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