A Taiwanese woman takes a photo of a Christmas tree decoration at a street in Taipei, Taiwan,13 December 2015. (Photo by Ritchie B. Tongo/EPA)

“Today, we take photography for granted. Anyone can take a photograph simply by pressing a button. Yet, it was not always so simple. The invention of photography was announced in 1839, but during its first fifty years taking a photograph was a complicated and expensive business. In 1888, all this was to change following the appearance of a camera that was to revolutionize photography. Popular photography can properly be said to have started 120 years ago with the introduction of the Kodak”. – The UK National Media Museum. Photo: Two men on the deck of a ship, about 1890. (Photo by Collection of National Media Museum/Kodak Museum)

These hyper realistic drawings are so lifelike they could pass for photographs. The incredibly detailed works of art were created by self-taught artist Ivan Hoo, from Singapore, who earns a living from his realistic drawings and paintings. The 31-year-old takes up to three days to complete the impressive pieces, which include animal portraits and still life drawings of everyday items such as a Starbucks cup. The A3 sketches are completed using a range of soft pastel pencils and are drawn from still life, or a photograph taken by Ivan himself. Here: Ivan Hoos drawing of a pug. (Photo by Ivan Hoo/Caters News)

“Old Mursi woman”. Old woman by the huts of her village. Location: Marenke, Omo valley, Ethiopia. (Photo and caption by Jorge Fernandez/National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest)

ATTENTION! All pictures are presented in high resolution. To see Hi-Res images – just TWICE click on any picture. In other words, click small picture – opens the BIG picture. Click BIG picture – opens VERY BIG picture.

The double compound eyes of a male St. Mark's fly (Bibio marci), submitted by Dr. David Maitland from Feltwell, UK. (Dr. David Maitland)

Revelers take a selfie during a Holi Festival in Madrid, Spain, Sunday, April 26, 2015. The festival is based on the Hindu spring festival Holi, also known as the festival of colours where participants colour each other with dry powder and coloured water. (Photo by Andres Kudacki/AP Photo)

Sophia Loren gave the most legendary side-eye ever, shooting daggers at Jayne Mansfield in 1957. (Photo by Everett Collection)

Boys play football in a shantytown of Olinda, about 18 km from Recife in northeastern Brazil, on June 18, 2013 as the FIFA Confederations Cup Brazil 2013 football tournament is being held in the country. The historic centre of Olinda is listed as an UNESCO World Heritage Site. (Photo by Yasuyoshi Chiba/AFP Photo)