Welcome to the month of love.

Who do you love?
What do you love?
Where do you love to hide to get away from it all?

Photography is a powerful voice for all things, physical and metaphorical. How can the people and things you love be expressed with light, movement, and color?

National Geographic Magazine held a photo contest about this most important feeling in the world. WE chose the best pictures that remind us of our loved ones and that love is always around.

23 incredibly heart-warming photographs that prove love is all aroundI knitted this blanket for my niece and her husband. I think there is nothing more beautiful in the world than newlyweds. © Vanessa Hirsch

23 incredibly heart-warming photographs that prove love is all aroundA warm embrace among the ice. In March 1989, an oil tanker was wrecked in Alaska. Almost 3,000 otters passed away in the spill area. Experts tried to save the animals, but most attempts failed. © Roman Golubenko

23 incredibly heart-warming photographs that prove love is all aroundAn old lady found her deceased husband’s wallet. © Margherita Vitagliano

23 incredibly heart-warming photographs that prove love is all aroundLove is manifested in different ways. Even a quiet morning can be filled with this great feeling! © Anca Bilt

23 incredibly heart-warming photographs that prove love is all aroundA Royal Penguin won the heart of his beloved. He gave her a beautiful small stone to prove his feelings, and she loved him back. © Kimberly Howell

This little hummingbird was injured when my husband found it. He took the bird in his hands, caressed it, and gave it to our son. © karla maria sotelo

23 incredibly heart-warming photographs that prove love is all aroundIt might seem that this is a scene from a Bollywood movie. In fact, this is a photo of lovers taken a few hours before their wedding. © Ankit Narang

23 incredibly heart-warming photographs that prove love is all aroundA full mutual understanding. © Alessandro Passerini

23 incredibly heart-warming photographs that prove love is all aroundAfter Cecil was born, we spent six weeks in intensive care. I was so sick that I couldn’t stay next to her. During that time, my husband had become a real bridge, connecting our loving family. © Amanda Linden

23 incredibly heart-warming photographs that prove love is all aroundA connection between generations: Maya with her grandma. © Joanna Szymańska

23 incredibly heart-warming photographs that prove love is all aroundA magical moment of love doesn’t need any words. Just enjoy it. © Bobo Bird

23 incredibly heart-warming photographs that prove love is all aroundMy 5-year-old daughter hugging my father who is in hospice. She understands the situation and knows how precious this moment is. © Elizabeth Flora Ross

23 incredibly heart-warming photographs that prove love is all aroundLovers hiding from a noisy group of friends. © Andrea Jako Giacomini

23 incredibly heart-warming photographs that prove love is all aroundYouth and old age. © Lisa F.

23 incredibly heart-warming photographs that prove love is all aroundMy daughter Zoe and her Golden Retriever. © Danee Pontious

23 incredibly heart-warming photographs that prove love is all aroundA little girl hugging her mother at the bus stop. © C. Mukumoto

23 incredibly heart-warming photographs that prove love is all aroundThe love of good books and rings always brings a smile to my face. © Rumna Mukherjee

23 incredibly heart-warming photographs that prove love is all aroundIn moments like this, we learn to appreciate the simplest pleasures of life. © Lucienne Morin

23 incredibly heart-warming photographs that prove love is all aroundIcelandic horses. © John Quintero

23 incredibly heart-warming photographs that prove love is all aroundThere are only a few moments that are remembered for life. Here is one of them — my first kiss with my future wife. © Steve Demeranville

23 incredibly heart-warming photographs that prove love is all aroundA mother’s love is one of the most sincere feelings in the world. © Anirvan Ghosh

23 incredibly heart-warming photographs that prove love is all aroundA boy helping a small deer cross the river during high tide. © Hasib Wahab

23 incredibly heart-warming photographs that prove love is all aroundI was about to leave the museum when I saw this couple. This touching scene reminded me of my feelings and the importance of the wedding vow, «In joy and in sorrow.» © Michele Sutton