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.

Andy Rouse / Rays of light shining through storm clouds over Drake Passage, Antarctica, February 2006

Oscar Dewhurst / White-tufted sunbeam (Aglaeactis castelnaudii) perched on tree branch. Cusco, Peru. September. Cropped

Thomas Marent / Shining Sunbeam (Aglaeactis cupripennis) hummingbird, Los Nevados National Natural Park, Colombia

Thomas Marent / Shining Sunbeam (Aglaeactis cupripennis) hummingbird landing, Los Nevados National Natural Park, Colombia

Thomas Marent / Shining Sunbeam (Aglaeactis cupripennis) hummingbird, Los Nevados National Natural Park, Colombia

Thomas Marent / Shining Sunbeam (Aglaeactis cupripennis) hummingbird, Los Nevados National Natural Park, Colombia

Thomas Marent / Shining Sunbeam (Aglaeactis cupripennis) hummingbird, Los Nevados National Natural Park, Colombia

Glenn Bartley/ BIA / Shining Sunbeam (Aglaeactis cupripennis) hummingbird, Andes, Colombia

Glenn Bartley/ BIA / Shining Sunbeam (Aglaeactis cupripennis) hummingbird feeding on flower nectar, Andes, Colombia

Daniel Heuclin / Sunbeam snake (Xenopeltis unicolor) captive, occurs in South East Asia.

Daniel Heuclin / Sunbeam snake (Xenopeltis unicolor) captive, occurs in South East Asia.

Daniel Heuclin / Sunbeam snake (Xenopeltis unicolor) captive, occurs in South East Asia.

Murray Cooper / Shining Sunbeam (Aglaeactis cupripennis) hummingbird feeding on flower nectar, Colombia

Murray Cooper / Shining Sunbeam (Aglaeactis cupripennis) hummingbird at nest, Ecuador

Cyril Ruoso / Shining sunbeam (Aglaeactis cupripennis) feeding, Colca canyon, Peru, November.

Chien Lee / Sunbeam Snake (Xenopeltis unicolor), Taman Stutong Indah, Kuching, Malaysia

Alex Mustard / Shafts of light shine down into the darkness of cavern within coral reef. Jackfish Alley, Ras Mohammed Marine Park, Sinai, Egypt. Red Sea.

Alex Mustard / Shafts of light shine down into the darkness of cavern within coral reef, with Soldierfish (Holocentridae) and Goatfish ( Mullidae) Sha'ab Claudia, Fury Shoal, Egypt. Red Sea.

Michel Roggo / Light rays shining throught the Cenote Tajma-Ha, Quintana Roo, Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico, February. Taken for the Freshwater Project.

Michel Roggo / Underwater landscape of Cenote Tajma-Ha, Quintana Roo, Yucatán Peninsula, Mexico, February 2014. Taken for the Freshwater Project.

Michel Roggo / Underwater landscape of the Clearwater river, outside Clearwater cave. Tributary of the Sungai Melinau river, Gunung Mulu National Park, Sarawak, Borneo, Malyasia, March 2012. Taken for the Freshwater...

Michel Roggo / Small tributary of the Sungai Melinau river, Gunung Mulu National Park, Sarawak, Borneo, Malyasia, March 2012. Taken for the Freshwater Project.

Michel Roggo / Underwater view of Anhumas Abyss, a lake within a cave, Bonito area, Serra da Bodoquena (Bodoquena Mountain Range), Mato Grosso del Sul, Brazil, November 2011. Taken for the Freshwater Project.

Michel Roggo / Anhumas Abyss a cave with freshwater lake, reflections of blue and green caused by magnezium and limestone in the cavern rocks, Bonito area, Serra da Bodoquena (Bodoquena Mountain Range), Mato Grosso...

Michel Roggo / Michel Roggo and Daniel Buergy abseiling into Anhumas Abyss, Bonito area, Serra da Bodoquena (Bodoquena Mountain Range), Mato Grosso del Sul, Brazil, November 2011. Taken for the Freshwater Project.

