Each year Nikon Small World recognizes the excellence of photography taken under the microscope. The contest showcases the beauty and complexity of life. Anyone interested in microscopy and photography can enter the contest and in its 42nd year, Nikon Small World received 2,000 entries from 70 countries. Here: 11th Place; Scales of a butterfly wing underside (Vanessa atalanta). (Photo by Francis Sneyers/Nikon's Small World 2016)

Most probably wouldnt think of snakes, spiders and lizards as beautiful animals – but these photographs could change some minds. The images show the reptiles seemingly playful sides, from a gleeful looking Budgetts frog, a cheeky leopard sticking out its tongue at the camera and a stack of four colourful iguanas. Contrasted against a white background and shot with a Canon EOS 5D Mark 2 and macro lens, photographer Mickael Leger really made sure they could be seen in all their glory. Here: Gecko. (Photo by Mickael Leger/Caters News)

The faces of war have been brought back to life after a series of World War One photographs were expertly colourised. The black and white snaps were painstakingly restored and colourised by photographer Mario Unger (53) from Rotenturm, Austria. Here: One image shows an unidentified American soldier posing with a pistol, helmet, and Iron Cross medal taken from a German soldier, 1918. (Photo by Mario Unger/Mediadrumworld)

Giraffes at sunrise at the Loisaba Conservancy in Laikipia, Kenya in the first decade of December 2025. (Photo by Andrew Mason/Solent News & Photo Agency)

Colombia's Harold Tejada climb Plateau des Glieres during the stage 18 of the Tour de France cycling race over 175 kilometers (108.7 miles) from Meribel to La Roche-sur-Foron, France, Thursday, September 17, 2020. (Photo by Thibault Camus/AP Photo)

Performers ride atop a car leading to the the National Circus Day celebration in Santiago, Chile, Saturday, September 4, 2021, amid the new coronavirus pandemic. Chile's Culture Minister set the stage for the first circus performances with a ringside public since the beginning of the pandemic quarantine measures as the South American country looks to fully roll back almost all COVID-19 related restrictions. (Photo by Esteban Felix/AP Photo)

Polish artist Agnieszka Pilat poses with the artwork of her robot painting dogs – Basia Spot and Bunny Spot – who have become artists painting on canvases with their paws, at the launch of the National Gallery of Victoria (NGV) Triennial 2023 in Melbourne on April 5, 2023. Pilat works with the Boston Dynamics dogs, training them to paint autonomously through AI technology individually and collaboratively, and will be part of more than 100 local and international artists, designers and collectives presenting at the exhibition opening in December. (Photo by William West/AFP Photo)

Spain's rider Fermin Aldeguer, foreground, leads as Spains rider Manuel Gonzalez Simon falls during Moto2 class race of the MotoGP Malaysian Grand Prix at the Sepang International Circuit in Sepang, Malaysia Sunday, November 12, 2023. (Photo by Vincent Thian/AP Photo)