhibit. (WTOP/Maggie Bartolomeo)
WTOP/Maggie Bartolomeo
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Inspiring rangers are hand-raising three baby rhinos at Lewa Wildlife Conservancy in Kenya. The photo is part of the National Geographic exhibition "@NATGEO: The Most Popular Instagram Photos,” open at the National Geographic Museum in Washington D.C. from November 11, 2016 – April 30, 2017. (Ami Vitale/National Geographic)
PERMITTED USE: This image may be downloaded or is otherwise provided at no charge for one-time use for coverage or promotion of the National Geographic exhibit "@NATGEO: The Most Popular Instagram Photos.” Copying, distribution, archiving, sublicensing, sale, or resale of the image is prohibited. REQUIRED CREDIT AND CAPTION: Any and all image uses must (1) be properly credited to the relevant photographer, as shown in this metadata, and (2) be accompanied by a caption that makes reference to the National Geographic exhibition "@NATGEO: The Most Popular Instagram Photos,” open at the National Geographic Museum from November 11, 2016 – April 30, 2017. DEFAULT: Failure to comply with the prohibitions and requirements set forth above will obligate the individual or entity receiving this image to pay a fee determined by National Geographic. (Please note: you may select up to 6 images for online use and 3 images for print) 01: Photo by Ed Kashi/National Geographic These candy-colored homes in Port-au-Prince exemplify both the vibrancy and poverty of Haiti.
PERMITTED USE: This image may be downloaded or is otherwise provided at no charge for one-time use for coverage or promotion of the National Geographic exhibit "@NATGEO: The Most Popular Instagram Photos.” Copying, distribution, archiving, sublicensing, sale, or resale of the image is prohibited. REQUIRED CREDIT AND CAPTION: Any and all image uses must (1) be properly credited to the relevant photographer, as shown in this metadata, and (2) be accompanied by a caption that makes reference to the National Geographic exhibition "@NATGEO: The Most Popular Instagram Photos,” open at the National Geographic Museum from November 11, 2016 – April 30, 2017. DEFAULT: Failure to comply with the prohibitions and requirements set forth above will obligate the individual or entity receiving this image to pay a fee determined by National Geographic. (Please note: you may select up to 6 images for online use and 3 images for print) 02: Photo by Keith Ladzinski/National Geographic A hiker turns a celebratory cartwheel over placid Yellowstone Lake in Yellowstone National Park.
PERMITTED USE: This image may be downloaded or is otherwise provided at no charge for one-time use for coverage or promotion of the National Geographic exhibit "@NATGEO: The Most Popular Instagram Photos.” Copying, distribution, archiving, sublicensing, sale, or resale of the image is prohibited. REQUIRED CREDIT AND CAPTION: Any and all image uses must (1) be properly credited to the relevant photographer, as shown in this metadata, and (2) be accompanied by a caption that makes reference to the National Geographic exhibition "@NATGEO: The Most Popular Instagram Photos,” open at the National Geographic Museum from November 11, 2016 – April 30, 2017. DEFAULT: Failure to comply with the prohibitions and requirements set forth above will obligate the individual or entity receiving this image to pay a fee determined by National Geographic. (Please note: you may select up to 6 images for online use and 3 images for print) 03: Photo by Corey Rich Climbers leave their suspended camp on the Dawn Wall of Yosemite’s El Capitan.
PERMITTED USE: This image may be downloaded or is otherwise provided at no charge for one-time use for coverage or promotion of the National Geographic exhibit "@NATGEO: The Most Popular Instagram Photos.” Copying, distribution, archiving, sublicensing, sale, or resale of the image is prohibited. REQUIRED CREDIT AND CAPTION: Any and all image uses must (1) be properly credited to the relevant photographer, as shown in this metadata, and (2) be accompanied by a caption that makes reference to the National Geographic exhibition "@NATGEO: The Most Popular Instagram Photos,” open at the National Geographic Museum from November 11, 2016 – April 30, 2017. DEFAULT: Failure to comply with the prohibitions and requirements set forth above will obligate the individual or entity receiving this image to pay a fee determined by National Geographic. (Please note: you may select up to 6 images for online use and 3 images for print) 05: Photo by Paul Nicklen/National Geographic A giant ocean sunfish and a diver perform a blue-water ballet off the coast of British Columbia.
