Our world is jam packed with amazing creatures and beautiful scenery, but it's easy to forget that when you're sitting behind a desk all day.

You could take a trip out to some of the wilder parts of our world, but that takes time and money that most people don't have.

Thankfully, there are lots of intrepid people with nice cameras around the world who snap photos of amazing animals and bring them straight to you. The Sony World Photography Awards, the world's biggest photography competition, features loads of great nature images from every corner of our incredible planet.

We've picked out our 21 favorites for you to enjoy. Which do you think deserves the top prize?

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Share these beautiful photos with someone you know!