National Geographic magazine has released its annual "Pictures of the Year" collection showcasing the most compelling images captured from around the world over the past year. The collection features photographs spanning a wide range of topics from nature scenes to human interest stories captured by National Geographic photographers. Overall, the "Pictures of the Year" collection serves to highlight some of the most impactful photography work produced in the past year that helps tell important stories and shed light on various people, places, and events around the globe.