A soap bubble lands on the frosty ground and creates a shimmering snow globe as crystals form around it. Pictured under the winter sun, the bubbles glow as sunlight bounces off their surface. Photographer Hope Thurston Carter captured the images after blowing the soap bubbles on several freezing days in Michigan. The 52-year-old, of Martin, Michigan, says: 'I got the idea to blow bubbles outside in the winter after I saw several similar photos on the internet.
COURAGEOUS climbers descend 400 metres as they manoeuvre their way through thick walls of ice .
POWERFUL bolts of lightning illuminate the night sky in an incredible autumn storm over the Sardinian coastline .
Soldiers standing guard outside the Woolwich barracks in London - Two terror suspects are under armed guard in separate hospitals in London after a serving soldier was hacked to death in the street .
PERCHING on top of a gate, this young barn swallow waits patiently for his mum to return with dinner .
A small Indian monkey is seemingly gob-smacked after reading the latest stock market news .
A cricket perches on an unusual seat after crawling up the snout of a crocodile .
These adorable pictures show the moment two cuddly red panda cubs take their first look at the outside world and are weighed for the very first time .
From a platter of finger licking chicken wings to a bowl of Chinese noodle soup, these foodie snaps are enough to make your savoury saliva glands drool .
An osprey soars through the air at 30 miles per hour before swooping down to catch its prey from a lake .
PERCHED on a branch, these two frogs hold hands as they look into the camera .
EAGERLY BITING his nails, this little squirrel is clearly nervous of looming predators as he searches for his meal .