The Beauty of Russia in Best of Russia photography competition

This gallery contains a small selection of the winning photos in the "Best of Russia 2011" competition, which 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 2011. The judges chose 365 winners, sysmbolically representing one year in the life of Russia.

Belogorskiy Monastery, by Pyotr Zakharov, Kungur

Fearless, by Marat Dupree, Moscow region. "The photo was taken from the highest point of an abandoned 215-metre tower in the town of Elektrostal. My friend walked to the edge of a thin beam, which caused me a shock."

The World of Ants, by Vadim Trunov

Brown bear against False Bay, the Pacific Ocean, by Maxim Balakhovskiy

Tirelessly to Admire, by Игорь Нелинов

Lelka, by Olesya Kuchukbaeva

In the Subway, by Alexei Bolshakov, Moscow

Self-portrait at the Trinity-Sergius Lavra, by Peter Lovygin