In Focus

[Count Bobulescu]

Afghanistan, July 2012:

Faces of Hope This month, we present a view of Afghanistan seen from the perspective of a single photographer, Martin Middlebrook. He has spent much of the last three years documenting the real lives of ordinary people across Afghanistan, for a project called 'Faces of Hope'. Middlebrook writes "'Faces of Hope' is now being turned into a book, an uplifting repositioning of humanity, putting the goodness in people back to the forefront. Afghanistan is a misunderstood and misrepresented country, a place and people devastated by 32 years of continual conflict. And at the heart of this destruction are the souls of 34 million ordinary people trying to survive in this land of 'blood and dust'." View the full gallery >

http://www.theatlantic.com/infocus/2...f-hope/100345/

[Count Bobulescu]

Here’s a nice and relevant juxta.

Ramadan, the Islamic month of fasting, will come to a close this weekend with the observation of a festival called Eid al-Fitr. Throughout this ninth month on the Islamic calendar, devout Muslims must abstain from food, drink, and sex from dawn until sunset. The fast, one of the five pillars of Islam, is seen as a time for spiritual reflection, prayers, and charity. After sunset, Muslims traditionally break the fast by eating three dates, performing the Maghrib prayer, and sitting down to Iftar, the main evening meal, where communities and families gather together. Gathered here are images of Muslims around the world observing Ramadan this year. [42 photos]

http://www.theatlantic.com/infocus/2...n-2012/100354/

In February, four members of a feminist Russian punk-rock band named "Pussy Riot," protesting against President Vladimir Putin's government, walked into the Russian Orthodox Cathedral of Christ the Savior in Moscow. They wore bright-colored balaclavas and performed a provocative song called "Punk Prayer," with lyrics that called on the Virgin Mary to drive Putin away, and condemned the close relationship of the church and the Russian government. Shortly after, three of the women were arrested and detained for months as a 2,800-page indictment was compiled, accusing them of criminal hooliganism and religious hatred. On Friday, the three were convicted and sentenced to two years imprisonment, after a trial widely condemned by outside observers as an attack on free speech. Gathered here are several images from the trial and the reactions of Pussy Riot supporters around the world. [34 photos]

http://www.theatlantic.com/infocus/2...russia/100355/

[Count Bobulescu]

The winners of the 24th annual National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest have just been announced, with a group of ten photos coming out on top, plus one Viewer's Choice winner. These eleven images were chosen from more than 12,000 entries submitted by 6,615 photographers from 152 countries. National Geographic was kind enough to allow me to share the winning photographs with you here, from four categories: Travel Portraits, Outdoor Scenes, Sense of Place, and Spontaneous Moments. Also, be sure to see the earlier entry featuring 40 images from the submissions to this year's contest.. [11 photos]

http://www.theatlantic.com/infocus/2...t-2012/100353/




Worldwide, lightning strikes around 50 times every second (more than 4 million times every day). Electrical imbalances generated by turbulent skies are suddenly balanced by a spectacular discharge tracing across a darkened sky -- a display that is both frightening and awe-inspiring. Collected below are recent images of lightning around the world, including a rare image of an upper atmosphere "red sprite" flash captured by NASA astronauts aboard the International Space Station. [24 photos]

http://www.theatlantic.com/infocus/2...trikes/100356/

[Count Bobulescu]

Two from space.

Last March, the operators of the Hubble Space Telescope launched a competition, inviting amateur astronomers to dig into hundreds of thousands of images of outer space, helping discover hidden treasures and bring them to light. Yesterday, NASA and the European Space Agency announced the winners in both categories: image processing, where entrants composed their own images based on Hubble data, and image search, where entrants simply uncovered amazing images not previously released. Collected here are 16 of the winning images. Be sure to visit the Hubble site to see them all. [16 photos]

http://www.theatlantic.com/infocus/2...asures/100358/


The efforts of 406 NASA team members and 3,500 Jet Propulsion Laboratory workers, with the help of teams from seven other countries, safely landed a one-ton nuclear-powered rover on the surface of Mars. The complex sequence of landing maneuvers required to slow the massive spacecraft went according to plan, at the end of which a rocket-suspended sky crane gently touched Curiosity down. Moments after landing, the rover sent images, confirming safe arrival, and setting off celebrations by team members and viewers around the world -- at home, alone, or together in viewing parties. Gathered here is a collection of images of the landing, along with new images from the surface of Mars. [31 photos]

http://www.theatlantic.com/infocus/2...n-mars/100348/

[Count Bobulescu]

