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.

A photographer has shared his stunning gallery of African sunrises and sunsets. Paul Goldstein says he has spent years trying to photograph the perfect beginning and ending of the Masai Mara day. Thanks to his role as guide for Exodus Travels, there have been countless opportunities to document the beautiful natural spectacle. Photo: “African Fire”: Ostrich at sunset. (Photo by Paul Goldstein/Rex Features)

Participants wearing fantasy costumes attend the 4th Hero Festival in Marseille, France on November 11, 2017. The 4th Hero Festival edition has attracted all sorts of people to role play their favourite characters from all kinds of movies and comic book legends. (Photo by Jean-Paul Pelissier/Reuters)

Snake woman Lunga performs on stage during the “Das Goldene Lenkrad” (“The Golden Steering Wheel”) award ceremony on November 5, 2008 in Berlin, Germany. (Photo by Andreas Rentz/Getty Images)

Artist Will Ryman poses for photographs next to his installation entitled “The Bed” at the Saatchi Gallery in Chelsea on January 7, 2008 in London, England. (Photo by Chris Jackson/Getty Images)

A Baby Flying Fox (Pteropus) hangs from a clothes line at a temporary bat rehabilitation centre on December 3, 2008 on the Gold Coast, Australia. (Photo by David Hardenberg/Getty Images)

Emma Watson poses at the winners boards at the Sony Ericsson Empire Film Awards at the Grosvenor House Hotel on March 9, 2008 in London England. (Photo by Dan Kitwood/Getty Images)

The 3D street painting “Crevasse” by artist Edgar Mueller is seen in this undated picture during the “Festival of culture”, 2008 in Dun Laoghaire, Irland. Edgar Mueller put a part of the eastern Pier into the ice age. This project has been supported by the Goethe Institution Germany. (Photo by Edgar Mueller/Getty Images)