FROM ICE bubbles to boiling lava, these photographs highlight the stunning shapes and patterns found in nature. The series of extraordinary images were taken by German software engineer Thorsten Scheuermann after he decided to examine his surroundings. A trip to the city of Kalapana in Hawaii, home to the Kilauea Volcano, provided Thorsten with the setting for his lava picture, while a visit to the Columbia River Gorge in Oregon offered him the opportunity to photograph ice bubbles up-close. The 37-year-old, now of Washington, USA, said: 'These are sights that can gain greater significance and have their beauty exposed when excluding everything else around them.'
SAT with his arms folded and a cross look on his face, this Gorilla looks like he's had enough of the Christmas holidays already .
SPLASHING around in a paddling pool, this little elephant soaks up the sunshine .
HUNDREDS of colour coordinated yarns lie abandoned in this once thriving textile mill .
HOPPING onto the scales, these adorable baby Humboldt penguins are ready for their first weigh-in .
A US firefighter has battled osteoarthritis and four hip replacements to break the world paddleboarding record .
SNUGGLED up in the hay away from the elements, this adorable hoglet has sought solace with a familiar friend .
STARING intently into the camera, a polar bear appears to be lost in thought while relaxing in the snow .
THIS DANGER-mad female pensioner could be the oldest Brit to cage dive with CROCODILES .
With one hand rested on his belly and the other propping his head up, this lazy lizard takes an afternoon break .
ROLLING up snow in its tiny paws, this little squirrel is looking for a snowball fight .
RESTING his weary head on his flipper, this little seal pup takes a much needed nap after an afternoon of strenuous yoga .
LINED up one by one on a deer’s back, these little birds give their wings a break as they catch a ride across London .