The 2012 winners of the National Geographic Photo Contest have been announced.

When you need a dose of beauty or awe head here to see the winning images. They have a database of all the photos entered too, boy am I glad I didn’t have to judge that competition.

In keeping with the theme that appears to be forming this week, you can download the pictures too, maybe a new desktop background?

With his exceptional hearing a red fox has targeted a mouse hidden under 2 feet of crusted snow. Springing high in the air he breaks through the crusted spring snow with his nose and his body is completely vertical as he grabs the mouse under the snow.