“The fennec fox or fennec (Vulpes zerda) is a small nocturnal fox found in the Sahara of North Africa. Its most distinctive feature is its unusually large ears, which serve to dissipate heat”. – Wikipedia. (Photo by In Cherl Kim)

“As a photographer, peregrinator and naturalist, I have been searching for the ultimate unworldly world. I've always been drawn to unusual travel destinations. For me, to lose myself in a different culture is a great way to find balance in my life...”. – Li Xinzhao. (Photo by Li Xinzhao)

Many people have seen feathers as decorative items before. Today, ostrich, peacock and bird of paradise feathers can be seen in haute couture and in the costumes of indigenous peoples. They can be colorful and spectacular in their own right, but how much more stunning might they be when used as canvases for artists, eager to demonstrate their talent for the unusual? Alaskan-born and -bred artist Julie Thompson is an astounding exponent of this incredible art form.

An autumn leaf sticks to a bench near the Bishops Castle near Wells Cathedral on November 1, 2011 in Wells, England. According to a number of nature watchers the autumn colours are currently reaching their peak following an unusually warm September and October which has led to trees holding onto their leaves longer than normal. (Photo by Matt Cardy/Getty Images)

Nottingham-based Vic Fearn & Co. has created unusual coffins in the shape of beer and whiskey bottles, the Angel of the North, guitars and in a geometric style. The handmade caskets cost as much as £5,000 ($6,200). Here: A coffin in the shape of a fish which has been handmade. (Photo by Caters News Agency)

These photos were snapped at just the right moment – leading to some truly unusual images. Some of the pups are sticking out their tongue, while others are just looking at the camera – and the results are hilarious. Cat Race, 33, a dog photographer from Preston, Lancashire, in the U.K., captured the funny moments in the northwest of England over the past two years. Here: Tillie. (Photo by CatsDog Photography/Caters News Agency)

A woman looks out of a dusty window after boarding a bus to be transported to see the casket of Nelson Mandela at the Union Buildings in Pretoria, South Africa, Wednesday December 11, 2013. On Thursday, December 5, 2013, Mandela died at the age of 95. (Photo by Markus Schreiber/AP Photo)