British underwater photographer of the year 2021, British waters wide angle category winner and My Backyard category winner. While You Sleep by Mark Kirkland (United Kingdom), common frog taken in Malls Mire, Glasgow, Scotland. (Photo by Mark Kirkland/Underwater Photographer of the Year 2021)

Vietnam's Khuat Phuong Anh (R) celebrates winning the women's 800m final during the 31st Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games) at My Dinh National Stadium in Hanoi on May 16, 2022. (Photo by Navesh Chitrakar/Reuters)

The close-up of the Pecteilis radiata is very reminiscent of a beautiful white bird soaring in the skies. This is probably the reason why people have started calling this flower the White Egret Flower. Truly, the resemblance of this flower to an egret flying through heavens is staggering. It is too bad that these flowers are so small. Otherwise, they would make for a stunning bouquet. However, who wouldn’t want to receive such a precious flower as a gift; a flower which can be used as a symbol for beauty, good intentions, and the purity of soul. (Photo by AngiBudd)

Frank A. Rinehart, a commercial photographer in Omaha, Nebraska, was commissioned to photograph the 1898 Indian Congress, part of the Trans-Mississippi International Exposition. More than five hundred Native Americans from thirty-five tribes attended the conference, providing the gifted photographer and artist an opportunity to create a stunning visual document of Native American life and culture at the dawn of the 20th century. Photo: Little Bird, Arapahoe, 1899. (Photo by Frank A. Rinehart)

“Lofoten Glow”. I was desperately searching a good sunrise spot this particular morning. Normally Storvatnet Lake is completely covered in snow, so you can only imagine my surprise when I saw these crazy ice formations almost being shot out of the frozen lake. I put my crampons on and took a big risk walking out. I could hear the ice cracking underneath my feet, and when you’re all alone in a fjord/canyon like this – the cracks are echoed and sound really frightening. Was it worth it? I sure think so! Photo location: Storvatnet, Lofoten Islands in Northern Norway. (Photo and caption by Stian Klo/National Geographic Photo Contest)

Sinterklaas (R) a legendary figure based on Saint Nicholas, Christian patron saint of children, and page Sooty Piet have a video call with children in Dodewaard, the Netherlands, 01 December 2021. The Christian feast of Saint Nicholas is celebrated annually with the giving of gifts on the eve of 05 December in The Netherlands. (Photo by Remko de Waal/EPA/EFE/Rex Features/Shutterstock)

A participant dressed in a traditional devil costume walks from house to house during the traditional St. Nicholas parade on December 3, 2016 in village of Francova Lhota, Czech Republic. This type of parade is one of the most popular age-old traditions in a few villages in the Wallachia region of Eastern Czech Republic. St. Nicholas and company roam the streets going from house to house, for two or three days as St. Nicholas gives sweets and tiny gifts as a present to children and the devils get up to mischief. (Photo by Matej Divizna/Getty Images)

Kashmiri Muslim brides sit during a mass marriage of 30 couples in Srinagar, Indian controlled Kashmir, Wednesday, February 21, 2024. Mass weddings in India are organized by social organizations primarily to help economically weaker families who cannot afford the high ceremony costs as well as the customary dowry and expensive gifts that are still prevalent in many communities. (Photo by Mukhtar Khan/AP Photo)