Theo Bosboom / Sun rays through stormy clouds, and snow covered beach, Varanger Peninsula, Norway. March.

Remi Masson / Water lilies (Nymphaea alba) lit by the sun's rays, seen under water. Alps, Ain, France. June. Highly commended in the the Underwater World category, GDT European Wildlife Photographer of the Year 201...

Bernard Castelein / Beech woodland (Fagus sylvatica) with sun rays shining through, black and white image. Peerdsbos, Brasschaat, Belgium

Sandra Bartocha / Sun rays shining through European beech woodland (Fagus sylvatica). Serrahn, Muritz-National Park, World Natural Heritage site, Germany, Europe. November 2015.

Floris van Breugel / The first rays of sunshine above the Sierra Crest, illuminating granite, Mitre Basin, Sierra Nevada, Sequoia National Park, California, USA, August

Floris van Breugel / First rays of golden sunshine hit Giant Sequoias (Sequoiadendron giganteum) covered in a winter blanket of snow and frost, Grant Grove, Sequoia / Kings Canyon National Park, California, USA November

Wim van den Heever / Tranquil landscape with African elephant (Loxodonta africana) and rays of sunlight at sunrise, Masai Mara, Kenya.

Claudio Contreras / Green turtle (Chelonia mydas) with rays of sunlight, Akumal, Caribbean Sea, Mexico, January. Endangered species.

Franco Banfi / Devilrays (Mobula tarapacana) large group at the surface, Ambrosio dive site, Santa Maria Island, Azores, Portugal, Atlantic Ocean

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

Konrad Wothe / View up into canopy with sun rays shining through the leaves, lowland rainforest, Panguana Reserve, Huanuco province, Amazon basin, Peru.

Erlend Haarberg / Lysefjorden viewed from the Preikestolen (Pulpit rock) on misty summer morning with sun rays shining down, Forsand, Rogaland, Norway.

Michael Pitts / Devil rays (Mobula japonica) viewed from below, South Ari atoll, Maldives.

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

Franco Banfi / Manta ray (Manta birostris), San Benedicto, Revillagigedo (Socorro) Islands, Mexico, East Pacific Ocean

Jack Dykinga / North Rim at Cape Royal with sunset storm light streaming in rays, backlighting the canyon ridges, Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona, USA

Guy Edwardes / 2020VISION / Sunrise through deciduous woodland with beech trees casting long shadows. Bolderwood, New Forest National Park, Hampshire, England, UK, October. Did you know? There are 20 million visitors to the New...

Andy Rouse / Silhouette of Grizzly bear (Ursus arctos horribilis) walking along beach, Katmai NP, Alaska, USA, August

Ben Hall / 2020VISION / Sun's rays shining through dark clouds, Ballynahone Bog, County Antrim, Northern Ireland, UK, June 2011

Jeff Wilson / Sun Dog, or Parhelion, caused by refraction of the sun's rays, more commonly seen in Antarctica, above glacier, Dry Valleys, Antarctica, December 2009. Taken on location for the BBC series, Frozen Pla...

Ben Hall / 2020VISION / Ballynahone Bog at dusk, County Londonderry, Northern Ireland, UK, June 2011

Juergen Freund / Coral reef with hard corals and cabbage coral, Komodo NP, Indonesia

Peter Cairns / 2020VISION / Mute swan (Cygnus olor) in late evening light, Fife, Scotland, UK, November. Photographer quote: 'The last rays of winter sunshine caught this mute swan as it emerged from a reedbed. The light was as...

Floris van Breugel / Morning sun rays breaking through the tree trunks, of Redwood National Park, California, USA. June 2008.

Alex Mustard / Male Great white shark (Carcharodon carcharias) with sunrays, Guadalupe Island, Mexico, Pacific Ocean.

Jack Dykinga / Cenote Samula (sink hole) with elongated roots of a Fig tree (Ficus sp) from ground level descending to the subterranian tourquoise coloured water below. Rays of sulight pass through the hole to illum...

