This Month’s Most Surprising Photos

Workers work at the 'Gulliver' sculpture at "Gulliver's World" amusement park in Pudagla, on the island of Usedom, Germany on July 8, 2014.
Workers and tourists at the 'Gulliver' sculpture at "Gulliver's World" amusement park in Pudagla, on the island of Usedom, Germany on July 8, 2014.AFP/Getty Images
By TIME Photo
Flyers are dropped over Gaza City by the Israeli army urging residents to evacuate their homes on July 30, 2014.
Flyers are dropped over Gaza City by the Israeli army urging residents to evacuate their homes on July 30, 2014.Mahammed Abed—AFP/Getty Images
An employee at the Russian Space Training Center hangs space suits out to dry after training in Noginsk, Russia on July 2, 2014.
An employee at the Russian Space Training Center hangs space suits out to dry after training in Noginsk, Russia on July 2, 2014. Alexander Zemlianichenko—AP
Swimmers dive in during the Women's 4 x 200m Freestyle Relay Final at the Tollcross International Swimming Centre during the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow on July 26, 2014.
Swimmers dive in during the Women's 4 x 200m Freestyle Relay Final at the Tollcross International Swimming Centre during the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow on July 26, 2014.Andrej Isakovic—AFP/Getty Images
Patients of Larco Herrera Psychiatric Hospital, perform in their own Peruvian Independence Day parade on hospital grounds, in Lima on July 23, 2014.
Patients of Larco Herrera Psychiatric Hospital perform in their own Peruvian Independence Day parade on hospital grounds in Lima on July 23, 2014.Martin Mejia—AP
A Romanian Roma child sits amongst his family belongings at a container settlement outside the Black Sea costal town of Eforie, Romania on July 16, 2014.
A Romanian Roma child sits amongst his family's belongings at a container settlement outside the Black Sea costal town of Eforie, Romania on July 16, 2014.Bogdan Chesaru—AP
Former first lady Imelda Marcos kisses the glass coffin of her husband, late president Ferdinand Marcos, who remains unburied since his death in 1989, during her 85th birthday celebration in Ferdinand Marcos' hometown of Batac, Ilocos Philippines on July 2, 2014.
Former first lady Imelda Marcos kisses the glass coffin of her husband, late president Ferdinand Marcos, who remains unburied since his death in 1989, during her 85th birthday celebration in Ferdinand Marcos' hometown of Batac Ilocos, Philippines on July 2, 2014.Erik De Castro—Reuters
Nuns from the enclosed monastery of Imaculada Conceicao celebrate Brazil's victory as they watch on television at the end of the 2014 World Cup quarter-final soccer match between Brazil and Colombia in Piratininga, Brazil on July 4, 2014.
Nuns from the enclosed monastery of Imaculada Conceicao celebrate Brazil's victory as they watch on television at the end of the 2014 World Cup quarter-final soccer match between Brazil and Colombia in Piratininga, Brazil on July 4, 2014. Nacho Doce—Reuters
Workers carefully unload 21-foot crocodile robot "Longlong" from the roof of a van, in Crocodile Park in Pasay city, Philippines on July 5, 2014.
Workers carefully unload 21-foot crocodile robot "Longlong" from the roof of a van, in Crocodile Park in Pasay city, Philippines on July 5, 2014.Romeo Ranoco—Reuters
A man wearing a horse mask reaches out to shake hands with President Barack Obama during a walkabout in Denver on July 8, 2014.
A man wearing a horse mask reaches out to shake hands with President Barack Obama during a walkabout in Denver on July 8, 2014. Kevin Lamarque—Reuters
Bengal tigers play in a pool of water at the zoo in Malabon, Philippines on July 11, 2014.
Bengal tigers play in a pool of water at the zoo in Malabon, Philippines on July 11, 2014.Erik De Castro—Reuters
People run to shelter from a hailstorm on the Ob River beach in Siberia on July 12, 2014.
People run to shelter from a hailstorm on the Ob River beach in Siberia on July 12, 2014.Nikita Dudnik—AP
A Brazilian soccer fan cries as Germany scores against her team at a semifinal World Cup match as she watches the game on a live telecast in Belo Horizonte, Brazil on July 8, 2014.
