Shortlisted: “Two big eyes” by Miao Yong (Zejiang province, China). Damselflies look over the leaves. “I was photographing insects in a park near my home when suddenly I found two damselflies in the grass. They kept flying and it was very difficult to focus until suddenly they parked behind a leaf”. (Photo by Miao Yong/2017 Royal Society of Biology Photographer of the Year)

Kumbuka, a male silverback gorilla sits next to the keeper's chalk board in his enclosure at London Zoo, Thursday, January 2, 2014. Home to more than 850 different species, zoo keepers welcomed in the New Year armed with clipboards as they made a note of every single animal. The compulsory annual count is required as part of ZSL London Zoo's zoo license, and every creature, from the tiny leaf cutter ants to the huge silverback gorilla is duly noted and accounted for. (Photo by Kirsty Wigglesworth/AP Photo)

“A Snail's Life”. Photographer Vyacheslav Mischenko captures gorgeous macro photographs of snails near his hometown of Berdichev, Ukraine. After being taught to hunt for mushrooms as a child, Vyacheslav has grown up with a keen eye for spotting critters on the forest floor. Here, a snail takes shelter while perching on a leaf. (Photo by Vyacheslav Mischenko/Caters News)

Justin Rowe creates these magical sculptures from hand cut books and found images with the help of just a touch of gum arabic and 24 carat gold or palladium leaf. Some are very much in the realms of fairy stories like the one above, but my favourites are the stories below where Justin’s skill brings the book’s own illustrations to life.

Working in graphite, gold leaf and mixed media assemblage, Yoann Lossel creates fantastic myth based worlds and scenarios. They have a beautiful graceful ambiance, full of spiritual timelessness and ancient rituals. He is a French painter and designer currently living in the Forest of Broceliande in Brittany, a landscape steeped in Celtic and Arthurian myth. Reflecting this environment – Yoann’s works take the viewer through mythic and imaginary lands, imbued with ancient tales and iconic mysteries.

An autumn leaf sticks to a bench near the Bishops Castle near Wells Cathedral on November 1, 2011 in Wells, England. According to a number of nature watchers the autumn colours are currently reaching their peak following an unusually warm September and October which has led to trees holding onto their leaves longer than normal. (Photo by Matt Cardy/Getty Images)