Chien Lee / Rainforest with sun rays cutting through the mist, Danum Valley Conservation Area, Borneo, Malaysia

Laurie Campbell / Wych Elm (Ulmus glabra) dead trees in mist at dawn, Berwickshire, Scotland, July

Wild Wonders of Europe / Radisics / Pine forest with rays of light shining through trees, Montado do Barreiro Natural Park, Madeira, March 2009

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

Wild Wonders of Europe / Radisics / Sun shining through clouds over Lake Skadar near Murici, Lake Skadar National Park, Montenegro, May 2008

Wild Wonders of Europe / Radisics / Rays of light shining through mist surrounding Black pines (Pinus nigra) Crna Poda Natural Reserve, Tara Canyon, Durmitor NP, Montenegro, October 2008

Wild Wonders of Europe / Möllers / European oak (Quercus robur) with rays of sunlight, Klampenborg Dyrehaven, Denmark, September 2008

Tim Laman / Rays of light passing though high montane rainforest on Pico Basile above 2000 m altitude, Bioko Island, Equatorial Guinea, January 2008

Andrew Parkinson / Young European rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) sitting alert, in the last rays of evening light, Norfolk, UK, June

Andrew Parkinson / Young European rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) sitting alert in the last rays of evening light, Norfolk, UK, June

Andrew Parkinson / Young European rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) sitting in the last rays of evening light, Norfolk, UK, June

Andrew Parkinson / European rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) in the last rays of evening light, Norfolk, UK, June

Nick Garbutt / Dawn sunlight through the rainforest canopy. Danum Valley, Sabah, Borneo, Malaysia

Jouan & Rius / Rays of sunlight penetrating Eucalyptus forest, Victoria, Australia

Jack Dykinga / Rays of light illuminating the sky as the sun sets behind an Acacia tree, Masai Mara, Kenya

Nick Turner / Rays of sunlight shining through trees to country road at Edge, near Painswick, Cotswolds, UK

Jack Dykinga / Trunks of Quaking aspen trees {Populus tremuloides} in morning sun, autumn, Boulder Mountain, Dixie national forest, Utah, USA

Bernard Castelein / Sunrays through Beech woodland {Fagus sylvatica} Belgium

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

Bernard Castelein / Sun rays in forest, Beech (Fagus sylvatica) tree silhouetted in foreground. Peerdsbos, Brasschaat, Belgium

Bernard Castelein / Sun rays filter through row of Oak (Quercus robur) trees. Peerdsbos, Brasschaat, Belgium. November.

Alex Mustard / Southern stingrays (Dasyatis americana) in shallow water. with sun rays. Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands. British West Indies. Caribbean Sea.

Jack Dykinga / Sun rays over The Grand Canyon, Arizona, USA. 2019.

Theo Bosboom / Last rays of the sun through a hole in a Seastack with the Atlantic Ocean in the background. Sintra coast, Portugal, December

David Woodfall / Sun rays on Ballycroy National Park, County Mayo, Republic of Ireland, July 2017.

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

Guy Edwardes / Sun shining through trees in Bolderwood, New Forest National Park, Hampshire, England, UK. October 2018

Guy Edwardes / Dawn in Bolderwood with mist and rays of sunlight, New Forest National Park, Hampshire, England, UK. August 2011

Stephane Granzotto / Whale shark (Rhincodon typus) at night with rays of light, Tadjourah Gulf, Republic of Djibouti.

Jack Dykinga / Coast redwood (Sequoia sempervirens) with foggy dawn light. creating rays in the forest canopy. Del Norte Redwood National Park, California, USA. June.

Jack Dykinga / Rays of low sunlight through Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) trees in early morning fog, Redwood State and National Parks, California, USA. May.

Jack Dykinga / Rays of low sunlight through Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) trees in early morning fog, Redwood State and National Parks, California, USA. May.

Jack Dykinga / Rays of low sunlight through Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) trees in early morning fog, Redwood State and National Parks, California, USA. May.

Jack Dykinga / Redwood (Sequoia sempervirens) tree trunk with flowering Rhododenron in early morning fog with rays of sunlight in the forest canopy. Del Norte Redwood National Park, California.

Remi Masson / School of Perch (Perca fluviatilis) amongst Water lilies (Nuphar lutea) lit by the sun's rays, Lake Bourget, Alps, Savoie, France, June.

Remi Masson / School of Perch (Perca fluviatilis) amongst Water lilies (Nuphar lutea) lit by the sun's rays, Lake Bourget, Alps, Savoie, France, June.

Remi Masson / School of Perch (Perca fluviatilis) amongst Water lilies (Nuphar lutea) lit by the sun's rays, Lake Bourget, Alps, Savoie, France, June.

Remi Masson / School of Perch (Perca fluviatilis) amongst Water lilies (Nuphar lutea) lit by the sun's rays, Lake Bourget, Alps, Savoie, France, June.

Remi Masson / School of Perch (Perca fluviatilis) amongst Water lilies (Nuphar lutea) lit by the sun's rays, Lake Bourget, Alps, Savoie, France, June.

