An Italian photographer travelled to Chile where he visited several star-gazing sites, home to some of the world's most advanced telescopes, located in the spectacular setting of the Atacama desert. Surrounded by vast desert and distant snow topped mountains, the enormous satellite dishes, dome-shaped buildings and telescopes are run by the European Southern Observatory (ESO) , an intergovernmental body dedicated to observing space. Photographer Alberto Ghizzi Panizza was granted access to several observatory sites.
With the vivid red smoke billowing into the sky amid the misty sand dunes, these are the blissful views provided at the break of dawn at a volcano .
ARMED with her camera, bikini and flippers, this brave diver goes swimming with SHARKS .
SHOWING off her best assets for the camera, this cheeky orangutan is in the mood for love, puckering up her lips to blow the biggest kiss she can .
SWIMMING next to 40 tonne whales, dare-devil divers take the plunge with these gentle giants of the sea .
RACING through the mountain range on horseback, the Kazakh people practice their ancient tradition of hunting with golden eagles .
The beds are consumed by moss instead of customers at this abandoned hotel .
A photographer from the United Arab Emirates travelled to Pakistan where he captured the lives of local people in a series of expressive portraits .
BOXING DAY has come early for this pair of feisty squirrels, as their Christmas party quickly turns sour .
A cheeky gorilla sticks her tongue out and plays up for the camera at Bronx Zoo .
A little clownfish opens its mouth to reveal a blood sucking intruder living on its tongue .
SNUGGLED up in the hay away from the elements, this adorable hoglet has sought solace with a familiar friend .