The Astounds: World

Check Out Some of the Gorgeous Pictures...

Aug 22, 2019, Check Out Some of the Gorgeous Winning Pictures From This ‘Kindness Photography’ Contest, By McKinley Corbley - Research has shown that viewing images of peace, kindness, and compassion has a dramatic impact on a person’s happiness and wellbeing. That’s why photographers from all over the world were asked to share their kindest photos—and the winners have finally been announced.

Envision Kindness, a nonprofit organization dedicated to spreading media positivity, recently concluded their third annual The World is Kind photography contest for images that embody kindness.

For this year’s contest, there were more than 1,800 submissions from 750 photographers in over 85 countries. The Envision Kindness team selected 20 of their favorite photographs while another 20 pictures were chosen by members of the public—and all of them are breathtaking.

“Every day, people are exposed to negative images, stories, and experiences,” says David Fryburg, founder of Envision Kindness. “We know that this exposure is stressful to the viewer—it causes anger, anxiety, depression, and can affect behavior, disconnecting people from one another.”

“To help counterbalance the negative, we want to share diverse, positive images like those submitted to the contest on a regular basis. We know that these images have great power to bring out joy, gratitude, optimism, love, and compassion,” he added.

If you would like to check out the rest of this year’s winners, you can visit the Envision Kindness website—or you can check out more of last year’s winners here on GNN.

Be Sure And Share The Photos With Your Friends On Social Media, Check Out Some of the Gorgeous Winning Pictures From This ‘Kindness Photography’ Contest

Photographer Captures Incredible Luminous..

First red ring ELVES phenomenon over Italy captured by Valter Binotto via SWNS

11/12/2025, Photographer Captures Incredible Luminous Event Over His Italian Town–For the Second Time (LOOK): Incredible images captured by an amateur astrophotographer show a bizarre red ring, 143-miles wide, floating in the sky. Valter Binotto not only managed to capture the otherworldly sight over his hometown of Possagno, amazingly, it’s the second time he has recorded the rings from his location in northern Italy, nestled in the foothills of Monte Grappa. The doughnut-shaped red rings are known as ELVES, an upper-atmospheric lightning event sometimes caught in long-exposure images above distant thunderstorms. (ELVES stands for Emissions of Light and Very Low Frequency due to Electromagnetic Pulse Sources). They’re a type of ‘transient luminous event’ which occurs in the lower ionosphere, dozens of miles above the Earth, directly above powerful lightning storms. Valter Binotto says he’s spent almost a decade tracking such high-altitude displays and secured his first ELVES image in 2023 above a storm 177 miles from his home (285 km). “It took almost three years before I managed to capture another one,” said Valter. He spotted it last month on November 17 from his home. This time, it was triggered by a negative lightning strike of 303 kA, according to SWNS news. The lightning occurred above the Cinque Terre in Liguria, 186 miles (300 km) away from his location—with a calculated diameter measuring 200 km (124 miles). “Another great thrill!

Third red ELVES ring with sprites in the sky over Possagno, Italy by Valter Binotto via SWNS

13/12/2025, “Less than a week later, I captured a third. The thunderstorm was over the Adriatic Sea this time, in front of the Marche regional coast, 380 km (236 miles) from my home. “This third event was different from the previous ones because, in addition to the ELVES, the lightning also produced a beautiful sprite.” Sprites are sparkly, red, firework-like phenomena created by extremely powerful lightning between the ground and the edge of space. Even better, he grabbed a photo (above) that contained both of the luminous events in the same frame—which he believes could be a first. “When I saw it on the display, the emotion was overwhelming—I couldn’t believe my eyes, I was witnessing something unique, never seen before.”

Red Sprites in sky over Possagno, Italy by Valter Binotto via SWNSHe reported that the positive lightning had a power of 387 kA. And, thanks to the star field, he was able to calculate its position to be 52 miles high (85 km), measuring 143 miles wide (230 km). Photographer Captures Incredible Luminous Event Over His Italian Town–For the Second Time (LOOK)

Photograph of World’s Happiest Elephant

Andy Rouse captured antics of Kenyan family of elephants – SWNS

Photographer Captures Pictures of World’s Happiest Elephant Herd (LOOK), An award-winning wildlife photographer believes he may have found the world’s happiest elephant family—and his pics will make you feel all warm inside. Andy Rouse documented the African herd in Kenya and described the playful young calves that were fascinated with branches. In the setting sun, the British tour guide shot pics of the small elephants while they played tug-of-war and ran toward Andy’s vehicle pretending to charge it. “I lead safari tours several times a year and love going to Samburu in Kenya because the elephants there are special,” he told SWNS news agency. “They are very very relaxed and, because of this, the herds will let you get very close to them and will pass close to vehicles without any issues. “I am completely relaxed with the incredible elephants of Samburu. On this occasion we found a large breeding herd with several youngsters less than 3 months old, who were very playful.

Andy Rouse / SWNS

“We positioned the vehicle well ahead of them so the matriarch had time to get used to us and felt comfortable. “It’s so important when you work with elephants—as I have done for all of my 25-year career—that you understand them and work within their tolerances. “The female and the herd settled around us grazing. The calves took it upon themselves to create havoc, chasing birds, doing mock charges to our vehicle and playing tug-of-war with branches. “Their antics made us laugh out loud.”

Andy Rouse / SWNS

“Young elephants are lovable idiots and I so love working with them. “The thirty minutes that we spent with this herd was all the more special as I had my 10-year-old daughter on her first safari.

Andy Rouse / SWNS“

To dictate to her about the wonder of elephants, the dangers saving them and the need to conserve them was a special thing indeed. ”Photographer Captures Pictures of World’s Happiest Elephant Herd (LOOK)

Savannah - The Tallest Cat in the World

The Savannah Cat, Scarlett’s Magic is the Guinness record holder for the world’s tallest cats

Owner Miss Kim Droper describes her cat as an obedient and smart one. She also said that the Savannahs are the most beautiful companion for the family. She adds that they are active cats and like to play with family members. She owns the Californian-based Savannah Cat Shoppe, with her husband Lee. This Savannah breed is popular in California because of their beautiful appearances and their great learning abilities.

Source: Savannah - The Tallest Cat

The World's Smallest Postal Service

In San Francisco and its environs is a "postal service" WSPS (World's Smallest Postal Service). She has no office, and works in the office "only one person. However, customers who turned in WSPS, can send "most small letters in the world." Initiated and actually postmaster - artist Lia Redmond (Lea Redmond). Become her client in two ways: or watch the calendar and find out where the next time will be taking orders for "mobile office" services (usually in cafes and shops), or consult the Leah the Internet. A principle of WSPS follows. Customer wrote longhand, in which, however, should not be more than 120 words, and passes it to Redmond. Artist rewrites the text on the tiny leaves the size of 2,5 x 4 cm, and then puts them in a miniature envelope, and that importantly, strengthens letter wax seal. In addition to the English artist can write a letter example, Russian and Greek. His "tiny" calligraphic ability Leah says natural talent. Next mini-message gets accustomed to this email packaging and comes with a magnifying glass. In the end the customer decides what to do with the letter: Leah can send it myself or give to your customer's hands. Services WSPS - not free. Three-letter or two-card are equally - Eight dollars (cost of delivery in an amount not included).