“The fantastic landscape of Bagan in Myanmar features hundreds of temples and pagodas as far as the eye can see. Experiencing this sight at dawn from the basket of a hot air balloon will remain engraved in my memory for ever. Mick Ryan, judge – What a magical photograph and place. The Buddhist temples and pagodas fill the plains of Bagan in Myanmar at sunrise… the golden hour providing beautiful light to illuminate the retrogression of the temples and balloons toward a misty, mountainous distance. An excellent, exotic photograph that makes you want to book a flight”. (Photo by Alastair Swan/The Guardian)

A person looks on as lava and plumes of smoke rise from a crater of Mount Etna, Europe's most active volcano, Italy on July 15, 2024. (Photo by Giuseppe Di Stefano/Etna Walk via Reuters)

Ukrainian state emblem is seen on a gun's holster as soldiers guard naval base in the village of Novoozernoye, some 91 km west of Crimean capital Simferopol, Ukraine, on Monday, March 3, 2014. Ukraine says Russian forces controlling the strategic region of Crimea are demanding that the crew of two Ukrainian warships in Sevastopol's harbor must surrender. (Photo by Ivan Sekretarev/AP Photo)

“Just hanging out”. As full autumn hits the valley of Hallingdal in Norway, this bear chills out in a tree which seems to barely cover its weight. Photo location: Flå, Hallingdal, Norway. (Photo and caption by Jorgen Tharaldsen/National Geographic Photo Contest)

Soldiers take part in a drill during a heavy snow in Heihe, Heilongjiang province, February 26, 2014. (Photo by Reuters/China Daily)

Model Joanna Krupa poses during a protest against animals in circuses, in front of the Houses of Parliament in London, Britain, September 11, 2017. (Photo by Hannah McKay/Reuters)

A model walks along the Edge observation deck in the city’s Hudson Yards district on World Photography Day in New York on August 19, 2023. (Photo by Lev Radin/Pacific Press/Rex Features/Shutterstock)

People take photos of hotel room lights shaping the word “Zero”, referring to Covid-19 cases, in Taipei, Taiwan, 17 April 2020. According to news reports Taiwan records no new COVID-19 cases for third time this week. Medical experts are rushing to develop a vaccine for the COVID-19 disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus and advising people to practice social distancing and proper hygiene. (Photo by David Chang/EPA/EFE/Rex Features/Shutterstock)