Martin Gabriel / Firefly crocus (Crocus sieberi) flowers in snow, Bavaria, Germany, March.

Martin Gabriel / Mute swans (Cygnus olor) on water, Bavaria, Germany, February.

Martin Gabriel / Four Griffon Vultures (Gyps fulvus) in flight, silhouetted overhead. Monfrague National Park, Extremadura, Spain, March.

Martin Gabriel / Evaporation ponds for production of salt. La Palma Island, Canary Islands, Spain, February 2010.

Martin Gabriel / Mountain ridges of Caldera de Taburiente silhouetted through clouds. View from Roque de los Muchachos, La Palma Island, Canary Islands, Spain, February.

Martin Gabriel / Canary Pine (Pinus canariensis) forest. La Palma Island, Canary Islands, February.

Martin Gabriel / Hiking trail along ancient aqueduct in Los Tilos National Park. World Biosphere Reserve, La Palma Island, Canary Islands, February.

Martin Gabriel / Prunn Castle in autumn. Altmuehl valley, Bavaria, Germany, October 2010.

Martin Gabriel / Stag Beetle (Lucanus cervus) pair mating. Bavaria, Germany, June.

Martin Gabriel / Woody / Monkey ladder vine (Bauhinia glabra) Palo Verde National Park, Costa Rica

Martin Gabriel / Woody / Monkey ladder vine (Bauhinia glabra) Palo Verde National Park, Costa Rica

Martin Gabriel / Green parrot snake (Leptophis ahaetulla) defensive attack, Tenorio National Park, Costa Rica

Martin Gabriel / Arenal Volcano with crown of clouds around the summit at sunrise, La Fortuna, Costa Rica, February 2009

Martin Gabriel / Arenal Volcano at sunset, clouds mixing with smoke, Costa Rica, February 2009

Martin Gabriel / Weltenburg Monastery and the River Danube Canyon, autumn, Bavaria, Germany, October 2008

Martin Gabriel / Weltenburg Monastery and the River Danube Canyon / gorge, autumn, Bavaria, Germany, October 2008

Martin Gabriel / Rosy wolf snail shell in sand {Euglandia rosea} from Hawaii

Martin Gabriel / European mussel {Mytilus galloprovincialis} shell in sand. Europe.

Martin Gabriel / Two Giant African snail {Achatina fulica} shells in sand.

Martin Gabriel / Golden apple snail {Pomacea canaliculata} shell.

Martin Gabriel / Mediterranean land snails {Solatopupa similis} Provence, France

Gabriel Rojo / Southern martin at nest hole in cliff {Progne modesta} La Pampa, Argentina

Martin Gabriel / Detail of Sunflower flower {Helianthus annuus} Germany

Martin Gabriel / Sycamore tree in blossom {Acer pseudoplatanus} Bavaria Germany

Martin Gabriel / Pinnacles Desert at dawn Nambung NP, Western Australia

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

Martin Gabriel / Peak of Spitzkoppe reflected in ephemeral pool, wet season. Damaraland, Namibia

Martin Gabriel / European Honeybee Queen laying eggs surrounded by workers {Apis mellifera}

Martin Gabriel / Parasol mushroom cap close-up detail {Macrolepiota procera} Europe

Martin Gabriel / European fire salamander {Salamandra salamandra} Germany

Martin Gabriel / Mediterranean tree frog vocalising {Hyla meridionalis} Luberon, France, Europe

Martin Gabriel / Philippine tarsier portrait {Tarsius syrichta} Philippines

Martin Gabriel / Philippine tarsier, Philippines

Martin Gabriel / European (Fire) salamander {Salamandra salamandra} Bavaria, Germany

Martin Gabriel / Common poppy flowers, Germany

Martin Gabriel / Snow covered birch trees {Betula pendula} Bavaria, Germany

Martin Gabriel / Veiled fungus on forest floor Niah NP, Sarawak, Borneo

Martin Gabriel / Waves breaking against rock cliff off Cape Formentor, Mallorca, Spain

Martin Gabriel / Granite boulder, Pontok Mountainss, Spitzkoppe, Namibia

Martin Gabriel / Desert chameleon juvenile {Chamaeleo namaquensis} Namib desert, Namibia

Martin Gabriel / Spitzkoppe peak, granite outcrop, at sunrise Namib desert, Namibia

Martin Gabriel / Rocky desert of Wadi Hashir near Al Mughsayl, Sultanate of Oman, February.

Martin Gabriel / View from Dhofar Mountains towards Dhofar Plains and the sea, Sultanate of Oman, February.

Martin Gabriel / Sur, a city at the coast of Oman, with tidal mudflats, sand banks and traditional boats, Sultanate of Oman, February.

Martin Gabriel / Sur, a city at the coast of Oman, with tidal mudflats and sand banks, Sultanate of Oman, February.

Martin Gabriel / Sur, a city at the coast of Oman, with tidal mudflats and sand banks, Sultanate of Oman, February.

Martin Gabriel / Sur, a city at the coast of Oman, with mosques and a traditional dock for the construction of wooden boats, Sultanate of Oman, February.

Martin Gabriel / Typical sand desert with sandstone outcrops and sparse vegetation, Rimal Al Wahiba desert, Sultanate of Oman, February.