The Historic Photographer of the Year awards celebrate historic places and cultural sites across the globe, from national treasures to hidden gems. Entries were judged on originality, composition and technical proficiency as well as the story that inspired the submission and its historical impact. Here: Overall winner. Mont Saint-Michel by Daniel Burton. (Photo by Daniel Burton/The Guardian)

Participants arrive at the finish line during the annual Maldon Mud Race in Maldon, east England on May 7, 2017. Originating in 1973, the race involves competitors racing around a course through the River Blackwater in Essex at low tide. (Photo by Daniel Leal-Olivas/AFP Photo)

The world's biggest copy of the Mona Lisa is unveiled on October 28, 2009 in Wrexham, Wales The giant version of Leonardo da Vinci's masterpiece measures 17.5 metres across and is 50 times bigger than the original painting and was created by community groups in Wrexham and artist Katy Webster. (Photo by Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)

Martin Joe Laurello, originally Martin Emmerling, was born in Germany around 1886. He was a sideshow performer who could turn his head a full 180 degrees. He performed with groups such as Ripley's Believe it or Not, Ringling Brothers, and Barnum & Bailey. He moved to America in 1921. He also trained dogs to do things such as acrobatics.

“The Guinness World Records has consistently listed Sherlock Holmes as the “most portrayed movie character” with 75 actors playing the part in over 211 films. Holmes' first screen appearance was in the Mutoscope film Sherlock Holmes Baffled in 1900, albeit in a barely-recognisable form”. – Wikipedia

Photo: William Gillette as the lead in a stage production of “Sherlock Holmes”, at the Lyceum Theatre. Playwright: William Gillette, Arthur Conan Doyle (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images). 9th September 1901

The ingenuity of people is endless. Could you imagine that broken pieces of maple wood could be used to create beautiful jewelry? Well Marcel Dunger has done just that! By using colored bio-resin and broken bits of wood, he was able to create marvelous pieces of jewelry. The result has a very futuristic feel to it. The angular form and strict design make this jewelry seem as if it was taken from a sci-fi movie. People often consider the most bizarre things to be art. However, in this case, the resulting creations were actually very aesthetically appealing. (Photo by Marcel Dunger)

What do you imagine when you look through a key hole? Do you imagine seeing a Wonderland with a sinister Queen of Heart ruling over a magical kingdom? Or you might imagine an eye staring back at you, if you’re a fan of horror movies. Least of all do you expect seeing a picturesque view of St. Peter’s Dome, perfectly framed by green hedges. Is it a lucky coincidence, or was it intended by the maker? We might never know. However, this became a curious sightseeing spot for many tourists who visit Rome. Thus, if you’re ever in the area of Priorato dei Cavalieri di Malta, be sure to peep into this key hole.

Assassin’s Creed is a game that is set in the past with the main character’s subconsciousness traveling through the fabric of time to acquire hidden knowledge. The level designers of Assassin’s Creed Unity have meticulously recreated the streets of 1789 Paris to allow the users to become completely engulfed by the atmosphere of this proud and ancient city. Each year, games are becoming more and more realistic, and soon the line between movie footage and computer generated world will completely blur. This is both scary and exciting prospect, yet there is no doubt that someday, virtual world will be indistinguishable from the real one. To illustrate this, Damien Hypolite has taken a series of photos which compare scenes from Assassin’s Creed to the real placed in modern Paris. (Photo by Damien)