Nature photography is a labour of love. It requires patience, determination and lots of luck. How could you ever convince nine timid little Meerkats on the edge of the Kalahari Desert, to obediently stand together in a group, on a small mound and then have one turn to look directly at the camera. A one in a million shot. Photo taken by Ralph Thompson (Canada) - Nature

This is my Grandson, Isaac. The picture seems to capture his sweet personality. Photo was taken in October 2006, in Rathdrum, Idaho. Photo taken by Janine Russell (United States) - People/Family/Friends

The lovely, delicate little hands of my iguana. Photo taken by Laura Kalcheff (United States) - Animals/Pets

This is a Samburu school in Kenya. It was a small masonry building with virtually no supplies. The children were showing off their knowledge of the English alphabet. Their enthusuasm was inspiring. Photo taken by Wally Orlowsky (United States) - People/Family/Friends

A lone leaf laying in the snow on a sunny day - which is why there is water drops on the leaf. Something so simple yet so beautiful. Taken in Moscow, PA. Photo taken by Michelle Lee Jenkins (United States) - Nature

Made Of... and she is so very much "Sugar and Spice" :0) Photo taken by Datha Thompson (United States) - People/Family/Friends

My family and I were enjoying a spring day in beautiful Victoria, Australia. I found this shot in a local wildlife park. Photo taken by D. Glen Miller (Canada) - Nature

This image features my son in front of a group of children's self-portraits on a wall at Webster Elementary School in Green Bay, Wisconsin. It was taken in September of 2006. I am a bit worried about him - he seems to have fallen in with a very suspicious looking group at school this year. Photo taken by Steven W. Lepak (United States) - Humor

The small boots are following the big boots. It is as if a child is following his father. Photo taken by Hannah Sun (United Kingdom) - People/Family/Friends

While on vacation in Antigua Guatemala, my 4 year old son played with crayons. He did this himself! Photo taken by Steven Wilhite (United States) - Humor

Every Christmas I receive petits fours from my Aunt and Uncle. This year I remembered to photograph them before devouring all of them. Photo taken by Kathy Shogren (United States) - Holidays/Events

Two snails in love. Photo taken by Jan van der Voet (Netherlands) - Animals/Pets

I wanted to do something with my slinkys involving the holiday Valentines Day. So I put the candy heart in with the slinkys and desaturated the photograph but left the heart candy...BE MINE...in color. Photo taken by Michelle Lee Jenkins (United States) - Holidays/Events

My grand daughter at the Menin Gate Ieper, Belgium. Photo taken by Storme Hendik (Belgium) - People/Family/Friends

The arrival of the "Wisconsin" to the Milwaukee harbor fleet of working tugboats is a beautiful sight to behold. Taken in September 2006, she is described as the oldest working tug on the Great Lakes. Built in 1897 as a steam powered engine, she has long ago been converted to a diesel fueled engine. What a beautiful sight gracing the Milwaukee harbor. Photo taken by Kaye Burazin (United States) - Travel/Vacation

How do you look and feel in the morning? Whose face do you want to see in the mirror? What determines beauty, anyway? Photo taken by Rebecca Lehmann (United States) - Artistic/Creative

After spending a year in China, we exited by way of Hong Kong. The sun shining through the clouds produced this unusual lighting effect. Photo taken by Doug Mauck (United States) - Travel/Vacation

This eagle is one of two at the local zoo. Both were injured in the wild and are flightless but are still majestic and fascinating to watch. Photo taken by Andrew Thomas (United States) - Animals/Pets

This is my niece, who has grown up all of a sudden. Seems like she was just a little girl playing with Barbies! I took this at my house, and she posed for me very well! Photo taken by Lisa Townsend (United States) - People/Family/Friends

This is a fun shot of my families feet. Taken in Idaho, December 2006. Photo taken by Jennifer Rennison (United States) - People/Family/Friends

The only thing this delicious cherry pie is missing is a big scoop of vanilla ice cream on the top. I love the diagonal lines and the color of the crisp crust. And, it was so yummy, too. Photo taken by Laura Clay Ballard (United States) - Artistic/Creative

A brother is a friend for life. Photo taken by Tiffani LaNeave (United States) - People/Family/Friends

One of my favourite shots from my Kenya trip in 2005. Photo taken by Sylvia Rossler (Luxembourg) - Animals/Pets

The picture was taken as a Hungarian orchestra was getting ready to play at a local minority gathering in a Romanian town. Photo taken by Dacian Groza (Romania) - People/Family/Friends

I wanted to find a way to see the lowly dandelion in a new way, to show how beautiful they can be if you only take the time to stop and actually look at one. The grace of the fibers and the intricacies of the patterns they create is quite astounding. Photo taken by JP Suchoski (United States) - Artistic/Creative

I love shooting close-ups especially with natural light, and my daughter actually stayed still for this one. She enjoyed the spotlight and I got a fabulous photo capturing her beauty! Photo taken by Gwen Gurkan (United States) - People/Family/Friends

Taken in the village of Svolvaer, Norway in June of 2006 on a voyage up the coast of Norway. This was the first real sunshine we had and it came at 10:00 PM. It was a beautiful village and these cottages can now be rented for holidays. Photo taken by Nancy Davis (United States) - Travel/Vacation