A Brazilian soccer fan cries as Germany scores against her team at a semifinal World Cup match as she watches the game on a live telecast in Belo Horizonte, Brazil on July 8, 2014.Bruno Magalhaes—AP
Performers present creations from the Haute Coiffure Fall-Winter 2014/15 collection by French designer Charlie Le Mindu during the Paris Fashion Week, in Paris on July 7, 2014.
Performers present creations from the Haute Coiffure Fall-Winter 2014/15 collection by French designer Charlie Le Mindu during the Paris Fashion Week, in Paris on July 7, 2014.Etienne Laurent—EPA
The Supermoon rises over houses in Olvera, Spain on July 12, 2014.
The Supermoon rises over houses in Olvera, Spain on July 12, 2014. Jon Nazca—Reuters
Tokyo Metropolitan Government employees lighting a large underground regulating reservoir in Tokyo, Japan on July 28, 2014.
Tokyo Metropolitan Government employees light a large underground regulating reservoir in Tokyo on July 28, 2014. Frank Robichon—EPA
A giant inflatable toad is seen floating on a lake at the Yuyuantan Park in Beijing on July 19, 2014.
A giant inflatable toad is seen floating on a lake at the Yuyuantan Park in Beijing on July 19, 2014. Reuters
A Chinese shopper sleeps with her child on a bed in the showroom of the IKEA store in Beijing on July 6, 2014.
A Chinese shopper sleeps with her child on a bed in the showroom of the IKEA store in Beijing on July 6, 2014.Kevin Frayer—Getty Images
Participants swim together with a portrait of late Chinese Chairman Mao Zedong in the Hanjiang River, a large branch of the Yangtze River in Xiangyang, China on July 13, 2014.
Participants swim together with a portrait of late Chinese Chairman Mao Zedong in the Hanjiang River, a large branch of the Yangtze River in Xiangyang, China on July 13, 2014.Reuters
Birds flying past are reflected in a building at the Swiss headquarters of Banque Privee Espirito Santo SA in Pully, Switzerland on July 11, 2014.
Birds flying past are reflected in a building at the Swiss headquarters of Banque Privee Espirito Santo SA in Pully, Switzerland on July 11, 2014. Denis Balibouse—Reuters
The Giants and Big Heads paraded during a farewell dance ceremony on the last day of the San Fermin festival in Pamplona, Spain on July 14, 2014.
The Giants and Big Heads masks during a farewell dance ceremony on the last day of the San Fermin festival in Pamplona, Spain on July 14, 2014.MarÌa Arranz—Demotix/Corbis
Men work on repairs on the Christ the Redeemer statue with the Maracana stadium in the background, in Rio de Janeiro on June 27, 2014.
Men work on repairs on the Christ the Redeemer statue with the Maracana stadium in the background, in Rio de Janeiro on June 27, 2014. Ricardo Moraes—Reuters
An employee pours water over a doll's head before brushing its hair inside the toy factory owned by Norberto Garcia in Buenos Aires on July 28, 2014.
An employee pours water over a doll's head before brushing its hair inside the toy factory owned by Norberto Garcia in Buenos Aires on July 28, 2014. Marcos Brindicci—Reuters
The sun reflects off the water in this picture taken by German astronaut Alexander Gerst from the International Space Station and sent on his Twitter feed on July 17, 2014.
The sun reflects off the water in this picture taken by German astronaut Alexander Gerst from the International Space Station and posted on his Twitter feed on July 17, 2014. NASA/Reuters
A crane lifts a puppet of a girl in Liverpool, England on July 26, 2014.
A crane lifts a puppet of a girl in Liverpool on July 26, 2014.Nigel Roddis—Reuters
A cormorant master prepares his sea cormorants for the nights "Ukai" in Gifu, Japan on July 2, 2014.
A cormorant master prepares his sea cormorants for the nights "Ukai" in Gifu, Japan on July 2, 2014.Chris McGrath—Getty Images
An ancient tower is seen balancing on the top of a dirt hill, with its base slightly eroded, along a grassland in Qixian county, China on July 19, 2014.
An ancient tower is seen balancing on the top of a dirt hill along a grassland in Qixian county, China on July 19, 2014. Reuters
Children accept traditional Chinese medical treatment with moxibustion boxes on their heads in a hospital in Qingdao city, China on July 18, 2014.
