BURSTING colours of reds, pinks and purples give the illusion of a collection of stunning flowers. But these images are in fact amazing long-exposure shots of fireworks. These vibrant photographs were captured by Californian amateur photographer Alan Sailer, 58, when he decided to look into the shapes and colours of fireworks. 'I wanted to capture the fireworks at the precise moment they burst, to give them the look of a flower,' said Alan. 'I decided to take them with the focus varied just as the firework explodes, so I could focus on the colours and different shapes that each firework contains
From giant mountains to vast deserts, an American photographer spent a year capturing the diverse and beautiful landscape of the United States .
WITHOUT a care in the world, this little chimpanzee shows off her gymnastic skills as she swings around her enclosure .
THIS RING of fire in the sky is the annular solar eclipse that wowed our cousins down-under .
AN EXERCISING turtle and an ice-skating chick are hardly everyday exploits in the animal community .
Playing, splashing and generally messing around, these polar bears show they certainly have a soft spot for the water, and not just each other .
LYING flat out on his back, this little meerkat makes the most of the English sunshine .
Gigantic 100ft waves create the perfect playground for dare-devil surfers from across the world .
A BLIND man was battered with a brick in a sickening attack by two thugs .
A frilled lizard appears to be belting out a tune as it sits in a tree with its mouth open wide .
HIDDEN in the middle of the Mojave Desert, a secret oasis awaits intrepid travellers .
PICKING up a tiny tea-pot with its paws, a little red squirrel struggles to prepare its morning tea .
Balanced on one leg, a frog assumes the crane kick martial arts stance made famous in the movie The Karate Kid .