As you look at the set of pictures created by Tom Kondrat during his travels in Iceland, the first thing that comes to mind is the word “loneliness.” These pictures lead you to believe that Iceland is a desolate expanse of icy wasteland. You can almost imagine the strong wind howling in your ears, as it chills you straight to the bone. And as you’re walking down so beaten path, you’re all alone, with not a human soul for miles in any direction. This may prove unbearable for some, yet others find comfort in such places. With no one there to bother them and distract them from their thoughts, they can finally be at peace. (Photo by Tom Kondrat)

Take me away, deer, Russia. The Nenet people of Arctic Russia use reindeer and sledges as a prime mode of transport. The animals’ navigational ability means that in severe conditions they are sometimes the only hope of survival. (Photo by Kamil Nureev/Smithsonian Photo Contest)

Swedish actress Malin Akerman arrives at the 2025 Baby2Baby gala on Saturday, November 8, 2025, at Pacific Design Center in West Hollywood, Calif. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP Photo)

Imagine living in the sea where it is permanently dark, cold, and food is hard to find. For many animals at depth, it may be weeks to months between meals. If you find something to eat, you have to hang on to it. This is why so many deep-sea fishes have lots of big teeth. This dragonfish, spotted off the coast of Australia, even has teeth on its tongue. They would be terrifying animals ... if they weren’t the size of a banana. (Photo by Julian Finn/Museum Victoria)

Why would you want to buy a Christmas tree if you have a luscious full beard? Or maybe you have a friend that is willing to volunteer? Just glue some ornaments onto his facial forest and make him stand in the corner. Just don’t forget to feed him! You don’t want your Christmas tree to go bad before the holidays are over! Stephanie Jarstad had created something similar in her project, The Twelve Bears of Christmas, in order to honor the Decembeard (much like Movember), in order to bring awareness to Men’s health problems. (Photo by Stephanie Jarstad)

Battersea Power Station. The chimney rims are thinner on top than you might expect. (Photo by Bradley L. Garrett)

German Yesakov, 25, a cameraman from Russia, dressed as movie character Captain Jack Sparrow, and his bride Anastasiya pose with a sailing ship decoration during their wedding ceremony in the southern city of Stavropol, Russia, February 5, 2016. Yesakov dressed as the Pirates of the Caribbean character and picked the film for the theme of his wedding as a surprise to his 17-year-old bride Anastasiya. (Photo by Eduard Korniyenko/Reuters)

Sisters dressed as the Grady twins from the movie "The Shining" pose for a photo inside their house as they take part in the second edition of "Noche del Terror" (Horror night) during Halloween celebrations in the neighborhood of Churriana, near Malaga, southern Spain, October 31, 2015. (Photo by Jon Nazca/Reuters)