Creatures of the wild

They say never work with children or animals, but these photographers have managed to get up close and personal with some of nature's most imposing creatures. What's more, the vivid, spontaneous nature of their shots often cast their subjects in an entirely different light to the way they're normally perceived. A great white shark looks almost genteel as it glides atop the ocean. A bathing tigress is clearly in her element as she shakes off post-pool session. A Sargassum Frog Fish - pictured in rare promixity - is both beautiful and grotesque.

All these photos, shown below, are editor's favourites from the 2012 National Geographic Photo Contest. The annual competition has already received over 1,600 entries from a variety of professional and amateur photographers. It closes at the end of November so there's still time to enter if you're keen - find out more here. Be inspired by some of the highlights of the contest so far, below.