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)

Kyaiktiyo, Burma, 1978. The Golden Rock at Shwe Pyi Daw (the Golden Country), the Buddhist holy place. Hiroji Kubota writes: “I was desperate to keep a distance from America for a while; luckily, I found Burma and its gentle and compassionate people. In the spring of 1978, on the top of the hill where I took this photo, I had two Leica bodies: the one with Tri-X and the other with Kodachrome 64. Soon after, I realised that the colour one looked very colourful and was more powerful. That was my decisive moment, to become a colour photographer”. (Photo by Hiroji Kubota/Magnum Photos)

Sеxy women kissing in bed. (Photo by Sakkmesterke/Getty Images)

Beautiful woman and man playing domination games in bed. (Photo by nd3000/Getty Images)

Horizontal lightning was captured in this picture taken over an hour in Ensenada, Mexico on October 28, 2021. (Photo by Edgar Lima/Animal News Agency)

Sad woman standing near car with scratch on parking and talking by the phone. (Photo by Vera Petrunina/Getty Images)

Getting it done. Felicity, an athlete at an amateur weightlifting competition in a small local gym. (Photo by Clinton Bradbury/Women in Sport Photo Action Awards 2021)

Soo Joo Park poses during a photocall before the Chanel Spring/Summer 2019 women's ready-to-wear collection show during Paris Fashion Week in Paris, France, October 2, 2018. (Photo by Gonzalo Fuentes/Reuters)