Andy Rouse / Maasai Giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis tippelskirchi) silhouetted by beams of light from setting sun, Maasai Mara, Kenya, Africa. Winner of the African section of the Natures Best Windland Smith Rice...

Stefan Christmann / Sunset with beams of light shining through Neumayer-Station III, Alfred-Wegener-Institut research station. Atka Bay, Antarctica. January 2017.

Alex Mustard / Schools of Pacific creolefish (Cephalopholis colonus) and Panamic sergeant major (Abudefduf troschelii) swimming through sun beams inside an underwater cavern. Los Islotes, La Paz, Baja California Sur...

Pete Oxford / Kittens resting on beams. These animals are kepts as pets but sometimes eaten in the Apatani Tribe, Ziro Valley, Himalayan Foothills, Arunachal Pradesh, North East India. November 2014.

Gavin Hellier / The restored Souq Waqif with mud rendered shops and exposed timber beams at dusk, Doha, Qatar, Arabian Peninsula 2011. No release available.

Gavin Hellier / The restored Souq Waqif with mud rendered shops and exposed timber beams at night, Doha, Qatar, Arabian Peninsula, 2011. No release available.

Alex Mustard / 2020VISION / Brown trout (Salmo trutta) swimming through sun beams in a freshwater lake, Capernwray Quarry, Lancashire, UK, July

Marie Read / Sun beams passing through misty trees, Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge, New York, USA. October 2008. Highly Honored in Nature's Best 2010 competition.

Martin Gabriel / Sun rays breaking through trees in winter mist, forest Bavaria, Germany

Alex Mustard / Whale shark (Rhincodon typus) swimming through sun beams. This individual was following blue whales around to feed on their faeces. Indian Ocean, off Sri Lanka

Alex Mustard / Sun beams spear down into the depths of the sea. Indian Ocean off Sri Lanka.

Nick Upton / Noble false widow spider (Steatoda nobilis) female, close to its retreat between two roof beams in a garden shed, near Wells, Somerset, UK, September.

Guy Edwardes / Glastonbury Tor lit up by sun beams, Somerset, England, UK, November.. November 2012

Alex Mustard / Evening sun beams over hard corals (Acropora sp). Tubbataha reef, Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park, Palawan, Philippines. Sulu Sea.

Alex Mustard / Sun beams spear down through a stand of water lilies (Nymphaea mexicana) growing in a cenote beneath trees. Carwash Cenote / Aktun Ha Cenote, Tulum, Yucatan, Mexico.

Alex Mustard / Blue spotted stingray (Taeniura lymma) inside a coral cavern, with beams of sun light. Umm Karaheem, St Johns Reef, Egypt. Red Sea

Philippe Clement / Beech marten (Martes foina) foraging on beams in ceiling of attic, Germany, captive

Alex Mustard / Diver descending into a freshwater cenote (or limestone sinkhole) swimming through beams of sun light beneath forest. Esmeralda cenote, Tamja Ha Cenote, Puerto Aventuras, Quintana Roo, Yucatan, Mexi...

Alex Mustard / Diver explores a freshwater cenote (or limestone sinkhole) swimming through beams of sun light. Kukulkan cenote, Chac Mool cenote, Puerto Aventuras, Quintana Roo, Yucatan, Mexico.

Alex Mustard / Diver exploring a freshwater cenote (or limestone sinkhole) swimming through beams of light filtered through the forest above. Garden Of Eden Cenote, Puerto Aventuras, Quintana Roo, Yucatan, Mexico.

Richard Robinson / Blue shark (Prionace glauca) with sun beams, off the coast of Hawke's Bay, New Zealand, February.

Konrad Wothe / Lowland rainforest with sun beams shining through, Panguana Reserve, Huanuca province, Amazon basin, Peru.

Sven Zacek / Rays of sunshine behind pine trees, Southern Estonia, May early morning.

