A Kenyan soldier takes cover as shots are fired in front of Garissa University in Garissa town, located near the border with Somalia, some 370km northeast of the capital Nairobi, Kenya, 02 April 2015. At least 15 people have been killed and some 60 were injured in an attack carried out by Somalia's Islamist militant group al-Shabab, according to local media reports. (Photo by Dai Kurokawa/EPA)

General view of Chilean Calbuco volcano from Puerto Montt, located at 1000 km southern Santiago de Chile, Chile, 22 April 2015. Due to the eruption of the volcano with a smoke column 20 km high, authorities declared a red alert and ordered the evacuation of around 1500 inhabitants of Ensenada, Alerce, Colonia Río Sur and Correntoso towns. (Photo by Alex Vidal Brecas/EPA)

“Are you here for the Winery Tour?” This is a Western Grey Kangaroo caught lounging in the wineries of the Adelaide Hills in South Australia. This past Autumn has been a spectacular time for wildlife viewing and I got lucky to spot this guy while mountain biking in the hills. Such a funny stance it just begs the question... Have you been drinking? ...and or... Are you here for the Winery Tour? Such a spontaneous moment I figured it would be perfect for an entry. I hope you like it! Cheers. Photo location: Adelaide Hills, South Australia, Australia. (Photo and caption by Greg Snell/National Geographic Photo Contest)

“Theyyam”. Preparation for the Theyyam performance in the surroundings of Kasaragod city. Theyyam is a popular ritual dance form of North Kerala, particularly in Kannur and Kasargod districts. The Theyyam represents a mythological, divine or heroic character. Make up of Theyyams is done by specialist. There are different types of face painting for which primarily and secondary colours are used. Therefore it is essential that the makeup man should have perfect knowledge of primary and secondary colour combinations. Sometimes, it takes several hours to paint each face. Photo location: Kasaragod, India. (Photo and caption by Rafal Ziejewski/National Geographic Photo Contest)

Wedding photographer, Josh Newton, has managed to turn a natural disaster into an amazing photo shoot opportunity. On June 7, 2014 Michael Wolber and April Hartley were getting ready to walk down the aisle in Rock Springs Ranch, Bend, Oregon, USA when firefighters alerted them to nearby wildfires gaining momentum and instructed them to flee to a safer location. Instead of leaving immediately, the wedding coordinator talked the firemen into letting the couple get married if they shortened the ceremony. “Everyone was on the edge of their seats”, says Newton, “it was so nerve racking!”. (Photo by Josh Newton/IMP)

Strokkur geyser against cloudy sky at sunset. Strokkur is a fountain geyser located in a geothermal area beside the Hvítá River in Iceland in the southwest part of the country, east of Reykjavík. It is one of Iceland's most famous geysers, erupting once every 6–10 minutes. Its usual height is 15–20 m, although it can sometimes erupt up to 40 m high. (Photo by Teatsche Dijkhuis/Getty Images/EyeEm)

People and Nature category winner: Why did the sloth cross the road? by Andrew Whitworth (Osa Conservation and University of Glasgow), taken in Osa Peninsula, Costa Rica. “I was driving out from the Osa Peninsula, located on the southern Pacific coast of Costa Rica on a dark, stormy day. This female three-toed sloth (Bradypus variegatus) had luckily just about made it across the road, and the drivers of the Toyota on this occasion had spotted her in good time”. (Photo by Andrew Whitworth/2019 British Ecological Society Photography Competition)

A woman poses for a photo with the Rafflesia Arnoldii flower at Palupuah Forest, Agam District, West Sumatra, Indonesia on September 16, 2024. Palupuh forest is located at an altitude of 975 meters above sea level, with temperatures reaching 18-20 degrees Celsius. According to The West Sumatera Nature Conservation Agency (BKSDA), in the province of West Sumatra there are 36 points where this endangered flower grows. (Photo by Adi Prima/Anadolu via Getty Images)