Photographer Howard Schatz had an idea: place actors in a series of roles and dramatic situations to reveal the essence of their characters. Such was the premise behind his book, In Character: Actors Acting, which captures some of Hollywood’s most emotive stars in the act of, well, making faces. Luckily for us, he continued the tradition for Vanity Fair. Here are some of the best.

Entitled Feasting at Sunset, this photo of a Brandt’s cormorant among pilchards was the winner of the Birds in the Environment category in the 2025 Bird Photographer of the Year competition. (Photo by Franco Banfi/The Guardian)

A new book published by the UK Natural History Museum showcases some of the most memorable underwater photographs taken over the last few decades in its annual wildlife photographer of the year competition. Here: Giant gathering by Tony Wu. “The first indication that something extraordinary was going on were the blows, huge numbers of them – the exhalations of huge numbers of whales. Entering the water, the photographer witnessed an extraordinary scene”. (Photo by Tony Wu/Unforgettable Underwater Photography/NHM)

Nicholas Mee & Co, an Aston Martin Heritage Dealer in West London, have just finished putting the final touches to a fully functional kid-sized car inspired by the legendary Aston Martin DB models of the 1960s. But this is no rickety pedal car. It has a steel chassis, composite bodywork, leather seats, a wood rimmed steering wheel and Brembo disc brakes.

SpaceX, the space transportation company built from scratch by visionary billionaire Elon Musk, has the grand goal of space travel evolution through the use of re-usable rockets. Its technology – which has proven its worth several times – can reduce the costs of space transportation to its fraction, making it a more affordable way of reaching orbit or traveling beyond.

The strength of a weaver ant carrying fruit in Indonesia in the last decade of August 2024 is equivalent to the average man or woman picking up a minibus. (Photo by Ridho Arifuddin/Solent News)

A model presents a creation by designer Alexis Mabille as part of his Haute Couture Spring/Summer 2020 collection show in Paris, France, January 21, 2020. (Photo by Francois Lenoir/Reuters)

Tank crew standing in front of M-4 tank, Ft. Knox, Kentucky, June, 1942. (Alfred Palmer/OWI/LOC)