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.'
SKIPPING on the spot, an adorable little owl embraces the 'running man' challenge .
It's incredible to think anyone could live in such horrendous squalor - yet two men have been prosecuted for keeping their homes in such revolting conditions that it was no longer fit for their animals .
RAISING his flipper, this two day old seal pup gives a wave to the camera .
The view from this rooftop pool is sure to make most holidaymakers envious .
CLINGING onto nothing but ice, this brave climber reaches heights of 1000 FEET as he scales frozen solid waterfalls .
An elegant snowy owl spreads her wings and glides effortlessly above the snow covered field .
SEA LIFE and greenery in one shot show nature at its very best .
AT 4,800 metres high and just three metres wide, this is the most dangerous road in the world .
FROM KISSING an alligator on the nose to walking over broken glass, this fearless daredevil is a real life female JACKASS .
Full of tired and busy commuters, these underground stations are rarely admired for their architecture or beauty .
THIS LITTLE squirrel tries to keep himself snug as snow starts to fall around him .
STRIKING photos capture nature at its most raw and powerful during Earth’s most electrifying event .