2011 (Episode null)

KQED 9: Sun, Dec 23, 2012 -- 11:00 PM

National Geographic's Top Ten Photo's of 2011 is a one-hour special that counts down the best of the best photos from the magazine. Over a million images a year are shot - and only a few get published and choosing only 10 photos is no easy task. Hosted by Chris Johns, National Geographic magazine's editor in chief, the ten best photographs chosen personally by Johns, cover a broad range of subject matter from child brides, orphaned elephants, to the domestication of wild animals. We'll take an unprecedented look at what makes these photos stand apart from the rest, and we'll meet the photographers behind them. With flair, action and behind-the scenes footage, you'll gain insight into how these National Geographic photographers captured that perfect shot revealing the stories you haven't heard -- giving viewers a front-row seat as photographers reveal the hard work, perseverance, and luck behind capturing that one-in-a-million shot. Featured in the show is photographer Paul Nicklen, who proposed a story about the Spirit Bear - a bear rarely seen that lives in the Great Bear Rainforest of British Columbia; Nick Nichols, one of National Geographic's renowned photographers, heads to Kenya to cover a story on Orphaned Elephants. Carsten Peter, known as one of the most extreme nature photographers, explores one of the biggest cave passages in the world in Vietnam. Photographer Stephanie Sinclair has been covering one of the most controversial issues - child brides. New to the team is Kitra Cahana - one of the youngest photographers to have a cover story - with her photographs of the teenage brain. Kitra earned her shot at the "yellow border" by starting off as an intern for National Geographic magazine. This has turned her life-long dream into a reality. Pasquel Maitre captures the human stories of the Albertine Rift - a land rich in natural resources - up against a struggle between man and nature. Lynsey Addario photographs conflict and humanitarian issues in the Middle East. Her recent assignment on Baghdad covers life after episodic bomb blasts turned the city inside out. Throughout the show, Chris Johns describes why he chose these images and reveals insights as to why National Geographic magazine continues to be a household name.