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 .
A DETERMINED great blue heron holds on tightly to its prey as the furry gopher attempts to wriggle free .
An adorable little squirrel wakes from a nap and pops out his tongue for the camera .
STOOD side by side next to a busy road, these buildings were once bustling with life .
BEAUTIFULLY lit by the dim glow of lanterns, a cave in Iceland is transformed into the perfect wedding venue .
A quiet Himalayan mountain village springs to life for a colourful Buddhist festival designed to expel evil spirits and bring happiness .
AN American accountant has grown the world's biggest MELON and smashed his way into the record books with his mammoth 350 .
AN ADORABLE one-eyed kitten has been dubbed the 'pirate cat' because of his pirate-like facial expressions .
ROLLING up snow in its tiny paws, this little squirrel is looking for a snowball fight .
GLAMPING is taken to a whole new level in the form of the luxurious Pop-Up Hotel .
Destroyed buildings and overturned cars are seen after a huge tornado struck Moore, Oklahoma, near Oklahoma City, May 20, 2013 .