Nearly a year and a half after Syria's uprising began back in the Arab Spring, it has devolved into a violent civil war with fractious rebel forces continuing their efforts to remove President Bashar al-Assad from power. Earlier today, Riad Hijab, Syria's Prime Minister who defected to the opposition last week, held a press conference, saying "the regime is on the verge of collapse morally and economically." Activists now claim more than 20,000 have been killed in the conflict since early 2011, and the violence continues to spread to the cities of Damascus and Aleppo. [39 photos]

http://www.theatlantic.com/infocus/2...llapse/100352/


It's time once more for a look into the animal kingdom and our interactions with the countless other species that share our planet. Today's photos include a WiFi-enabled donkey, a wayward badger, Slash holding a koala, and a farewell to Bao Bao, the world's oldest male panda. These images and many others are part of this roundup of animals in the news from recent weeks, seen from the perspectives of their human observers, companions, captors, and caretakers, part of an ongoing series on animals in the news. [41 photos]

http://www.theatlantic.com/infocus/2...e-news/100357/



This weekend, the world lost a true pioneer and reluctant hero, Neil A. Armstrong, the first man to set foot on the Moon. At the age of 82, Armstrong passed away due to complications resulting from a heart procedure. He earned his flight certificate at age 15, before he could even drive, and went on to study aerospace engineering. By age 20, he was a U.S. Navy Aviator, flying missions during the Korean War, and shortly afterward, he became an experimental research test pilot. Selected for the U.S. astronaut program, he first orbited the Earth in 1965, commanding NASA's Gemini 8 mission. Armstrong was later chosen to not only command the Apollo 11 mission to the moon, but to be the first person out the hatch, placing the first human footprints on lunar soil. It was his last mission to space -- on returning to Earth, after months of goodwill tours and interviews, Armstrong returned to a private life in his home state of Ohio. Here is a farewell to Neil Armstrong, who spent 82 years on this planet, and a few precious, historic moments on another world. [38 photos]

http://www.theatlantic.com/infocus/2...0-2012/100359/

[Count Bobulescu]

This summer, the United States has experienced its worst drought in more than half a century. The Mississippi River is approaching record lows, as far as 20 feet below normal. Throughout the Midwest, meager corn harvests began on the some of the earliest dates ever recorded. Corn and soybean farms are producing far smaller yields this year, which will affect livestock production and impact food prices worldwide -- especially in developing nations, where even a small rise in the cost of grains can be devastating. Collected below are images of a very dry and dusty Midwest, where residents hope that remnants of Hurricane Isaac might bring at least a little relief. [36 photos]


http://www.theatlantic.com/infocus/2...f-2012/100360/

A year ago was posting about “biblical” flooding on Ole Miss,

http://www.politicalworld.org/showth...light=Biblical

[Count Bobulescu]

The 2012 Summer Paralympic Games begin tonight in London with Queen Elizabeth II officially opening the Games at the Opening Ceremony in London. An estimated 4,200 athletes representing 167 countries are expected to compete in the Games, designed for athletes with physical disabilities. They will compete in 20 sports, ranging from cycling, powerlifting, and judo, to wheelchair rugby and goalball. BBC's Channel 4 is inviting viewers to "Meet the Superhumans," and it plans to broadcast 150 hours of Paralympic programming between now and the Closing Ceremony on September 9. Viewers online can also watch hundreds of hours of live video from the International Paralympic Committee at paralympic.org. Gathered here are images of the athletes and organizers as they ready themselves for the 2012 Summer Paralympics -- more coverage to come as the Games progress. [40 photos]

http://www.theatlantic.com/infocus/2...ympics/100361/

[Count Bobulescu]

Last night, Mitt Romney wrapped up the 2012 Republican National Convention, accepting his party's nomination for president of the United States. He gave a speech that sought to sway independents, assure his base, show him as relatable, and lay out what a Romney presidency would mean. His address followed days of presentations and speeches by fellow Republicans in Tampa, Florida, where thousands of delegates gathered to give the nomination to Romney and his running mate, Paul Ryan. Collected below are scenes from Tampa over the past week -- and stay tuned for for images from the Democratic National Convention, next week in North Carolina. [42 photos]

http://www.theatlantic.com/infocus/2...ention/100362/

[Count Bobulescu]

Out on the playa of Nevada's Black Rock Desert, more than 50,000 participants gathered last week to form Black Rock City, a temporary city that became the home of the 26th annual Burning Man Festival. Every year, participants from around the world descend on the playa -- performers, artists, free spirits, and more -- to form a self-reliant community, to dance, to express themselves and take in the spectacle of the festival. Reuters photographer Jim Urquhart spent the week on the playa, and returned with these photographs, taking us along on a virtual visit to Burning Man 2012. [40 photos]

http://www.theatlantic.com/infocus/2...n-2012/100363/

[Count Bobulescu]

