2: Mariama Dryak
This photograph was taken at Lagoa de Albufeira on the coast of Portugal during the 2015 first year BSc undergraduate geography field trip to the Setúbal area this January. In it several students are shown taking levelling measurements in order to gather data low-tide sea elevation data along the coast. This information was later compared with other measurements to determine the direction in which a water exchange between the ocean and the nearby lagoon was occurring. This photo actively demonstrates the excellent opportunities that the Durham University geography department offers to students through the integration of practical field experiences and the promotion of teamwork into each undergraduate's degree.

3: Sophie Emms
As we become increasingly aware of the impacts of global warming, ice melting and sea level rise, investigation of glacier dynamics is an increasing important and relevant contemporary area of geographical research. This photograph which was taken in August 2014 whilst undertaking my dissertation field research, portrays something of Iceland's amazing natural beauty. In the far distance the outlet glaciers Hrútárjökull (left) and Fjallsjökull (right), are seen flowing from the Vatnajökull icecap. In the foreground icebergs calved from Breiðamerkurjökull glacier (not seen), are seen floating in the glacial lake Jökulsárlón. For me this photograph represents and highlights the accelerating glacial recession and melting of glaciers. It is a reminder of what we should strive to protect and preserve.

4: Katja Garson
This photograph captures a single moment of life in Jerusalem, several elements combining to bring together various dynamic aspects of the city. Boys play acrobatics on the roof, seemingly care-free, high up against the striking backdrop of the Al-Aqsa mosque, the third holiest site in Islam, which is used for the legitimisation of a historic Muslim presence in the city. A tangle of aerials and makeshift constructions clutter the rooftops and higher levels which are occupied by Jews, demonstrating the layered, textured materiality of the city. The boys' games remind us, too, that life goes on as people occupy and use space in their own ways within the ongoing religious and political conflict between Arabs and Jews. A possible tourist observing the view reminds us that the interpretation of this city-scape will vary greatly between academics, tourists, Jews, Arabs and those who fit into more than one of these categories.

5: Howard Harper
I was surveying a reef for coral bleaching when I caught a large object in the corner of the mask at around 25 metres depth, and not only is it incredibly beautiful, but shows that research in the field in geography has real-world implications for both aquatic as well as human life, and shows the places geography research can take you.

6: Katie Jelpke
An Artificial Wilderness
In many rapidly urbanising cities, natural environments are increasingly becoming sparse. Even those that survive are highly managed in order for human civilisation and nature to co-exist. As seen in this photo of the 'Gardens by the Bay' in Singapore during the early days of the project, maintaining rainforest environments are key in order to provide outdoor spaces for the population. These artificial structures show a new side to nature, a mechanic and industrialised version that gives the perception of 'being in nature' without being near anything remotely 'natural'. They mimic the trees they represent and provide support for other plant species as other trees do in symbiotic relationships. This photo gives rise to questions such as, are 'natural' environments still natural? And can nature and cities co-exist?

7: Sebastian Lawrence
This photograph was captured in December 2013 at the historic Machu Picchu site in Peru. How this site has been transformed into a tourist hub, whilst still preserving the tranquility generated by the shear natural beauty of the setting and the significance of the structures constructed by the ancient Incan civilisation, is of interest to the world of geography. Balancing the economic opportunity that is tourism with the sustainable qualities that should characterise fragile sites such as this is a perennial question and one which has been unfortunately mismanaged in many areas of the globe. From my experiences at this location, it would appear that the balance has been found as it offered me a chance to reflect upon the very pillars of our society - the sense of community that can unite people in places as rugged, beautiful and challenging as this.

8: Ben Lockwood
This wonderful setting was captured after five days of trekking upon the Wapta Ice fields, which can be seen in the far distance to the right of the image. The photograph indicates a number of geological features, from the active erosional processes upon Crowfoot mountain (centre in image), to the receding Wapta Ice fields and the vivid turquoise colours of Bow Lake itself, caused by rock flour suspended within the cool glacial melt waters. The image was taken on my second visit to Bow Lake, after visiting the ice sheets on two consecutive summers. To me this photograph resonates tranquility and peacefulness while also illustrating the colossal power that glacial processes had on such landscapes.

9: Aaron Neill
This is a photo of the Low Force waterfall on the River Tees. The slow shutter speed used allows the flow of the water to be clearly seen. What is obvious is the orange/brown discolouration of the water - a clear indicator of high levels of dissolved organic carbon (DOC). DOC concentrations have been rising in the UK, causing several water quality issues. A particular issue is the high costs associated with removing this orange/brown colouration to make the water suitable for drinking. This picture highlights the scale of the problem, and the need to understand what is driving DOC increases.

10: Will Percival
This photo depicts a quiet side street in Marrakech, tucked away from the hustle and bustle of Jemaa el-Fnaa, with two homeless people settling down for the night on the side of the road. These are likely to be migrants or refugees from sub-Saharan Africa who have moved to Marrakech in hope of crossing to Europe to satisfy the demand for migrant labour. However, many of these migrants fail to enter Europe yet still opt to stay in Marrakech rather than returning to their often more unstable, unsafe and substantially poorer home countries. This relatively new role that Morocco has adopted as a transit country has created an entirely new set of social and legal issues for them, including the problem of a growing homeless population.

