A quiet Himalayan mountain village springs to life for a colourful Buddhist festival designed to expel evil spirits and bring happiness. The annual Torgya Festival in Tawang, in north-eastern India, is full of colourful dancing, music and theatre. The three day festival is held in the courtyard of the Tawang monastery, which is nestled on top of the hill overlooking the town. The vibrant event was attended by Australian photographers Stephen Axford and Catherine Marciniak.
These are the faces of orphans suffering from the horrifying effects of chemical warfare .
AN EXERCISING turtle and an ice-skating chick are hardly everyday exploits in the animal community .
WELCOME to the 125 decibel boombox bus that could damage your hearing if you party too close to its giant speakers .
DINING under the stars, this restaurant takes you back in time - inside an ancient cave .
GLIDING through the water, these delightful frogs show off their vibrant colours as they practice their FROG crawl .
An adorable black bear cub struggles to find the perfect spot for an afternoon nap as he wriggles around on the branch of a maple tree .
PERCHED on a branch, this Little Owl plays third wheel to two love birds .
A small Indian monkey is seemingly gob-smacked after reading the latest stock market news .
Exploding out of the water, a great white shark performs a backflip during a hunt for seals .
A doting seal smiles at her sweet little pup as she tickles its tummy on the beach .
SQUABBLING over the last piece of grain, these hungry squirrels are determined to stock up on as much food as possible .
AN American accountant has grown the world's biggest MELON and smashed his way into the record books with his mammoth 350 .