Pictures of the Week: Nov. 24-30

This week I attended the Adobe Photoshop CS3 Power Tour taught by Photoshop expert Scott Kelby. On the way home, I was listening to NPR on the radio and I heard AP photographer Ron Edmonds talking about the Annapolis peace summit taking place this week in Maryland's capital city.

The discussion centered on the similarities between the iconic image of President Bill Clinton with his arms extended, framing Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin and PLO Chairman Yasser Arafat as they shook hands following the signing of the 1993 peace accord between Israel and the Palestinians on the White House lawn in 1993 ...



... and images of the handshake that occurred this week between Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in Annapolis between the outstretched arms of President George Bush.



I found Ron Edmonds comments to be both enlightening and accurate. If you are at all interested in photojournalism or learning about the thoughts that go into covering news events, I'd suggest you listen to his comments and take a look at all of this week's best in photojournalism from around the world in this week's Pictures of the Week gallery.

- Lee Van Grack

Tags: Pictures of the Week

Pictures of the Week: Nov. 17-23

While searching for photos for this week's gallery, a photograph of a starlet sitting on a power line as storm clouds rolled across the sky muting the sun caught my eye. I found it to be a unique image. The bird is perfectly framed by the shape of the partly obscure sun, which itself is framed by a dark storm cloud.



AOL is a subscriber to the AP Photo service, which allows us to use any photo that moves on the wire that is shot by an AP staff photographer. Occasionally, a photo comes across the wire that is submitted to AP by a newspaper for use by it's contributing members (which is usually other newspapers). Although AOL is a subscriber to the AP photo service, we are not a contributing member, and on those occasions when I wish to include a member photo in the Pictures of the Week gallery, I need to get permission from the contributing newspaper. 
  
I contacted the Wyoming Tribune Eagle to obtain permission to use the starling photo and spoke with  Michael Smith, the photographer of the image. He granted us permission but explained to me that he had another version of the image that he felt was a better photo, and he offered to allow me to use it. 
  
When I saw the second image, I immediately knew that it was an improved visual over an already great image. The second photo was a wider image and showed three additional birds on the wire, further highlighting the bird that is framed by the sun; it makes it appear as though the bird on the left is performing in a spotlight as the other three sit off to the side against a dramatic backdrop.

What do you think? Take a look at the rest of the dramatic images from around the world in this week's Pictures of the Week gallery.

 

-Lee Van Grack

Tags: Pictures of the Week

Digital Keychain

File this under the "what will they think of next" category ...

 

I saw this on the AOL Welcome Screen today, started poking through the AOL Shopping area and followed the links through to this intriguing gift idea for the holidays -- a digital photo keychain, sold by The Sharper Image.



It's got a one-and-a-half-inch screen, you can transfer photos to it directly from your PC or Mac (it stores up to about 31 photos) via USB port, you can display a single photo or have them shuffle through in a slideshow format.

Pictures of the Week: Nov. 10-16

Addrin Adams, 7, brother of slain Army Spc. Jeffrey Paul Shaffer who was killed in Iraq, wipes a tear from the eye of his mother, Melissa Adams, during a Fallen Soldiers Memorial at the American Legion Post 121 in Waco, Texas, Nov. 11. President Bush attended the event.

Veterans Day is an American holiday honoring our military veterans. It is so very sad that not all veterans return home to their loved ones. Although too many service men and women may never witness this day as veterans, they are honored just the same. The sacrifices that families make in service to their country is immense, and this photograph of a child wiping a tear from his mother's eye while attending the Fallen Soldiers Memorial at the American Legion Post 121 in Waco, Texas, is a poignant testament to that.

Take a look at the rest of the dramatic images from around the world in this week's Pictures of the Week gallery.

 

-Lee Van Grack

Tags: Pictures of the Week

Veterans Day, 2007

Prisoner of War Medal (left), Purple Heart (right)

Over 4 million American soldiers served during WWI. Today, only three U.S. WWI veterans remain. One is 106-year-old Frank Woodruff Buckles, who lives in Charles Town, W.Va.  Underage but eager to join up, he lied about how young he was so he could go to war. He was only 16 years old but was undeterred after being turned away by many recruiters. After some fast talking, he convinced an Army recruiter to let him sign up.

