As you look at the set of pictures created by Tom Kondrat during his travels in Iceland, the first thing that comes to mind is the word “loneliness.” These pictures lead you to believe that Iceland is a desolate expanse of icy wasteland. You can almost imagine the strong wind howling in your ears, as it chills you straight to the bone. And as you’re walking down so beaten path, you’re all alone, with not a human soul for miles in any direction. This may prove unbearable for some, yet others find comfort in such places. With no one there to bother them and distract them from their thoughts, they can finally be at peace. (Photo by Tom Kondrat)

In order to capture the attention of the public some artists hone their skills, trying to create the ultimate masterpiece that will bring them fame and glory. Others, however, resort to simpler techniques. For example, a French photographer Sacha Goldberger simply combined characters out of Marvel Comics and Star Wars with the fashion of the Elizabethan era and the style of classical Flemish paintings. The results are nothing more than a joke, especially since the main accessory that was placed on each of the characters is the Elizabethan ruff, while everything else remained practically the same. (Photo by Sacha Goldberger)

Bikers are the knights of the modern times. They ride their steel horses; they drink and brawl and have their own strict code of honor. Some people view them as land-dwelling pirates; however, they are so much more than that. Photographer Sandro Miller is one of the few people who decided to look deeper than their rugged exterior, realizing that it takes more than a Harley Davidson bike and a leather jacket to make a biker. A true biker cannot be chained to a single place. The spirit of the true biker demands change, it seeks adventure, and it thirsts for freedom! (Photo by Sandro Miller)

A mahout rides an elephant at Tad Sae Waterfall outside Luang Prabang, Laos July 31, 2016. Protected by the United Nations cultural heritage agency UNESCO, Luang Prabang is one of the most alluring places in the region – a city that evokes old-world romance that has gained a reputation as a travellers' Shangri La. (Photo by Jorge Silva/Reuters)

A contestant of the World Beard And Mustache Championships poses for a picture during the opening ceremony of the Championships 2015 on October 3, 2015 in Leogang, Austria. Over 300 contestants in teams from across the globe have come to compete in sixteen different categories in three groups: mustache, partial beard and full beard. The event takes place every few years at different locations worldwide. (Photo by Jan Hetfleisch/Getty Images)

Shepherds walk with sheep through the village on their way home during autumn redyk in Gron, Tatra Mountains region of southern Poland, October 6, 2015. Redyk is a traditional, kilometres-long march of highlanders with flocks of sheep, which takes place twice a year: in the spring at the start of the grazing season, and in the autumn at season's end. (Photo by Kacper Pempel/Reuters)

Ra Paulette is an American cave sculptor based in New Mexico who digs into hillsides to sculpt elaborate artistic spaces inside mountains. Reviewer Martha Mendoza in the Los Angeles Times described the caves he created as shrines, as hallowed places, a “sanctuary for prayer and meditation” while others describe the caves as works of art. The caves are finished with “scallops, molded curves, smooth ledges, inlaid stones, narrow pods and crusty ledges”. His caves attract visitors worldwide.

Tim Laman is a field biologist and wildlife photojournalist. His pioneering research in the rain forest canopy in Borneo led to a PhD from Harvard and his first National Geographic article in 1997. Since then, he has pursued his passion for exploring wild places and documenting little-known and endangered wildlife by becoming a regular contributor to National Geographic. He has eighteen articles to his credit to date, all of which have had a conservation message. Some have focused on endangered species such as Orangutans or Hornbills, while others, such as a series of articles on Conservation International’s Biodiversity Hotspots, have highlighted regions under intense pressure.