At the end of every quarter the Sifter highlights the top 25 ‘Pictures of the Day‘, culminating in an epic Top 100 at the end of the year (check out the ‘Top 100 POTDs for 2013‘!).

It’s hard to believe we’re already 1/4 of the way through 2014. I can’t wait to see what the rest of the year will bring. Below you will find the first instalment of this quarterly compilation. All credit goes to the individual photographers and their inspiring visions of our beautiful planet.

For more information on any individual photograph, click the title or image to be taken to the original post.

*Please note the photographs themselves were not necessarily taken in 2014, they just happened to be featured as a POTD on TwistedSifter. The pictures are also listed in reverse chronological order. There is no ranking amongst the photos