Tony North; First place, Breathing Spaces; Overall Winner; Blue Tajinaste, La Palma, Canary Islands, Spain. “Echium thyrsiflorum is endemic to the mountains of La Palma island – from high up, there was a magnificent view of both the caldera below, and the stars above. The Unesco La Palma biosphere reserve encompasses the entire island, with the Caldera de Taburiente containing mountains with a highest peak of 2,426 metres – the Roque de los Muchachos”. (Photo by Tony North/IGPOTY)

A woman wears glasses in support of late Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez during a caravan to carry Chavez's cadet saber and his dagger to the mausoleum where the politician's remains are laid to rest, in Caracas on March 15, 2023. The caravan traveled some 9 kilometers through the streets of Caracas to the Cuartel de la Montaña, also known as the Cuartel 4 de Febrero, as a reminder of the date of the failed coup led by Chavez on February 4, 1992. (Photo by Miguel Zambrano/AFP Photo)

In Paris, doctors, orderlies and nurses demonstrated as well as all over France to remind the government of its promises on the hospital, in the middle of the “Segur de la sante” on June 16, 2020. The demonstration brought together several thousand people, with a few clashes on the esplanade des Invalides at the end of the day. (Photo by Jan Schmidt-Whitley/Le Pictorium Agency via ZUMA/Rex Features/Shutterstock)

Aerial view of the Christ The Protector Statue and the Valle de Taquari on April 20, 2021 in Encantado, Brazil. The statue being built in Encantado, southern Brazil, will surpass the iconic Christ The Redeemer of Rio de Janeiro by seven meters. Made of steel and concrete, it will stand 43 meters including its pedestal, and become the third-tallest statue of Jesus Christ in the world. (Photo by Buda Mendes/Getty Images)

Brazilian singer Anitta performs during the “Ensaios de Anitta” show, an event that is part of a pre-carnival tour that makes its way through several Brazilian cities, paying tribute to a samba school in each performance at the Jockey Club of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 21 January 2024. Anitta only performs this time of year in her country and said that experiencing a carnival is the best way to get to know the Brazilian people because all the energy of its people is concentrated on a single topic. (Photo by Andre Coelho/EPA/EFE)

(R-L) Jean-Jacques Cattier and his son Alexandre Cattier pose with the world largest bottle of Champagne “The Midas” by Armand de Brignac on April 6, 2011 in Berlin, Germany. The Midas is a massive 30-liter vessel and weights exactly 100 pounds. It's like having 40 pieces of the 750ml in one. Number one champagne brand in the world, Armand de Brignac is the luxury Champagne from the award-winning Champagne Cattier chateau of Chigny-les-Roses, France. (Photo by Andreas Rentz/Getty Images)

The pack of riders makes its way past Didi Senft, a cycling enthusiast better known as “El Diablo” (The Devil), during the twelfth 218km stage of the centenary Tour de France cycling race from Fougeres to Tours July 11, 2013. (Photo by Eric Gaillard/Reuters)

Spectators await the start of a cinema screening at a Kinostar De Lux Multiplex in the Moscow suburb of Khimki, December 7, 2014. Furniture retailer IKEA has converted one of the cinema halls, completely replacing standard seats with their furniture, according to local media. There are 17 double beds fitted in the hall, which was renamed to “It wakes love”. (Photo by Sergei Karpukhin/Reuters)