PERMITTED USE: This image may be downloaded or is otherwise provided at no charge for one-time use for coverage or promotion of the National Geographic exhibit "@NATGEO: The Most Popular Instagram Photos.” Copying, distribution, archiving, sublicensing, sale, or resale of the image is prohibited. REQUIRED CREDIT AND CAPTION: Any and all image uses must (1) be properly credited to the relevant photographer, as shown in this metadata, and (2) be accompanied by a caption that makes reference to the National Geographic exhibition "@NATGEO: The Most Popular Instagram Photos,” open at the National Geographic Museum from November 11, 2016 – April 30, 2017. DEFAULT: Failure to comply with the prohibitions and requirements set forth above will obligate the individual or entity receiving this image to pay a fee determined by National Geographic. (Please note: you may select up to 6 images for online use and 3 images for print) 06: Photo by David Doubilet/National Geographic Divers explore underwater limestone chambers in Australia.
PERMITTED USE: This image may be downloaded or is otherwise provided at no charge for one-time use for coverage or promotion of the National Geographic exhibit "@NATGEO: The Most Popular Instagram Photos.” Copying, distribution, archiving, sublicensing, sale, or resale of the image is prohibited. REQUIRED CREDIT AND CAPTION: Any and all image uses must (1) be properly credited to the relevant photographer, as shown in this metadata, and (2) be accompanied by a caption that makes reference to the National Geographic exhibition "@NATGEO: The Most Popular Instagram Photos,” open at the National Geographic Museum from November 11, 2016 – April 30, 2017. DEFAULT: Failure to comply with the prohibitions and requirements set forth above will obligate the individual or entity receiving this image to pay a fee determined by National Geographic. (Please note: you may select up to 6 images for online use and 3 images for print) 07: Photo by Paul Nicklen/National Geographic A bounty of little aucks, also known as dovekies, fill the landscape on the shores of Svalbard, Norway.
PERMITTED USE: This image may be downloaded or is otherwise provided at no charge for one-time use for coverage or promotion of the National Geographic exhibit "@NATGEO: The Most Popular Instagram Photos.” Copying, distribution, archiving, sublicensing, sale, or resale of the image is prohibited. REQUIRED CREDIT AND CAPTION: Any and all image uses must (1) be properly credited to the relevant photographer, as shown in this metadata, and (2) be accompanied by a caption that makes reference to the National Geographic exhibition "@NATGEO: The Most Popular Instagram Photos,” open at the National Geographic Museum from November 11, 2016 – April 30, 2017. DEFAULT: Failure to comply with the prohibitions and requirements set forth above will obligate the individual or entity receiving this image to pay a fee determined by National Geographic. (Please note: you may select up to 6 images for online use and 3 images for print) 08: Photo by Katie Orlinsky Dogs that have been dropped from their teams, either as a result of injury or as part of a musher’s strategy, wait to fly out of Eagle, Alaska. Bags keep the dogs calm in flight. These resilient husky mixed breeds, unique to the region, are competitors in the Yukon Quest, the world’s toughest sled-dog race. Crossing 1,000 bone-freezing miles (1,600 km) of northern Canada through some of the wildest backcountry in the world, teams commonly face high winds and whiteouts. At minus 50*F (-45*C), mushers face daunting sleep deprivation and fear while starving off frostbite and dehydration. But most often the dogs trot into the next checkpoint with tails wagging, smiling wide dog smiles.
PERMITTED USE: This image may be downloaded or is otherwise provided at no charge for one-time use for coverage or promotion of the National Geographic exhibit "@NATGEO: The Most Popular Instagram Photos.” Copying, distribution, archiving, sublicensing, sale, or resale of the image is prohibited. REQUIRED CREDIT AND CAPTION: Any and all image uses must (1) be properly credited to the relevant photographer, as shown in this metadata, and (2) be accompanied by a caption that makes reference to the National Geographic exhibition "@NATGEO: The Most Popular Instagram Photos,” open at the National Geographic Museum from November 11, 2016 – April 30, 2017. DEFAULT: Failure to comply with the prohibitions and requirements set forth above will obligate the individual or entity receiving this image to pay a fee determined by National Geographic. (Please note: you may select up to 6 images for online use and 3 images for print) 09: Photo by Joe Riis/National Geographic Campfire embers on the elk migration trail in Yellowstone National Park.
