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.

German photographer Tanja Brandt has created a series which captures the absolutely heart-breaking friendship between Ingo, her two-year-old German Shepherd, and a tiny owl called Napoleon. "Ingo is not always the calmest dog, however when he is around the birds, and particularly Napoleon, he is very soft and gentle", said the photographer. "He seems very at peace with them".

The Royal Flycatchers are birds in the genus Onychorhynchus in the Tityridae family. Depending on authority, it includes a single widespread, or four more localized species. The specific epithet of the type species, coronatus, and the common name of all the species in this genus, Royal Flycatcher, refer to the striking, colourful crest, which is seen displayed very rarely, except after mating, while preening, in courtship as well as being handled.

People play ice hockey in front of the Olympic Tower near the National Stadium at Olympic Park on January 13, 2022 in Beijing, China. Playing host to the 2022 Winter Olympics has boosted the popularity of winter sports and outdoor activities in many parts of China, with the government pouring billions of dollars into developing programs, athletes, and fans. With more outdoor skating rinks, ski resorts, and other activities luring people outside, the ice and snow sports boom has created nearly 350 million winter sport enthusiasts since Beijing"u2019s successful Games bid in 2015, according to officials. China is seeking to become a winter sports destination as the global snow sports industry eyes growth in the world second largest economy. (Photo by Kevin Frayer/Getty Images)

A mannequin with boots is stuffed upside down in the snow in front of a home in Nisswa, Minnesota, on March 18, 2013. (Photo by Steve Kohls/The Brainerd Daily Dispatch)

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A man removes ice from an ice-covered car with a hammer in Postojna, Slovenia, on February 5, 2014. Cars stand entombed in a crystal-like casing near the deserted railway station in Postojna. Trees and electricity pylons lie felled in the snow by the sheer weight of ice enveloping them. (Photo by Srdjan Zivulovic/Reuters)

Snow covered mountains are seen from the waters of Unstad along the northern Atlantic Ocean on March 12, 2017, where the water temperatures is at five degrees centigrade and the air temperature is at minus two degrees centigrade. Unstad, the world' s most northern surf school, is perfect for those wanting to experience Arctic Surfing. (Photo by Olivier Morin/AFP Photo)