The northern lights shimmering over a reindeer herder's tent (complete with satellite dish), a hot air balloon soaring over golden onion domes, police arresting someone during an unauthorised rally against the actions of the Russian authorities in Crimea... these are just some of the winning images in the Best of Russia 2014 photography competition.
The contest was open to amateur and professional photographers across the country. The only condition for entry was that photos must have been taken in Russia during 2014. We present a gallery of some of the more than 25,000 images submitted to this year's competition. To see more, visit thebestofrussia.ru/en
Clear weather and aurora, by Alexander Fedorov, Komi RepublicAlexander Fedorov/Best of RussiaSnail and strawberries by Vadim Trunov, VoronezhVadim Trunov/Best of RussiaThe road, by Konstantin Tolokonnikov, VoronezhKonstantin Tolokonnikov/Best of RussiaPaint shop worker, by Alexander Poulain, Omsk OblastAlexander Poulain/Best of RussiaOver the domes of the Ryazan Kremlin, by Sergey Gazetov, RyazanSergey Gazetov/Best of RussiaIt's good to be king, by Oleg Dudko, MoscowOleg Dudko/Best of RussiaWorthy opponent, by Anna Bazhanov, OrenburgAnna Bazhanov/Best of RussiaScheme by Daria Trofimov, MoscowDaria Trofimov/Best of RussiaTolbachik lava fields, by Denis Bud'ko, Kamchatka KraiDenis Bud'ko/Best of RussiaLibrary employees store books temporarily during the reconstruction of premises, by Vitaly Ankov, VladivostokVitaly Ankov/Best of RussiaPolice detain participants in an unauthorised rally against the actions of the Russian authorities in Crimea, by Valentin Egorshin, Saint PetersburgValentin Egorshin/Best of RussiaOn the verge of love, by Alexei Panteleyev, MoscowAlexei Panteleyev/Best of RussiaTake my hand and fall with me, by Denis Tokarev, Vladimir OblastDenis Tokarev/Best of RussiaSunset from an ice grotto at Lake Baikal, by Andrei GrachevAndrei Grachev/Best of RussiaThe road to marriage, by Alexander Kondratiuk, ChelyabinskAlexander Kondratiuk/Best of RussiaTrainee soldiers, by Rustam Muxametzjanov, Kalach-on-DonRustam Muxametzjanov/Best of RussiaSwim practice by Dmitry Vinogradov, MoscowDmitry Vinogradov/Best of RussiaFog in the city, by Alexei Zaripov, MoscowAlexei Zaripov/Best of RussiaKestrel and mouse by Anna Golubeva, PerepechinoAnna Golubeva/Best of RussiaPolar bear cub, by Andrew Black, NovosibirskAndrew Black/Best of RussiaSoldiers of the First World War, by Boris Tencer, MoscowBoris Tencer/Best of Russia