PERMITTED USE: This image may be downloaded or is otherwise provided at no charge for one-time use for coverage or promotion of the National Geographic exhibit "@NATGEO: The Most Popular Instagram Photos.” Copying, distribution, archiving, sublicensing, sale, or resale of the image is prohibited. REQUIRED CREDIT AND CAPTION: Any and all image uses must (1) be properly credited to the relevant photographer, as shown in this metadata, and (2) be accompanied by a caption that makes reference to the National Geographic exhibition "@NATGEO: The Most Popular Instagram Photos,” open at the National Geographic Museum from November 11, 2016 – April 30, 2017. DEFAULT: Failure to comply with the prohibitions and requirements set forth above will obligate the individual or entity receiving this image to pay a fee determined by National Geographic. (Please note: you may select up to 6 images for online use and 3 images for print) 10: Photo by Beverly Joubert/National Geographic Giraffes are famous for long necks, but their 20-inch (50cm) tongues are also impressive. These gentle herbivores spend most of their time eating, consuming hundreds of pounds of leaves each week and traveling miles to find enough food. Given that they eat for hours, the darker coloring of their tongues helps prevent sunburn! Giraffe tongues have also developed a thick skin and exceptional dexterity as protection against the vicious thorns that grow on their favorite food, the acacia tree. Although they are largely classified as a species of least concern, wild giraffes declined by 40 percent in the past 15 years and need protection from poaching and habitat loss.
PERMITTED USE: This image may be downloaded or is otherwise provided at no charge for one-time use for coverage or promotion of the National Geographic exhibit "@NATGEO: The Most Popular Instagram Photos.” Copying, distribution, archiving, sublicensing, sale, or resale of the image is prohibited. REQUIRED CREDIT AND CAPTION: Any and all image uses must (1) be properly credited to the relevant photographer, as shown in this metadata, and (2) be accompanied by a caption that makes reference to the National Geographic exhibition "@NATGEO: The Most Popular Instagram Photos,” open at the National Geographic Museum from November 11, 2016 – April 30, 2017. DEFAULT: Failure to comply with the prohibitions and requirements set forth above will obligate the individual or entity receiving this image to pay a fee determined by National Geographic. (Please note: you may select up to 6 images for online use and 3 images for print) 11: Photo by Robbie Shone/National Geographic A 17th-century storm drain built under Sheffield, England, is dubbed Megatron by urban explorers.
PERMITTED USE: This image may be downloaded or is otherwise provided at no charge for one-time use for coverage or promotion of the National Geographic exhibit "@NATGEO: The Most Popular Instagram Photos.” Copying, distribution, archiving, sublicensing, sale, or resale of the image is prohibited. REQUIRED CREDIT AND CAPTION: Any and all image uses must (1) be properly credited to the relevant photographer, as shown in this metadata, and (2) be accompanied by a caption that makes reference to the National Geographic exhibition "@NATGEO: The Most Popular Instagram Photos,” open at the National Geographic Museum from November 11, 2016 – April 30, 2017. DEFAULT: Failure to comply with the prohibitions and requirements set forth above will obligate the individual or entity receiving this image to pay a fee determined by National Geographic. (Please note: you may select up to 6 images for online use and 3 images for print) 12: Photo by Tim Laman/National Geographic These baby orangutans are wards of the International Animal Rescue center in Ketapang, Indonesia. They are transported by wheelbarrow from their night cages to a forest play area, where they spend the day learning skills to survive in the world. Orangutans have an uncommonly long childhood. Our primate cousins cling to their mother’s body for the first years of their life and will remain close to her for 7 to 11 years. Unfortunately, many baby orangutans are kept illegally as pets; they’re obtained by killing their mothers in the wild. When confiscated, the babies end up at centers like this. Successful release is challenging, but some do make it back to the wild.
