WITH the phosphorescent blobs and mesmerising patterns, these spectacular images may look like the hall marks of an enchanted forest but it is in fact the scene of thousands of dancing FIREFLIES. The luminous green lights that glow from the insects help to give the impression of an extract from a fairy-tale. The magical photographs were taken by photographer Takaaki Ishikawa, 55, on a trip to Nagoya City in Japan. 'Fireflies are very delicate creatures, so it is important to not catch or disturb them,' said Takaaki
BRAIDED, sculpted and beaded, these are the eye-catching hairstyles worn by the tribal women of Angola .
HUDDLED together in the hollow of a tree, it would be easy to overlook these two sleepy owls as they blend into the trunk .
TUGGING on the wing of his sibling, this needy owl is after some attention .
PERCHING on top of a gate, this young barn swallow waits patiently for his mum to return with dinner .
A makeup artist from the West Midlands magically transforms herself into famous cartoon characters using body paint .
BEHIND the doors of this building, with its stacks of mattresses and discarded remains of wheelchairs, lies another victim of austerity cuts .
PERCHED on a branch, these two frogs hold hands as they look into the camera .
MASKED intruders look sinister but really they are a gang of urban exploring pranksters .
STARING open-mouthed into the camera, this shocked fish looks out of place in the middle of its angry friends .
It’s a role reversal in the Visayan Sea as HUNDREDS of tiny, glistening eggs are carried around inside the mouth of their cardinalfish father .
A northern potoo shows it is a master of disguise as it perches on a tree stump and blends into the bark .
A kingfisher’s bright blue and orange feathers glisten in the sunlight as the bird dives into a lake .