WWI Veteran Frank Woodruff Buckles

I found and interviewed five veterans from WWI to the current Iraq War. I wanted to learn about their experiences from different points of view -- men, a woman, white, African-American, Latino. It was such an honor to spend time with these veterans, listen to their heart-felt personal stories and see their war-time photographs.

 

I was struck by the number of veterans I interviewed who said the main reason they enlisted was to see more of the world. Something I learned that really struck me, was why servicemen and women are issued two dog tags. I guess all veterans know the reason, but it was sobering information to hear. 

 

All veterans endured hardships and faced danger. What does their service mean to you?

 

I compiled their stories in a handful of multimedia vignettes, using video, audio and still photos to tell their stories. Check it out, and let me know what you think: Veterans Reflect on  Service.

- Dave

Tags: Veterans Day

Pictures of trhe Week: Nov. 3-9

President Pervez Musharraf's recent declaration of emergency rule has sparked an uprising by citizens across Pakistan -- even lawyers. They are protesting against Musharraf's recent suspension of the constitution and his attempts to silence the legal system that he perceives to be a threat to his continued rule. (Latest news on Pakistan)

 

This photograph strikes me as an iconic image. People fighting for their rights and the rights of others. One does not normally expect to see a government protestor to be wearing a suit and throwing back a tear gas shell toward the police, but democracy does not possess a dress code.

 

Take a look at the rest of this week's dramatic images from around the world in this week's Pictures of the Week gallery.

 

-Lee Van Grack

Tags: Pictures of the Week

Digital Photography Info

I hesitate to say this ... we're barely past Halloween, but Thanksgiving, although still off in the distance a little, is only a couple of weeks away. And you know what comes next: Christmas. So -- it's not too early to start doing your homework on digital imaging and thinking about the kinds of digital photo gifts you might consider giving this holiday season. If you're thinking about giving a gift that involves digital photography this year, you certainly won't be alone. According to the Consumer Electronics Association's (CEA) figures, some 27.5 million digital cameras will be sold during 2007, up slightly from 26.7 million last year.

AOL has a number of areas where you can get basic tips as well as more in-depth information when it comes to digital photography. For example, check out this this digital camera buying guide, put together by CEA in partnership with CNET.com. It's an interactive guide, and there's lots of information that helps break down the various kinds of digital cameras, their features, and what you should look for. It's a good place to get started. Also in a similar format are guides for:

    • Printing digital images

    • Sharing digital images

    • Editing digital images

    • Storing digital images

CNET also has compiled the most popular digital cameras for your consideration.

And there's this digital camera type guide that also should prove to be very helpful. It was put together by digitalcamerareview.com, and it's a pretty thorough examination of current digital cameras. 

If you want more general information about digital photography, how-to's, the basics of shooting better pictures, information on making prints from digital files, and other tips, check out what's available at the Digital World of Photos. Another place that has a more newsy feel to it is switched.com's camera's area -- lots of interesting stuff there.

Digital Photography Review -- dpreview.com -- which is perhaps the most comprehensive review site for digital cameras.

When you're ready to move on and start hunting down the best prices, AOL Shopping has almost 1,000 different types of digital cameras available for purchasing. Not a bad place to start. 

Pictures of the Week: Oct. 27-Nov. 2

In life, as in death, nature has a way of displaying beauty in whatever form it may appear. Nature's beauty can be captured in the brightly colored autumn forest highlighted by it's reflection on the lake of Viacha outside Minsk, Belarus ...



... and it can be equally found in the colorful clouds of San Diego, Calif., as they serve as a canvas to highlight the twisted, burned and charred remains of trees destroyed by the Witch fire.

 

Take a look at all of this week's amazing images from around the world in this week's Pictures of the Week gallery.

 

-Lee Van Grack

Tags: Pictures of the Week