Photographer Matteo Zanvettor looks like he's on top of the world as he composes his shots in the Italian Alps thanks to a combination of clever perspective and rare weather conditions.The 41-year-old photographer had to battle against 100kmph winds and driving snow to get landscape shots.

Matteo ended up being the subject of some of the best pictures taken by his friend Edoardo Brotto, as frozen snow whipped up around him gave the illusion he was standing on clouds in the Alps.

He said: 'I've never been on top of a mountain with such strong winds - I was worried we might have to turn back but we decided to carry on.We got to Lagazuoi, which is part of the Ampezzo Dolomites in the Italian Alps'.

Photographer James Appleton from Cambridge braved the mighty flames of the Fimmvvrpuhals volcano and the frozen bite of the harsh Icelandic winter – and was rewarded with these incredibly rare shots.They capture two of nature’s most spectacular sights - the northern lights and an erupting volcano in Iceland - in a single shot.

Photographer James Appleton has spent the past seven years capturing the volatile and stunning landscapes of Iceland, and when he was told the Fimmvvrpuhals volcano was erupting, he immediately knew he had to see it.Working alongside vulcanologists, Mr Appleton, 25, got within a few hundred feet of the erupting volcano to get the perfect shot.

‘I never dared to hope it might actually happen, but seeing it for real put all the hairs on the back of my neck up.When I saw the photographs come through the camera I was jumping around with excitement.’ James Appleton said.

The images were taken throughout Japan the effect was achieved by using different exposures and apertures on his Nikon camera.The unique phenomena of lightning bugs being able to light up come from bioluminescence, which is created when a pigment and chemical react.

It is most often seen in sea creatures. According to io9.com, up to 90 per cent of marine life use bioluminescence. The astounding feat is often seen in deep sea trenches and other parts of the ocean where sunlight does not reach.Fireflies use two chemicals – luciferase and luciferin. The former glows when combined with the latter, which is an enzyme that triggers light emission.

Richard Shilling's land art involves making sculptures using only natural materials gathered near to where the sculpture is going to be made. He doesn't use glue or string and some of his work will last only a few short minutes before a change in the weather will sweep them away. Some of his art consists of different sized rocks balanced on top of each other precariously.

Richard, 39, draws his inspiration from fellow land artist Andy Goldsworthy. He accidentally came across one of Goldsworthy's sculptures while he was walking through a forest in Lancaster. He said: "I was walking on the hills near where I live and discovered an Andy Goldsworthy sculpture in the middle of nowhere. I was intrigued so I starting researching Goldsworthy's work and eventually started to make my own sculptures and ephemeral work a year later."

Raja Ampat archipelago The world's last paradise on earth.Raja Ampat archipelago was nominated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site with its largely pristine environment considered one of the most important sites of marine biodiversity in the world.