World 80 coolest pix of week 45

We’re quietly sneaking up on 2012. We’ve just had week 45 and these are some of the coolest (as in cool or newsworthy) images from the past 7 days.
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A woman stands in a sunny spot as she takes a picture in the park of Schoenhausen Castle on a sunny autumn day in Berlin November 4, 2011. REUTERS/Thomas Peter

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Cool picture of sunrise or sunset

One starts the day and the other ends it, but both are as beautiful as each other. Which is your favorite?
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Sunrise or Sunset

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Argentina in the picture diego spatafore

Our next In The Picture features the images of Diego Spatafore from Buenos Aires, Argentina. He has always been fascinated by nature and photogrpahy and tries to combine the two. He currently does this in the La Araucania region of Chile about which Dego is publishing his second book of photographs called “Araucania Treasures from the sky”. You can find more of his work on volcanllaima and volcanpuyehue or visit his personal website.
We’d like to thank Diego for sharing his photos. You can check out more of his work on his website. If you like the photographer’s work please give a comment or a like to show your appreciation and if you want your work featured please contact us.
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Caulle Photo By Diego Spatafore

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Beautiful images in the picture cornel alin

My name is Cornel Putan Alin and I am 26 years old. I am currently living in Timisoara, Romania and have studied computer science. The first time I picked up a camera was seven years ago, and I have not left it down since. I am currently working as a photojournalist for some local newspapers. Before that I also worked as a graphic designer. Here are some random photos I have picked out from my entire work. I hope they illustrate my work well.
We’d like to thank Cornel for sharing his photos. You can check out more of his work on his website. If you like the photographer’s work please give a comment or a like to show your appreciation and if you want your work featured please contact us.
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December rain in Victoria Square, Timisaora, Romania Photo by Cornel Alin

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Christian religious holiday approaches

The Christian religious holiday may not arrive until December 25, but secular and commercial festivities have been in full swing for almost a month already. Increasingly the non-religious aspects of the holiday are celebrated even in countries without a strong Christian tradition. Gathered here are images of preparations from around the world as it begins to look a lot like Christmas. -- Lane Turner (42 photos total)

Christmas angels and a Santa Claus ride on Segways in Berlin on November 3, 2011. Santa opened his job agency for students who want to work as Santa Claus or a Christmas Angels in the upcoming christmas season. (Wolfgang Kumm/AFP/Getty Images)

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World coolest pix of week 44

Week 44 brings us another collection of some of the best newsworthy, sportive, creative and cute images of the week.

Armed paramilitary policemen patrol as people watch on a busy street of Zhili town, part of Huzhou city, Zhejiang province October 28, 2011. Days of protests in an east China town over a tax dispute appeared to have subsided on Friday and media reported that officials had suspended tax collection that sent hundreds of rural migrants into the streets. REUTERS/Carlos Barria

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the bolshoi theatre

The world famous Bolshoi Theatre has just reopened after a $700 million restoration and let’s be honest, it looks beautiful.

A combination photograph shows the facade of Moscow's Bolshoi theatre during restoration April 2, 2010 (top) and before the official reopening October 24, 2011. Russia's Bolshoi Theatre reopens on October 28, 2011 with a ceremony bearing many of the hallmarks of a state event after a more than six-year, $700-million renovation dogged by concerns over missing funds and accusations of corruption.

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training picture of the 2020 olympics

These kids are being bent into shape to bring home some gold for China in future Olympics. Pretty hardcore in my opinion.

A teacher (R) helps a student to stretch during a physical training session in Peking Opera at an art school affliated to Shenyang Normal University in Shenyang, Liaoning province, November 3, 2011.

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Daily Life Picture leonardo koller

Leonardo Koller is from San Martin de los Andes, Patagonia(Argentina). At age 18 he he started a course in Image and Sounds at the University of Buenos Aires. In 2004 he fully devoted his study to photography in Motivarte school . Form 2007 Leonardo lived in Spain, traveled through Europe and Cuba and stayed in the Dominican Republic. It is here he dioscovered his passion for photography. In 2009 he displayed his first exhibition called “Behind The Paradise” and these are some of the images from that series.
We’d like to thank Leonardo for sharing his photos. You can check out more of his work on his website. If you like the photographer’s work please give a comment or a like to show your appreciation and if you want your work featured please contact us.
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Behind the Paradise

Dominican Republic and Cuba are two places in the Caribbean where many people plan to spend their vacation. Who does not dream of living in a Caribbean island surrounded by palm trees, white sand and turquoise water?. Those tourists who have had the privilege of visiting these places certainly have enjoyed all this, like the great variety of foods and services offered by hotel chains. What many believe that the vast majority does not know is the real life of the population carried every day. That is why the idea of this work came from my desire to bring you all a little bit of Behind the Paradise.

