A woman sentenced to starvation death...

“Just hanging out”. As full autumn hits the valley of Hallingdal in Norway, this bear chills out in a tree which seems to barely cover its weight. Photo location: Flå, Hallingdal, Norway. (Photo and caption by Jorgen Tharaldsen/National Geographic Photo Contest)

First place, The Beauty of Plants. “There are many stages of lotus growth on display at the Aquatic Gardens, but to come across twotwisted dancing stems of nelumbo nucifera was unexpected and quite magical”. (Photo by Kathleen Furey/The Guardian)

Maxime Taccardi is an artist who is most notable for his unusual method – creating his pieces using his own blood. He studied art in collage, his thesis focusing on the monstrosity and what is considered abnormal by society. Currently he is a middle school art teacher, but plans to continue furthering his creative career. His catalogue of work is varied, including painting, drawing, filmmaking and music.

“A Mothers Tail”. A baby cub pulls on his mother's tail to get attention. Photo location: Masai Mara, Kenya. (Photo and caption by Tori Marsh/National Geographic Photo Contest)

Greece-based illustrator, Charis Tsevis took his fascination with our wired world to develop his series of colorful and detailed wire illustrations. He uses all types of wires, including USB cords and phone cables, and creates form figures, faces and animals by tangling them together. Tsevis says, “All of them have to do with the relationship between the network and the human body and spirit”. Photo: “The Conquering Lion: Plug into the power of Reggae”. (Photo by Charis Tsevis)

Taking it all in at Trolltunga, a piece of rock which juts horizontally out of a mountain, 700 metres above lake Ringedalsvatnet in Norway. (Photo by Sam Rogers/GuardianWitness)

“Aurora Hunters”. Photographers taking part in a photography tour on the Lofoten Islands in Norway, pull over on the side of the road to take a photo of their first ever Aurora Borealis after spotting it from their tour bus. Photo location: Rystad, Lofoten Islands, Norway. (Photo and caption by Mark Gee/National Geographic Photo Contest)