PERMITTED USE: This image may be downloaded or is otherwise provided at no charge for one-time use for coverage or promotion of the National Geographic exhibit "@NATGEO: The Most Popular Instagram Photos.” Copying, distribution, archiving, sublicensing, sale, or resale of the image is prohibited. REQUIRED CREDIT AND CAPTION: Any and all image uses must (1) be properly credited to the relevant photographer, as shown in this metadata, and (2) be accompanied by a caption that makes reference to the National Geographic exhibition "@NATGEO: The Most Popular Instagram Photos,” open at the National Geographic Museum from November 11, 2016 – April 30, 2017. DEFAULT: Failure to comply with the prohibitions and requirements set forth above will obligate the individual or entity receiving this image to pay a fee determined by National Geographic. (Please note: you may select up to 6 images for online use and 3 images for print) 13: Photo by Paul Nicklen/National Geographic An inquisitive polar bear inspects the photographer’s gear as he retreats to a safe distance.
PERMITTED USE: This image may be downloaded or is otherwise provided at no charge for one-time use for coverage or promotion of the National Geographic exhibit "@NATGEO: The Most Popular Instagram Photos.” Copying, distribution, archiving, sublicensing, sale, or resale of the image is prohibited. REQUIRED CREDIT AND CAPTION: Any and all image uses must (1) be properly credited to the relevant photographer, as shown in this metadata, and (2) be accompanied by a caption that makes reference to the National Geographic exhibition "@NATGEO: The Most Popular Instagram Photos,” open at the National Geographic Museum from November 11, 2016 – April 30, 2017. DEFAULT: Failure to comply with the prohibitions and requirements set forth above will obligate the individual or entity receiving this image to pay a fee determined by National Geographic. (Please note: you may select up to 6 images for online use and 3 images for print) 14: Photo by Cory Richards/National Geographic Walruses off Hooker Island in Franz Josef Land, Russia.
PERMITTED USE: This image may be downloaded or is otherwise provided at no charge for one-time use for coverage or promotion of the National Geographic exhibit "@NATGEO: The Most Popular Instagram Photos.” Copying, distribution, archiving, sublicensing, sale, or resale of the image is prohibited. REQUIRED CREDIT AND CAPTION: Any and all image uses must (1) be properly credited to the relevant photographer, as shown in this metadata, and (2) be accompanied by a caption that makes reference to the National Geographic exhibition "@NATGEO: The Most Popular Instagram Photos,” open at the National Geographic Museum from November 11, 2016 – April 30, 2017. DEFAULT: Failure to comply with the prohibitions and requirements set forth above will obligate the individual or entity receiving this image to pay a fee determined by National Geographic. (Please note: you may select up to 6 images for online use and 3 images for print) 15: Photo by Ira Block/National Geographic Spring brings cherry blossoms to New York City.
PERMITTED USE: This image may be downloaded or is otherwise provided at no charge for one-time use for coverage or promotion of the National Geographic exhibit "@NATGEO: The Most Popular Instagram Photos.” Copying, distribution, archiving, sublicensing, sale, or resale of the image is prohibited. REQUIRED CREDIT AND CAPTION: Any and all image uses must (1) be properly credited to the relevant photographer, as shown in this metadata, and (2) be accompanied by a caption that makes reference to the National Geographic exhibition "@NATGEO: The Most Popular Instagram Photos,” open at the National Geographic Museum from November 11, 2016 – April 30, 2017. DEFAULT: Failure to comply with the prohibitions and requirements set forth above will obligate the individual or entity receiving this image to pay a fee determined by National Geographic. (Please note: you may select up to 6 images for online use and 3 images for print) 16: Photo by Cory Richards/National Geographic Stars trail over the temples in Tsarang, Nepal, a center of Buddhist scholarship and art.
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March 25, 2025 | WTOP's Jason Fraley previews Nat Geo's new Instagram exhibit (Jason Fraley)