Theo Bosboom / Beams of light shining through trees at sunrise, De Bruuk, Groesbeek, the Netherlands, June 2009

Fabrice Cahez / Sun rays between clouds over calm sea, Morgat, Crozon pennisula, Brittany, France, November 2012

Gavin Hellier / The restored Souq Waqif with mud rendered shops and exposed timber beams, Doha, Qatar, Arabian Peninsula 2007

Gavin Hellier / The restored Souq Waqif with mud rendered shops and exposed timber beams, Doha, Qatar, Arabian Peninsula 2007

Gavin Hellier / The restored Souq Waqif with mud rendered shops and exposed timber beams at night, Doha, Qatar, Arabian Peninsula 2011

Gavin Hellier / The restored Souq Waqif with mud rendered shops and exposed timber beams at night, Doha, Qatar, Arabian Peninsula 2011

Gavin Hellier / The restored Souq Waqif with mud rendered shops and exposed timber beams at dusk, Doha, Qatar, Arabian Peninsula 2011

Gavin Hellier / The restored Souq Waqif at dusk with mud rendered shops and exposed timber beams, Doha, Qatar, Arabian Peninsula, 2011

Gavin Hellier / The restored Souq Waqif with mud rendered shops and exposed timber beams, Doha, Qatar, Arabian Peninsula, 2011

Gavin Hellier / The restored Souq Waqif with mud rendered shops and exposed timber beams, Doha, Qatar, Arabian Peninsula, 2011

Ross Hoddinott / Rays of sunlight penetrating woodland, Rhinefield, The New Forest, Hampshire, UK. November 2012.

Toby Roxburgh / Scallop dredger moored at Brixham Harbour, showing twin beams and rollers. Devon, England, UK, 2009.

Juergen Freund / Sorido Bay Resort bungalow with wooden roof beams. Raja Ampat, West Papua, Indonesia, February 2010.

Peter Cairns / Silhouetted hills and sun beams. Glenshee, Scotland, January 2009.

Orsolya Haarberg / Sun beams shining through fog in a Scots pine forest, Riisitunturi National Park, Lapland, Finland.

John Waters / Limestone Cave eroded by water in ancient time. Sunlight beams penetrate at certain times of day leading to local name of 'Cave of Light'. Qatar, Arabian Gulf, 2009.

Nick Upton / Beam trawler, Lia Jan, fishing off Hook of Holland port with wind turbines and Herring gulls (Larus argentatus) in the background, Netherlands.

Nick Upton / Beam trawler fishing near Hook of Holland docks followed by mixed species flock of Herring gulls (Larus argentatus), Greater black-backed gulls (Larus marinus) and Lesser black-backed gulls (Larus fus...

Aflo / Y-9902 Bright sun rays above cloud line, Hawaii, USA

Toby Roxburgh / Scallop dredge beam, showing individual steel chain bags and spring-loaded teeth to allow fishing over rough ground. Brixham, Devon, England, UK, 2009.

Thomas Lazar / Sun's rays and clouds over Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee, USA ;

Thomas Lazar / Sun's rays and clouds over Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee, USA ;

Juan Manuel Borrero / Beam detail with wooden gargoyle sculptures in Mirepoix, France

Nick Garbutt / Bornean eared tree frog (Polypedates otilophus) pair in amplexus with foam egg nest in beams of shlelter, Danum Valley, Sabah, Borneo.

Rick Tomlinson / Tracy Edward's maxi-catamaran "Royal Sun Alliance" crewed by an all-female crew, setting off on their attempt to win the Jules Verne Trophy, 1998. ^^^ Unfortunately after 43 days at sea they were dism...

Roberto Rinaldi / Painted stories that tell of gods, legends, fishing, wars, hunting etc., found on inside and outside walls and on beams of bai (men-houses) in Palau.

Alex Mustard / Soft corals (Dendronephthya sp. and Scleronephthya sp.) on the underside of a reef, beneath sun beams, Raja Ampat, West Papua, Ceram Sea, Pacific Ocean.

