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.'
A curious red squirrel takes a break from collecting nuts and tries her hand at photography .
A family of foster carers are facing bankruptcy and homelessness after they signed up to a Government scheme to renovate their house to be used for disabled children's short breaks .
An adorable rescue dog who had her eyes gouged out by thugs in Romania has found a loving home in the UK .
A group of shelter dogs showcase their loveable personalities in a series of passport-style photographs - in the hope of finding their forever homes .
A miracle baby has overcome a one-in-five-million brain condition – after a blob of glue saved his life .
LYING flat out on his back, this little meerkat makes the most of the English sunshine .
CARRYING a fully grown goat on his back, this five-year-old boy is a child shepherd in the mountains of northern Ethiopia .
THIS may look like a dolphin through jumping hoops, but it is in fact nothing more than a clever 3D pencil drawing .
A DETERMINED great blue heron holds on tightly to its prey as the furry gopher attempts to wriggle free .
WELCOME to the Hidden Beach - the world's most idyllic BOMB SITE .
TOWERING 65 metres into the sky, this terrifying accent is a dream for climbers .
Two dogs who couldn't keep their paws off each other have been united in matrimonial bliss after their owners shelled out $10,000 on a lavish canine wedding ceremony .