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.'
SURROUNDED by a snowstorm, these young polar bears battle the elements - as well as each other .
Fishermen in Myanmar have perfected an unusual fishing technique by carefully balancing on one leg .
WITH a paw in the air and his tongue hanging from his mouth, it is clear to see that this little groundhog is struggling to wake up and leave behind the comfort of his burrow .
The lighthouses of Brittany, from Brest to Le Conquet, stand tall on France’s north-western coast against stunning scenery .
SAILING over crystal clear waters, the Bajau people of Malaysia live their lives almost entirely at SEA .
An elegant snowy owl spreads her wings and glides effortlessly above the snow covered field .
THESE kingfishers prove no rod is needed as they go fishing for their dinner .
Pic By HotSpot Media - PARROT RIDES ON THE TUBE - THIS pretty boy could be forgiven for forgetting his Oyst-aaarrrgh-card .
As sunlight cascades through its vibrant stained glass windows, every inch of the Nasir-ol-Mulk Mosque bursts with colour .
A small Indian monkey is seemingly gob-smacked after reading the latest stock market news .
CAMPED out in the middle of a forest, these unusual hut hotels take you back to basics .
FINALLY catching a meal, a pair of great white egrets fight over their dinner .