Photo By Leonardo Koller

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Libya: Post-Khadafy-40 Photos

It's been just over a month since the capture and death of Libyan dictator Moammar Khadafy, ending his 42-year reign. Since then, the rebels have declared that the nation is liberated, installed a transitional government, and started the process of writing a constitution. Still, substantial problems remain. Pockets of fighting have erupted among rival tribes and some rebels have refused to give up their cache of weapons. Doctors continue to struggle to treat the wounded and sick, with a few of the most severely injured being sent to rehabilitation centers in Boston and elsewhere. Last weekend, Khadafy’s son, Seif, was captured and could face war crimes for his part in the conflict. -- Lloyd Young (EDITOR'S NOTE: We will not post a Big Picture on Friday, November 25, due to the Thanksgiving Holiday.) (40 photos total)

Anti-Khadafy fighters acknowledge the crowd during a review of the brigades from the eastern region to commemorate the liberation of Quiche in Benghazi Oct. 27. (Esam Al-Fetori/Reuters)

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Beautiful images in the picture yarum

I am some one who loves photography, travel and stay in touch with nature. In recent years I have had the opportunity to photograph and meet many people, places. I’ve been able to share in different cultures and I realized that we are not so different from each other. My passion is to photograph and share this experience is a great pleasure.
We’d like to thank Yarum for sharing his photos. You can check out more of his work on his website.
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Photo By Yarum

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National Geographic Photo Contest 2011

There's still time! The deadline for entries for this year's National Geographic Photo Contest is November 30. Photographers of all skill levels (last year more than 16,000 images submitted by photographers from 130 countries) enter photographs in three categories: Nature, People and Places. The photographs are judged on creativity and photographic quality by a panel of experts. There is one first place winner in each category and a grand prize winner as well. The following is a selection of 54 entries from each of the 3 categories. The caption information is provided and written by the individual photographer. -- Paula Nelson (54 photos total)

LONE TREE YELLOWSTONE: A solitary tree surviving another harsh winter in Yellowstone National Park. Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming. (Photo and caption by Anita Erdmann/Nature/National Geographic Photo Contest)

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us snowstorms

One day you’re having fun in New York City and the next you’re in the middle of a snowstorm. The East Coast of the United States was hit by some unexpected snowfall which left 2 million people without any power and killed more than 10 people.
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A pedestrian crosses the street during a snowstorm in New York, October 29, 2011. A rare October snowstorm bore down on the heavily populated U.S. Northeast on Saturday, with some areas bracing for up to a foot (30 cm) of snow and major power outages. REUTERS/Jessica Rinaldi

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formula-1-2011 indian grand prix

The 2011 Formula One season sounds like a broken record. Vettel takes pole, Vettel wins the race. It’s happened more often than not this season and the first ever Indian Grand Prix was no different. World Champion Sebastian Vettel took his 13th pole of the season and is also close to equalling the record for most wins in a season (13). The man is simply unstoppable at the moment. The only other real talking point from the Indian GP was the fact that Lewis Hamilton and Felipe Massa collided yet again. It was the sixth indcident between the McLaren and Ferrari racers during the 2011 season.

Red Bull Formula One driver Mark Webber of Australia walks in the paddock area at the Buddh International Circuit in Greater Noida on the outskirts of New Delhi October 27, 2011. India hosts its maiden F1 race from October 28-30. REUTERS/Toru Hanai

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seven billion

Today was 7 Billion Day. We unofficially officially now reside on this planet we call earth with 7 billion other humans. And that is a hell of a lot of people. The driving force behing the human population growth can be found in Africa, Asia and especially India. While the world is worried about oil prices and fossil fuels it might be better if we started worrying about how we are going to provide food and water for all those 7 billion mouths and the billions more to come in the coming decades. Bad family planning might be the killer of us all.