Children accept traditional Chinese medical treatment with moxibustion boxes on their heads in a hospital in Qingdao, China on July 18, 2014.Wu Hong—EPA
A Filipino teen walks past a damaged house after strong winds and rain brought by Typhoon Rammasun in Manilla, Philippines on July 18,, 2014.
A Filipino teen walks past a damaged house after strong winds and rain brought by Typhoon Rammasun in Manilla on July 18,, 2014.Francis R. Malasig—Reuters
Chinese women hold plastic guns as they take part in a performance by an amateur dance troupe re-enacting musical theatre scenes of the anti-Japanese war of 1937-1945 at a mall in Beijing on July 8, 2014.
Chinese women hold plastic guns as they take part in a performance by an amateur dance troupe re-enacting musical theatre scenes of the anti-Japanese war of 1937-1945 at a mall in Beijing on July 8, 2014.Kevin Frayer—Getty Images
A Chinese tourist poses for a picture with a tiger at Tiger Kingdom in Mae Rim, Thailand on on July 25, 2014.
A Chinese tourist poses for a picture with a tiger at Tiger Kingdom in Mae Rim, Thailand on on July 25, 2014.Taylor Weidman—Getty Images
Overweight Chinese students stretch after swimming during training at a camp held for overweight children in Beijing on July 15, 2014.
Overweight Chinese students stretch after swimming during training at a camp for overweight children in Beijing on July 15, 2014.Kevin Frayer—Getty Images
Workers work at the 'Gulliver' sculpture at "Gulliver's World" amusement park in Pudagla, on the island of Usedom, Germany on July 8, 2014.
Workers and tourists at the 'Gulliver' sculpture at "Gulliver's World" amusement park in Pudagla, on the island of Usedom, Germany on July 8, 2014.AFP/Getty Images
Protective gear including boots, gloves, masks and suits, drying after being used in a treatment room in the ELWA hospital in Monrovia, Liberia on July 24, 2014.
Protective gear drying after being used in a treatment room in the ELWA hospital in Monrovia, Liberia on July 24, 2014. Zoom Dosso—AFP/Getty Images
Arleta Sahiti poses after having her face painted during a presentation of the traditional wedding ceremony of Bosnian women from Zhupa region at the Ethnological Museum in Pristina, Kosovo on July 2, 2014.
Arleta Sahiti poses after having her face painted during a presentation of the traditional wedding ceremony of Bosnian women from Zhupa region at the Ethnological Museum in Pristina, Kosovo on July 2, 2014.Armend Nimani—AFP/Getty Images
Two Somalis, convicted of the murder of a Somali nurse are tied to wooden stakes as they wait to be executed by a firing squad in Mogadishu, Somalia on July 15, 2014.
Two Somalis convicted of the murder of a Somali nurse are tied to wooden stakes as they wait to be executed by a firing squad in Mogadishu, Somalia on July 15, 2014.Mohamed Abdiwahab—AFP/Getty Images
"Aloitadores" (fighters) struggle with a wild horse during the "Rapa Das Bestas" (Shearing of the Beasts) traditional event in Sabucedo, Spain on July 5, 2014.
"Aloitadores" (fighters) struggle with a wild horse during the "Rapa Das Bestas" (Shearing of the Beasts) traditional event in Sabucedo, Spain on July 5, 2014.Miguel Riopa—AFP/Getty Images
A cat leaps off stairs as mourners grieve during the funeral of 18-year-old Yusuf Abu Zagher in the Jenin refugee camp, in the northern Israeli occupied West Bank on July1, 2014.
A cat leaps off stairs as mourners grieve during the funeral of 18-year-old Yusuf Abu Zagher in the Jenin refugee camp, in the West Bank on July1, 2014. Jaafar Ashtiyeh—AFP/Getty Images
A pro-Russia separatist pets a kitten as he mans a checkpoint in the northern outskirts of Donetsk on July 22, 2014.
A pro-Russia separatist pets a kitten as he mans a checkpoint in the northern outskirts of Donetsk on July 22, 2014.Bulent Kilic—AFP/Getty Images

More Must-Reads from TIME

Contact us at letters@time.com