Alex Hyde / Sheetweb weaving spider (Linyphiidae) in web at sunset. The silk is refracting the light into a rainbow of coloured bands. Slovenia, July.

Christophe Courteau / Kalahari bushman drinking water by squeezing root fibers that are rich in water, dry season, Central Kalahari Desert, Botswana, August 2008

Claudio Contreras / Henequen (Agave fourcroydes) fibres drying, X-Kanchakan, Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico, February

Jean E. Roche / Fibres of Paper mulberry (Broussonetia papyrifera) used for making traditional Japanese washi paper. Arles, Camargue, France. December.

Jean E. Roche / Man stripping bark from the branches of Paper mulberry (Broussonetia papyrifera) used for making traditional Japanese washi paper. Arles, Camargue, France. December.

Jean E. Roche / Paper mulberry (Broussonetia papyrifera) bark used for making traditional Japanese washi paper. Arles, Camargue, France. December.

Jean E. Roche / Fibres of Paper mulberry (Broussonetia papyrifera) used for traditional Japanese washi paper making. Camargue, France. February.

Jean E. Roche / Paper mulberry (Brousonnetia papyrifera) bark, prepared for Japanese washi paper making, Camargue, France.

Cyril Ruoso / Baka man and boys making fiber crowns for a ceremony, South East Cameroon, July 2008.

Cyril Ruoso / Baka woman weaving a basket from plant fibers, South East Cameroon, July 2008.

Alex Hyde / Four-spot orb weaver spider male (Araneus quadratus) at edge of female's web, waiting for an opportunity to mate. Peak District National Park, Derbyshire, UK. October.

Enrique Lopez-Tapia / Sisal (Agave sisalana) fibres drying outside factory, Berenty, south Madagascar. March 2005.