Kim Taylor / Yellow-necked fieldmouse (Apodemus flavicollis) enters the frame and runs along a wooden beam. Then the animal picks up a Hazelnut with its mouth and runs off, out of the frame. Garden shed, Guildford...

Neil Aldridge / Conversion of traditional stone-walled barns, here earmarked for development, into countryside homes, Cornwall, England. December.

Michael W. Richards / Little owl (Athene noctua) fledglings perched on beam inside barn waiting to be fed. One chick preens itself before stretching, while the other chick flies towards camera, sitting in front of it befor...

Michael W. Richards / Little owl (Athene noctua) landing on beam with Common shrew (Sorex araneus) in beak which it feeds to its chick, Somerset, UK, June.

Michael W. Richards / Little owl (Athene noctua) landing on beam in barn roof, before flying towards camera, then leaving, Somerset, UK, March.

Michael W. Richards / Little owl (Athene noctua) chicks perched on barn roof exterior calling, before an adult arrives to feed them, Somerset, UK, June.

Michael W. Richards / Little owl (Athene noctua) pair on roof timbers looking for food in the wood, before they are startled by noisy wind, then fly away, Brompton Ralph, Somerset, UK, February.

Michael W. Richards / Little owl (Athene noctua) arriving at hole in the roof structure, Somerset, UK, June.

Michael W. Richards / Little owl (Athene noctua) fledgling perched on beam in barn roof before flying towards and sitting in front of camera, Somerset, UK, June.

Michael W. Richards / Little owl (Athene noctua) fledgling perched on beam in barn roof, adults fly over head, chick begs to be feed before both adults similtaneously land beside it, feed it, followed by all three flying a...

Michael W. Richards / Little owl (Athene noctua) pair mating, beam in roof of barn, adult flying into nest site at the end, Brompton Ralph, Somerset, UK, February.

Michael W. Richards / Little owl (Athene noctua) pair perched on beams inside barn come together to mutual preen, Brompton Ralph, Somerset, UK, February.

Michael W. Richards / Little owl (Athene noctua) pair perched on beam inside barn, mutual preening before one adult flies away, Brompton Ralph, Somerset, UK, February.

Michael W. Richards / Little owl (Athene noctua) pair perched on beam inside barn, mutual preening , Brompton Ralph, Somerset, UK, February.

Michael W. Richards / Little owl (Athene noctua) pair perched on beam inside barn, preening one another, Brompton Ralph, Somerset, UK, February.

Michael W. Richards / Little owl (Athene noctua) perched on beam inside barn, its mate arrives beside it, Brompton Ralph, Somerset, UK, February.

Alex Mustard / Detail of Golden kelp (Laminaria ochroleuca) with sun beams. Lundy Island, Devon, England, British Isles. Bristol Channel. North East Altantic Ocean. This species is only found in South West England

Alex Mustard / Thongweed (Himanthalia elongata) in sun beams surrounded by kelp (Laminaria sp.). This common seaweed has a two stage morphology, seen here is the strap-like reproductive frond, which can reach up to...

Alex Mustard / Black and white photo of a silhouette of a California sea lion (Zalophus californianus) pup in an underwater cavern with sun beams. Los Islotes, La Paz, Baja California Sur, Mexico. Sea of Cortez, Gul...

Neil Aldridge / House mouse (Mus musculus) running across wooden beam in barn, Somerset, England, UK, December.

Alex Mustard / Moon jelly (Aurelia aurita) close to the surface with sun beams. Farne Islands, Northumberland, England, United Kingdom. North Sea.

Frederique Olivier / LIDAR Building, making atmospheric observations using laser, Davis Station, Antarctica March 2007

Alex Mustard / Double exposure of a Tompot blenny (Parablennius gattorugine) with underwater sun beams. Swanage, Dorset, England, United Kingdom.

Alex Mustard / Oceanic whitetip shark (Carcharhinus longimanus) swims in open waters, close to the surface with sun beams. Elphinstone reef, Marsa Alam, Egypt. Red Sea.