This week: A photographer captures an unexpected close-up in the Russian Arctic, hikers watch lava paint the night sky, and see brilliant auroras around the globe.

PHOTOGRAPH BY EVGENIA ARBUGAEVA

In 2020, photographer Evgenia Arbugaeva returned to her roots to capture the haunting beauty of the Russian Arctic. While spending two weeks in a wooden hut with a scientist studying walruses, Arbugaeva captured this photo while trapped inside by about 100,000 walruses, being careful not to set off a panic among the hoard.

“In this frozen northern landscape, my imagination flies like the wind, with no obstacles,” she writes. “Every object becomes symbolic, every shade of color meaningful. I am my real self only when I am here.” 

More stories:
— Brilliant auroras around the globe
— The epic journey of Canada’s last (and only) reindeer

PHOTOGRAPH BY ROBBY FONTANESI, GETTY IMAGES

For years, scientists felt like the fish they were watching watched them back. A new study suggests that for some species of sea bream, it’s probably true. How do these fish recognize their favorite divers?     

A. By the way they swim
B. By the color of their gear
C. By their faces
D. None of the above

PHOTOGRAPH BY PETER FISHER

Picked as one of National Geographic’s Pictures of the Year in 2024, this image of Volcán de Fuego in Guatemala was taken by photographer Peter Fisher and displays the volcano’s overwhelming power as lava and ash splatter starkly against the night sky.

ONE LAST THING: See Sally Ride’s boundary-breaking life—in photos.

Thanks for reading today’s newsletter, which was edited and curated by Jennifer Baik. It was produced by Alisher Egamov. Did someone forward this to you? Sign up here to catch next week’s Photo of the Week newsletter.