Sports have the ability to transform groups of strangers into a united community. In the celebratory spirit surrounding the 2014 FIFA World Cup, Sony and the World Photography Organisation present UNITED – a contest honouring the passion of football fans around the world. Seven inspirational photographers have been selected by Sony and WPO to capture the atmosphere and celebration of the World Cup across the globe. Photo: France – French fans cheering for their team. (Photo by Anthony Lepinay)

A couple covered with the US and the pride flags pay their tribute for the victims of a 12 June mass shooting in Orlando, Florida, USA, as they look at the Eiffel tower, illuminated in rainbow colours, in Paris, France, 13 June 2016. A total of 50 people including the suspect were killed and 53 were injured in a shooting attack at an LGBT club in Orlando, Florida, in the early hours of 12 June. The shooter was killed in an exchange of fire with the police after taking hostages at the club. (Photo by Yoan Valat/EPA)

The rotating updraft base of a supercell thunderstorm, and a rear flank downdraft containing rain and hail, backlit by the setting sun, on May 10, 2014, in Climax, Kansas, United States. To most of us, dark clouds on the horizon usually means rain – but here in Kansas, they can also signal the start of a supercell. The huge formations, also known as rotating thunderstorms, are among the most powerful weather phenomenon found over land. They can occur anywhere where the conditions are right, but are normally found in more arid climates. These awe-inspiring supercells were captured south of Climax city by storm chaser Stephen Locke. (Photo by Stephen Locke/Barcroft Media)

Photographer Loes Heerink spent hours waiting on bridges in Hanoi to capture the street vendors who walked underneath. She recently launched a Kickstarter project to publish a book of these images. Here: “In Hanoi there are a lot of street vendors who roam the city with their bicycles trying to sell goods, from vegetables to flowers”. (Photo by Loes Heerink/The Guardian)

A biplane taking part in the Vintage Air Rally lands, in Stellenbosch, near Cape Town, South Africa December 16, 2016. (Photo by Mike Hutchings/Reuters)

Maksym Demchuk of Ukraine takes part in the FAI World Hot Air Balloon Championship near Gross-Siegharts, Austria on August 20, 2018. (Photo by Heinz-Peter Bader/Reuters)

This happy couple started married life on top of the world, having exchanged their vows on mount Everest. Dressed in a full suit and wedding dress, James Sissom and Ashley Schmieder spent days scaling the mountain range in order to be photographed in front of such a breathtaking backdrop. Here: James Sissom and Ashley Schmieder exchange vows on Everest. (Photo by Charleton Churchill/Caters News Agency)

Bicycles of various bike-sharing services are seen at an urban village in smog during a polluted day in Shanghai, 2017. Rapid expansion of shared bicycle companies across China has led to massive piles of abandoned bikes as supply outstrips demand. (Photo by Aly Song/Reuters)