WASHINGTON — Photographs allow us to capture memories as they unfold and have the power to open our eyes to parts of the world that we have never imagined.

As a tribute to this powerful work, the folks at the National Geographic Museum in Northwest D.C. have teamed up with FotoWeekDC to host this year’s FotoWeekCentral (Nov. 12-20), a hub dedicated to celebrating art and photography, providing exposure for photographers worldwide.

One of the most anticipated exhibits is “@NatGeo: The Most Popular Instagram Photos,” which runs now through April 30, 2017, highlighting the best Instagram photos by Nat Geo photographers.

Since the founding of the organization, the National Geographic Society’s photographs have brought awe and inspiration to many. Now, with the rising popularity of the media-sharing app Instagram, more and more people are capturing, viewing and sharing global moments than ever before.

National Geographic’s Instagram account, @NatGeo, was opened in 2012, and is now one of the app’s top-followed accounts, with more than 63 million followers and more than 1 billion likes on its 12,300 posts.

The @NatGeo exhibit displays more than 200 of the account’s most popular photographs, ranging from competitive water skiers to a glorious and haunting supermoon.

When visitors first walk into the @NatGeo exhibit, they are welcomed by a man-sized iPhone, displaying a magnified view of the @NatGeo Instagram account.

Alan Parente, creative director for exhibitions and global experiences at the National Geographic Society and curator of the @NatGeo exhibition, says that the layout of the exhibit’s design symbolizes how we get “lost” in social media.

“We created a maze,” Parente told WTOP. “We decided to shrink everyone down so that you’re actually entering the feed.”

The @NatGeo exhibit is a colorful, dazzling playground, featuring 30-foot-by-30-foot boxes stacked on top of each other in various themes around the room, displaying the Instagram photos and their corresponding descriptions in larger-than-life view.

The exhibit also offers eight little nooks where visitors can sit and look at each Instagram photo and hear the photographer’s description. If the photo strikes an emotional chord, visitors can actually record their own thoughts and feelings on the photo. Selected visitor recordings will be placed at the end of the original photographer’s recording, allowing visitors to become a part of the exhibit.

Kathryn Keane, vice president for exhibitions at the National Geographic Society, said the organization has also published a commemorative @NatGeo book as a hardback collection of all of the photographs displayed in the @NatGeo exhibit. Keane says the book “provides a photo show of the terrific and intrepid photographers who have defined this institution for so many years.”

National Geographic photographer fellow Cory Richards is the official spokesperson for the book and his work is prominently featured in the exhibit. He’s been working with the National Geographic Society since 2009. He became a photographer after overcoming a tumultuous adolescence and found that rock climbing and photography gave him a visual tool to document the human struggle.

Richards is enthusiastic about technology allowing people to instantly become photographers.

“Bring it on,” he said. “We need to see this exhibit as a fun, interesting, new way to engage … with social media, but also take it as a real time to stop, pause and think about the impacts these images have. They literally can change the planet, and I think this is a very beautiful reminder of exactly that.”

The @NatGeo book is on sale everywhere books are sold, including at the exhibit.

Tickets for the exhibits start at $15 and can be bought at FotoWeekCentral.

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March 25, 2025 | WTOP's Jason Fraley previews Nat Geo's new Instagram exhibit (Jason Fraley)

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