11: Hai Qing (Clara)
The Fading Tradition
This picture was taken in the world largest wholesale fish market - Tsukiji Fish Market, Tokyo, Japan. This photo reveals the way cultural practices influence the economy of Japan. As noted by Bestor (1992), Japanese economists often overlook the ways in which cultural practices can affect a city economically and socially. This photo captures the moment before the auction, which starts at 5.30am everyday. The buyers stand around their potential purchase waiting for the bidding to start. Right in the centre, a little boy stands, holding torchlight and identically imitating the way his father inspects the tuna fishes. This auction is the core of this fish market’s daily routine, and part of the livelihood of the fishmongers and buyers. Consumers should appreciate such cultural practices - the preservation of which, in a globalising market, now lies in the hands of the next generation, the little boy in this photo.

12: Leona Repnik
This photograph was taken in Portugal during a first year undergraduate geography fieldtrip. At the quarry, we were measuring rock orientation and angle of dip. We then used this field data to reconstruct the direction of past river flow. This photo is significant because it illustrates that the study of geography is not confined to a lecture theatre, but instead involves real-life applications in the field. Furthermore, it represents the importance of data collection and analysis skills for conducting research.

13: Emma Reynolds
This photograph shows the famous Lewisian Gneiss metamorphic rocks of Northern Scotland in Loch Assynt. Originally Precambrian, they are the oldest rocks in Britain and at three billion years old, are two thirds the age of the Earth. After their formation, they were buried deep within the Earth and subjected to pressures and temperatures of such magnitude that the rock grew new minerals. The rocks were then thrust up from deep below onto the surface, where geologists and geographers around the world, including myself, go to study the example of rocks which are usually completely inaccessible for research and teaching.

14: Mara Waters
This photo was taken as part of my dissertation research on Nairobi's largest dumpsite: Dandora. Everyday hundreds of men, women and children spend hours scavenging through Nairobi’s municipal waste searching for materials that can be recycled or sold. The photo shows people sifting through rubbish dumped by Nairobi City council garbage trucks. Several Marabu Stalks are stood on top of mountains of rubbish picking at anything edible amongst the waste. In the background you see the boundary of the dumpsite and the corrugated iron roofs of Korogocho Slum which is home to approximately 150,000 people. 80% of the businesses in Korogocho rely on waste from this dumpsite. The dumpsite is a goldmine: 'Taka ni pato' (Trash is cash in Swahili).

15: Jack Watt
This image captures the awesome erosional force of the Kali Gandaki River, a high-altitude braided tributary of the Ganges that cuts through the centre of the Himalaya. Behind me stands the ominous Dhaulagiri (8167m) to the West and Annapurna (8091 m) to the East, making the Mustang valley the deepest in the world. The scars of a large landslide are evident in the foreground, and unique landforms carved out of the rock by water dominate the distant landscape, tinged with a red-oxide. Lying in the rain shadow of the Annapurna massif, Mustang receives little rainfall per year, making it arid and inhospitable to most. The few people that do choose to live here (the green fields of villages noticeable along the riverbanks) consider themselves Tibetan, not Nepalese, and it is perhaps the last true stronghold of Tibetan Buddhism, after the Chinese laid claim to Tibet (visible on the horizon).

16: Lizzie Webster
The Ambiguity of Everyday Life
Everyday life typically refers to the ordinary, banal and taken for granted aspects of quotidian life - yet this definition assigns a fixed meaning to an undeniably fluid concept and we are wrongly led to believe that everyday life experiences are shared, common and universal.

The photograph was taken as part of my assignment in 'Geographies of Everyday Life'. Over the past ten years Margo has undergone major hip surgery and two knee replacements, which has unfortunately left her unable to walk without assistance. Margo’s disability has had a huge influence on her day-to-day life as even the most trivial activities, such as vacuuming, have become extremely stressful and tiring.

Margo’s story highlighted the problems that arise when one distinct definition is tied to a concept as complex as the everyday. In reality, each embodied experience is unique, personal and individual. Perhaps it is time to accept that everyday life is undeniably an ambiguous and paradoxical concept and we must make peace with the fact that the everyday simply cannot be reduced to a predetermined and fixed definition.

17: Lara Wilson
Wind turbines: for good or for bad? Are they an embellishment of the landscape or an eyesore? While this photo makes turbines look somewhat impressive, the amount of wind turbines being built across the UK is making this, for some, an all too common site. So, are wind farms the key for future energy sustainability and the protection of the environment, or do other methods need to be considered?

18: Fatima Ying
6:15pm Rush Hour in Hong Kong
As I was on my way to the airport ready to leave, I took a final glance at the bustling city lights; the same city lights that greeted me on the first day of my arrival. A sense of nostalgia struck me despite my fleeting visit; the fading sight of hometown I regret not being part of.