Fabrice Cahez / Misty Beech (Fagus sylvatica) forest in autumn, Vosges mountains, France, November 2013

Fabrice Cahez / Misty Beech (Fagus sylvatica) forest in autumn, with sun rays shining through trees, Vosges mountains, France, November 2013

Fabrice Cahez / Landscape with light rays over forest, Lozere, Causse Mejean, Gorges de la Jonte, France, December 2013

Fabrice Cahez / Landscape with light rays over forest, Lozere, Causse Mejean, Gorges de la Jonte, France, December 2013

Fabrice Cahez / Landscape with light rays over forest, Lozere, Causse Mejean, Gorges de la Jonte, France, December 2013

Axel Gebauer / Sunlight shining through clouds onto snow, Kavkazsky Zapovednik, west Caucasus Mountains, Adygea, Russia, February.

Luis Quinta / Blue shark (Prionace glauca) Faial Island, Azores, Portugal, Atlantic Ocean, September.

Radomir Jakubowski / Sun rays over forests, Niederhorn mountain, Bernese Alps, Switzerland, August 2012.

Fabrice Cahez / Morning mist over the countryside, Vosges, France, September 2013

Fabrice Cahez / Morning mist over the countryside, Vosges, France, September 2013

Fabrice Cahez / Sunrise shining through the branches of trees, Vosges, France, July.

Fabrice Cahez / Sunrise shining through the branches of trees in mist, Vosges, France, July.

Benoit Stichelbaut / Rough seas during Storm 'Ruth', Ile d'Ouessant, Armorique Regional Park. Iles du Ponant, Finistere, Brittany, France, Iroise Sea. 8th February 2014. France, Bretagne, Finistere, Mer d'Iroise, Iles...

Glenn Bartley / Shining Sunbeam (Aglaeactis cupripennis), Ecuador

Glenn Bartley / Shining Sunbeam (Aglaeactis cupripennis), Ecuador

Andy Rouse / Cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus) on grassland, Masai Mara, Kenya

Alex Mustard / Afternoon sunrays dancing over rocks, in shallow water. Capo Comino, Sardinia, Italy. Mediterranean Sea.

Pete Oxford / Shining sunbeam (Aglaeactis cupripennis) base of Chimborazo Volcano (Highest mountain in Ecuador) Andes, Ecuador, South America

Pete Oxford / Shining Sunbeam (Aglaeactis cupripennis) hummingbird, base of Chimborazo Volcano, Ecuador

Pete Oxford / Shining Sunbeam (Aglaeactis cupripennis) hummingbird feeding on flower nectar, base of Chimborazo Volcano, Ecuador

Bruno D'Amicis / Sunbeam lighting Spruce forest; the brown patch of trees are affected by Bark Beetle (Curculionidae). High Tatras, Slovakia, June 2009.

Murray Cooper / Shining Sunbeam (Aglaeactis cupripennis) hummingbird, Ecuador

Kevin Schafer / Sunbeam Falls, Mount Rainier National Park, Washington

Rod Williams / Sunbeam snake {Xenopeltis unicolor} female, captive, from SE Asia

Nature Production / Giant Thai Mantis {Hierodula patellifera} {Curetis acuta paracuta} preying on Angled Sunbeam butterfly {Curetis acuta paracuta} Nara, Japan

Philip Dalton / Shining sunbeam {Aglaeactis cupripennis} Ecuador

Philip Dalton / Shining sunbeam {Aglaeactis cupripennis} Ecuador

Philip Dalton / Shining sunbeam {Aglaeactis cupripennis} Ecuador

Thomas Marent / Shining Sunbeam (Aglaeactis cupripennis) hummingbird stretching, Los Nevados National Natural Park, Colombia

Bret Charman / Shining sunbeam (Aglaeactis cupripennis) landing on branch with wings spread, Manizales, Colombia.

Lucas Bustamante / Shining sunbeam (Aglaeactis cupripennis) nectaring on a Puya (Puya sp.) flower, Antisana National Park, Napo, Ecuador.

Lucas Bustamante / Black-tailed trainbearer (Lesbia victoriae) perched on a Puya (Puya sp.) flower, Antisana National Park, Napo, Ecuador.

Glenn Bartley/ BIA / Shining Sunbeam (Aglaeactis cupripennis) hummingbird, Colombia

Oscar Dewhurst / Short-toed (snake) eagle (Circaetus gallicus) in flight. Extremadura, Spain. March

Alex Mustard / Sunbeam on through the roots of red mangrove trees (Rhizophora sp.), encrusted with marine life (sponges and seasquirts). Jardines de la Reina, Gardens of the Queen National Park, Cuba. Caribbean Sea.