Natural World Photography Competition celebrates life cycles and natural resilience. The California Academy of Sciences puts on the contest, which judges photos that capture nature in eight different categories.

Frame Within A Frame, Badlapur, India.

Bee Balling, Texas, United States.

Beautiful Wings, Osaki-shi Miyagi-ken, Japan.

Frame Within A Frame, Badlapur, India.

Sickening Delicacy, Covasna, Romania.

Sea Lion Fall, Monterey Bay, United States.

This year's competition encouraged photographers to submit images showcasing life on Earth and illustrated some of the planet's threats. 'Bee Balling', a picture that captures a rare moment of cactus bees swarming together in a mating ball, was selected as this year's grand prize winner. - bigpicturecompetition.org

The Stoat's Game, Irun, Spain.

Shooting Star, Kagoshima, Japan.

Curious Co-Parenting, Taranto, Italy.