Each year Nikon Small World recognizes the excellence of photography taken under the microscope. The contest showcases the beauty and complexity of life. Anyone interested in microscopy and photography can enter the contest and in its 42nd year, Nikon Small World received 2,000 entries from 70 countries. Here: 11th Place; Scales of a butterfly wing underside (Vanessa atalanta). (Photo by Francis Sneyers/Nikon's Small World 2016)

“Elat’ma, the Ryazan Oblast region of Russia. This small town is only 300 kilometers (186 miles) from modern Moscow but remains 60 years in the past, dominated by the spirit of socialism. The air of the communist ‘50s can be seen in the town’s architecture, celebrations and other occurrences. But neither its beauty nor its ties to a socialist past brought photographer Anastasia Rudenko to this village. Elat’ma is unique in that it functions as a town for mentally disabled people”. – Michelle Cohan via CNN. (Photo by Anastasia Rudenko)

People are often fascinated by things that baffle them. For example, Livia Marin creates porcelain pottery that looks as if it has partially melted. This pottery might serve little purpose, yet it is definitely a curious thing to have in your house. This set of pictures shows off her “Nomad Patterns” series of deformed vases, pitchers, and teacups. The most appealing thing about these pieces of art is that the patterns on the “melted” parts are as beautiful as on the rest of the pottery. (Photo by Livia Marin)

The pictures made by Elizabeth Gadd are so beautiful, tranquil, and mesmerizing, that they wash over your soul in a wave of sadness. The same sadness that you feel when hearing a wonderful piece of music. The same sadness that enters your soul when you worry to death about your loved one, but everything turns out to be just fine. These aren’t just pictures… The pieces of art that Elizabeth, a 21-year-old self-taught photographer makes, are windows into fairytales; portals into other dimensions. Works so surreal, that it makes you wonder if the scenes that you are seeing were actually shot on this planet; that they are not figments of Beth’s imagination. (Photo by Elizabeth Gadd)

Geraldine Moodie overcame harsh conditions to become western Canada’s first professional female photographer, capturing beautiful images in the country’s most remote regions. An exhibition, “North of Ordinary: The Arctic Photographs of Geraldine and Douglas Moodie”, is at Glenbow, Calgary, 18 February – 10 September. Here: Inuit woman, Kootucktuck, in her beaded attigi. Fullerton Harbour, Nunavut, February 1905. (Photo by Geraldine Moodie/The Guardian)

The Tibetan night sky was captured in these beautiful images showing the stunning buildings and statues in the Himalayan mountains. Grey Chow, 33, traveled for two hours to get to the Spiti Valley to capture the starry backdrop along the isolated, deserted roads. The senior project engineer was able to take amazingly clear images thanks to the limited amount of pollution at the 4,500-foot (1371m) altitude. (Photo by Grey Chow/Caters News Agency)

A landscape photographer turned the camera on himself to take a set of incredible selfie while visiting some of the world's most beautiful destinations. Paul Zizka, 39, from Alberta, Canada, has been a photographer for nine years, and thought that featuring in his own pictures would emphasize the nature surrounding him and create a more unique shot. Here: Lake Minnewanka, Banff National Park, Alberta, Canada. (Photo by Paul Zizka/Caters News Agency)

The Cliff Promenade in Netanya is considered to be one of the most beautiful in Israel. It's a nice place for walk, there are marvelous lawns, magnificent observation points, romantic sitting areas in front of the sea, paragliding sites and playgrounds for children. One of the specific features of the promenade, which attracts many people, is mosaic sculpture project "New Wave" created by the sculptor and designer Ruslan Sergeev. At the end of the film you can see The Victory Monument, located next to the promenade.