One annual exhibition we always look forward to is Wildlife Photographer of the Year at the Natural History Museum. It's always filled with spectacular images of nature that make us want to explore more of the world, leaving us in awe of the lengths photographers will go to to get the perfect shot.
This year's bumper crop is no different, whether it be the tenderness of a mother gorilla sheltering her two children in the rain or the brutality of an alligator crunching down on a turtle's head. There are also plenty of photographs of humanity's devastating impact on nature include Daniel Beltra's portfolio on the devastation of the Amazon rainforest and the sad image of a shark swimming around with a fish hook embedded in its jaw.
Other highlights include a dugong nudging along a pair of fish, a shoal of silversides turning in on itself to create a living labyrinthine cave network, an ibex balancing on a seemingly vertical dam and a brightly coloured parakeet dwarfed by the raging waterfall behind it.
Our favourite image is of two iguanas fighting — the vivid colours make it seem that an ancient Chinese mosaic featuring two dragons has come to life. The quality and breadth of photographs on display mean that each visitor will have their own favourite and nobody will leave this exhibition in any doubt of the beauty of the natural world.
The Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2013 is on at Natural History Museum until 23 March. Tickets are £12 for adults, concessions available.