With luminous colours and alien- like features, these magical mushrooms look like they belong on another planet. These mesmorising pictures, however, capture the beautiful variety of fungi here on Earth. The incredible images were taken by Australian photographer Stephen Axford, 62, after he became familiar with the importance of fungi in everyday life, and decided to document it twelve years ago..
A carefree bear cub reclines in the water with his feet raised in the air .
Beautiful turquoise waves rise and fall in a series of stunning images taken along the coastline of south-eastern Australia .
LIKE A living balloon this baitball of sardines is ready to burst when threatened by a pointy nosed sailfish .
As sunlight cascades through its vibrant stained glass windows, every inch of the Nasir-ol-Mulk Mosque bursts with colour .
A Brit photographer has captured one of the world's most camera-shy species of fish - during a game of underwater peek-a-boo .
HUDDLED together on a branch, a pair of adorable Javan scops owls soak up the sun .
A quiet Himalayan mountain village springs to life for a colourful Buddhist festival designed to expel evil spirits and bring happiness .
MAKING himself at home, this little snail perches happily on top of this frog's head .
HEART-MELTING shots of a French bulldog and a ten-month-old French baby could be the cutest you’re likely to see .
A brave leopard kicks back and relaxes in the sunshine - just inches from an enormous crocodile .
With a dust covered coat hung from a wardrobe door and a pair of glasses left on a shelf, a remote farmhouse lies abandoned in the Welsh countryside .
With one hand rested on his belly and the other propping his head up, this lazy lizard takes an afternoon break .