Rare: Portraits of America's Endangered Species by Joel Sartore

Joel Sartore's gorgeous photographs of animals and plants celebrate the diversity of life on our planet. It is bittersweet to look at them, however, knowing that some are already extinct and many others soon will be. Sartore's subjects are (or were) recognized under the Endangered Species Act in the United States. Loss of habitat is the major threat for these species, so it is fitting that Sartore chose to use stark black or white backgrounds for the photos. This also contributes to the striking quality of the work. Some animals - like the St. Andrew beach mouse or the Santa Catalina Island fox - are innately cute, but a photographer who can also capture the beauty of beetles, snails and blind salamanders is truly a master.