In August, the 143rd month of the conflict, 53 coalition forces based in Afghanistan were killed -- the most in a single month since last September. Of these, five were from New Zealand, five from Australia, three from the UK, one from France, and the rest from the United States -- 50 men and 3 women ranging in age from 20 to 55. Collected below are images from the many ceremonies honoring the return of these 53 fallen soldiers. While the photographs may bear some similarities, keep in mind that each one represents a separate individual life lost in Afghanistan just last month. [41 photos]

http://www.theatlantic.com/infocus/2...fallen/100364/



As the 2012 Summer Paralympic Games reach day 7, an estimated 4,200 athletes representing 167 countries are now competing in London. Competitions have already taken place in cycling, sailing, track and field, swimming, archery, and many more. The Games, which continue until September 9, are designed for athletes with disabilities and feature 20 sports in all. Collected here is just a small glimpse of these inspirational "superhuman" athletes as they take part in the 2012 Summer Paralympics. [54 photos]


http://www.theatlantic.com/infocus/2...ympics/100365/

[Count Bobulescu]

Tomorrow will mark the 11th anniversary of the attacks of September 11, 2001. After years of effort and numerous setbacks, three of the proposed seven towers to be built at the World Trade Center complex have "topped out," reaching their structural maximum height. Seven WTC was completed in 2006, Four WTC topped out in June of this year, and the tallest, One World Trade Center (formerly known as Freedom Tower), just topped out at 104 floors on August 30. Financial difficulties have left the future of the remaining towers in doubt, and have raised concerns about the still-incomplete National September 11 Memorial and Museum, as the foundation that runs the memorial estimates that it will cost $60 million a year to operate. Gathered below are recent images of the rebuilding at ground zero in New York City. [33 photos]

http://www.theatlantic.com/infocus/2...ogress/100367/

[Count Bobulescu]

Robotic probes launched by NASA, the European Space Agency (ESA), and others are gathering information all across the solar system. We currently have spacecraft in orbit around the Sun, Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, and Saturn -- and one new rover recently landed on Mars. Several others are on their way to smaller bodies, and a few are heading out of the solar system entirely. Although the Space Shuttle no longer flies, astronauts are still at work aboard the International Space Station, performing experiments and sending back amazing photos. With all these eyes in the sky, I'd like to take another opportunity to put together a recent photo album of our solar system -- a set of family portraits, of sorts -- as seen by our astronauts and mechanical emissaries. This time, we have some great shots from the new Mars rover Curiosity, a parting shot of the asteroid Vesta, some glimpses of Saturn and its moons, and lovely images of our home, planet Earth. [33 photos]

http://www.theatlantic.com/infocus/2...system/100368/

[Count Bobulescu]

Outrage in the Muslim community, stoked by a crude anti-Islam video mocking the prophet Muhammad, has spread across much of the globe today. Starting earlier this week in Libya, Tunisia, and Egypt, protesters stormed embassies, resulting in multiple deaths, four of them American. Since then, demonstrations have erupted in more than two dozen countries -- ranging from small peaceful gatherings to violent attacks on western targets. Host nations have been struggling to defend western consulates after thousands took to the streets following Friday prayers. Gathered here are scenes of this growing unrest over the past few days. [36 photos]

http://www.theatlantic.com/infocus/2...-globe/100369/

[Count Bobulescu]

A long-standing conflict over the sovereignty of a group of eight tiny, uninhabited islands in the East China Sea has resulted in dozens of anti-Japanese protests across China, some violent. The dispute came to a head after the Japanese government nationalized control of three of the largest islands earlier this month, purchasing them from a private Japanese family for more than US$25 million. The island group is called Senkaku Islands by the Japanese, Diaoyu Islands by the Chinese, Tiaoyutai Islands by Taiwanese, or the Pinnacle Islands by English speakers. Beyond national pride, potentially large gas reserves and fishing rights have raised the stakes, and China is now moving to assert its claim to the islands, contain the demonstrations at home, and respond forcefully to what it sees as a major Japanese provocation. [36 photos]

http://www.theatlantic.com/infocus/2...-china/100370/

[Count Bobulescu]

Mali, a West African nation of 15 million people, is facing serious hardship following a March coup d'etat that has since collapsed. Islamist militant groups have filled the void, forming an extremist mini-state in northern Mali, resulting in sanctions imposed by other African nations. The collapse of state governance has chased away foreign investment, and tourism has dropped precipitously. Djenne, a UNESCO World Heritage-listed town, saw its annual tourist count drop from more than 10,000 to fewer than 20 total foreign visitors this year. Although Mali's cotton and gold industries appear to be weathering the insecurity well so far, future development is on hold as the interim government in the south works to resolve issues with the patchwork of militant Islamists and Tuareg separatists who rule the north. Reuters photographer Joe Penney has spent months in Mali this year, returning with many photos such as these collected here. [28 photos]

http://www.theatlantic.com/infocus/2...e-coup/100371/

In the past, I've composed many photo essays that took viewers on virtual tours of distant countries. Today, I decided to do the same thing, but focus closer to home, collecting one recent photograph from each of the 50 states in the United States of America. The photographs are not necessarily meant to represent the whole of any state. They are simply interesting, noteworthy, beautiful, or otherwise caught my eye. Sit back and enjoy a quick jaunt around the USA in 50 photographs from mid-2012. [50 photos]

http://www.theatlantic.com/infocus/2...photos/100372/