Claudio Contreras / Green turtle (Chelonia mydas) with rays of sunlight, black and white image, Akumal, Caribbean Sea, Mexico, July. Second place in the Visions of our Nature 2018.

Bruno D'Amicis / Last rays of sun on northern slope of Mount Camicia in the Gran Sasso Massif. Gran Sasso National Park, Central Apennines, Abruzzo, Italy, August.

Alex Mustard / Southern stingray (Dasyatis americana) large female foraging over seagrass in shallow water. The Sandbar, Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands. British West Indies. Caribbean Sea.

Alex Mustard / Sun rays dancing on a shallow, sandy seabed. Stingray City, Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands, British West Indies. Caribbean Sea.

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

Jussi Murtosaari / Sun rays shining through frost covered tree branches, Finland, January.

Terry Whittaker / Rays of sunshine breaking through dark clouds over sea of English Channel, Kent, UK. July

Terry Whittaker / Rays of sunshine breaking through dark clouds over sea, English Channel, Kent, UK. July

SCOTLAND: The Big Picture / Sunstar and light rays over Loch Hourn and Barrisdale bay after sunrise. Knoydart, Highlands, Scotland, UK, June 2016.

SCOTLAND: The Big Picture / Light Rays over Loch Hourn and Barrisdale bay after sunrise. Knoydart, Scotland, UK, June 2016.

SCOTLAND: The Big Picture / Sun rays over Birch trees (Betula pendula) and mountain landscape, Loch Leven, Glencoe, Highlands of Scotland, UK, January 2016., UK, March.

Jack Dykinga / Full moon rising over Texas Canyon's granite boulders in evening light with last rays of sunset. Arizona, USA. August.

SCOTLAND: The Big Picture / Sunlight rays splintering through pine forest at dawn, Strathspey, Cairngorms National Park, Scotland, UK, July.

Doug Perrine / Reef manta ray (Manta alfredi) feeding on plankton attracted by light at night, among schooling Hawaiian flagtail (Kuhlia xenura) akako Bay, Keahole, Kona, Hawaii. August.

Doug Perrine / Reef manta ray (Manta alfredi) feeding on plankton attracted by light at night, among schooling Hawaiian flagtail (Kuhlia xenura) akako Bay, Keahole, Kona, Hawaii. August.

Ingo Arndt / Topi (Damaliscus lunatus) herd grazing in plains landscape with rays of sunlight, Masai Mara Game Reserve, Kenya

Franco Banfi / Giant manta ray (Manta birostris) seen from below, El Boiler dive place, San Benedicto Island, Revillagigedo Archipelago Biosphere Reserve, Socorro Islands, Western Mexico

Jordi Chias / Ocellated eagle ray (Aetobatus ocellatus) school of rays seen from underneath, Ari atoll, Maldives, Indian Ocean

Jordi Chias / Ocellated eagle ray (Aetobatus ocellatus) school of rays seen from underneath, Ari atoll, Maldives, Indian Ocean

Matthew Maran / Runner in Hampstead Heath landscape with sun rays, London, England, UK, August 2014.

David Pattyn / Rays of light in a fen on a misty morning, Oisterwijkse Bossen en Vennen reserve, Oisterwijk, The Netherlands, January

David Pattyn / Small island with a pine tree in the first rays of sunlight on a misty morning, Oisterwijkse Bossen en Vennen reserve, Oisterwijk, The Netherlands, January.

Franco Banfi / Devilrays (Mobula tarapacana), Ambrosio dive site, Santa Maria Island, Azores, Portugal, Atlantic Ocean

Franco Banfi / Devilray (Mobula tarapacana) near surface, with remoras, Ambrosio dive site, Santa Maria Island, Azores, Portugal, Atlantic Ocean

Franco Banfi / Devilray (Mobula tarapacana) near surface, Ambrosio dive site, Santa Maria Island, Azores, Portugal, Atlantic Ocean

Franco Banfi / Devilrays (Mobula tarapacana), Ambrosio dive site, Santa Maria Island, Azores, Portugal, Atlantic Ocean

Alex Mustard / Southern stingray (Hypanus americanus) swimming over sand ripples on sand bar in late afternoon light. Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands. Caribbean Sea.

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

Ole Jorgen Liodden / Antipodean albatross (Diomedea antipodensis) in flight at sunset with rays of light shining through he clouds. near Antipodes Islands, Sub-Antarctic New Zealand, March.