Chinese 104-year-old twins Cao Xiaoqiao (R) and her elder sister Cao Daqiao look at each other on the outskirts of Shiqiaozi town in Zhucheng, Shandong province in this file picture, June 18, 2009. The world’s population will reach seven billion on 31 October 2011, according to projections by the United Nations,

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Egypt erupts with fresh protests

Protesters unhappy with the pace of change and the continued military rule in Egypt flooded Cairo's Tahrir Square over the weekend demanding civilian rule. Riot police responded with tear gas, beatings, and live ammunition, leaving at least 20 dead in continuing clashes. Egypt holds parliamentary elections next week, and demonstrators want presidential elections to be held shortly afterward. The ruling military has proposed to delay those elections until late 2012 or even 2013, angering Egyptians frustrated with the military's role in government. Collected here are images of the struggle over the weekend. -- Lane Turner (24 photos total)

Protesters run from tear gas fired by riot police in a side street near Tahrir Square in Cairo November 21, 2011. (Goran Tomasevic/Reuters)

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occupy oakland

The Occupy Movement is spreading and some cities can handle it better than others. Oakland decided a heavy-handed tactic was needed and sent in the police to destroy the tent camp and attack demonstrators with teargas and rubber bullets.

City employees survey a closed-down camp of anti-Wall Street protesters in Oakland, California October 25, 2011. Police cleared an anti-Wall Street protest in Oakland, California, early on Tuesday, breaking up an overnight camp at a plaza near city hall that has been the site of two weeks of demonstrations, a city spokeswoman said. REUTERS/Kim White

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in the picture liviu hrituleac

Liviu Hrituleac is my name, born in Romania, currently living in New York. Although the first camera that I used was my sister’s all automatic film camera more then 10 years ago, only in the last couple of years I dedicated more time on trying to get better. I like to photograph moving subjects, specially racing cars. You will find on this page some of my favorite images with the rally cars in action.

And in case you wonder how is this guy’s first name pronounced, well, Liviu sounds like leave you, and now I will Liviu to see and hopefully enjoy my images.
We’d like to thank Liviu for sharing his photos. You can check out more of his work on his website.

3 time British Rally Champion group N and 2011 Rally America Champions David Higgins and Craig Drew at New England Forest Rally NEFR July 16, 2011 © Liviu Hrituleac | LHimages.com

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Dangerous work: "The Mine" in Guatemala City

In Guatemala City, a place called "The Mine" can deliver both a means of survival and a grisly death. Every day, dozens of residents salvage a living by scouring the massive dump for scrap metal. Facing the threat of mudslides, collapses, and disease, they can potentially earn twice the daily minimum wage. Associated Press photographer Rodrigo Abd documented their efforts. -- Lloyd Young (EDITOR'S NOTE: Our apologies, but due to an illness on our staff, we were unable to post a Big Picture on Monday.) (25 photos total)

A man covers himself from the rain on a mound of garbage at the bottom of one of the biggest trash dumps in the city, known as "The Mine," in Guatemala City. Hundreds of informal workers descend daily into the mounds of the landfill and the rushing waters that come from a storm tunnel and a sewer at the bottom of a gorge to search for scrap metal to sell. This activity known locally as "mining" is extremely dangerous due to mud slides and collapses, but earns many of them about 150 quetzals ($20 dollars) a day, nearly twice the minimum daily wage. (Rodrigo Abd/Associated Press)

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Feeding 7 billion and our fragile environment

According to projections by the United Nations, the world population has reached 7 billion and continues to grow rapidly. While more people are living longer and healthier lives, gaps are widening between the rich and the poor in some nations and tens of millions of people are vulnerable to food and water shortages. There is, of course, the issue of the impact of that sheer number on the environment, including pollution, waste disposal, use of natural resources and food production. This post focuses on wheat and the effect of our numbers on the environment. Wheat is the most important cereal in the world and along with rice and corn accounts for about 73 percent of all cereal production. It isn't surprising that 7 billion people have a lasting impact on our world's natural resources and the environment in which we live. -- Paula Nelson (36 photos total)

One of the world's breadbaskets lies in the prairies of Canada. This stalk, near Lethbridge, Alberta, helps form the foundation for the most important food product in the world: cereal grains. (Todd Korol/Reuters)

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50 amazing animal pix

Sometimes it is good to be reminded of the fact we are not alone on this planet.

Amazing Animals

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in the picture jorge duenas

My name is Jorge Mario Duenas. These images correspond to the XXII roller car version held in the city of Medellin Colombia last September 25th. The roller carriages are used to move heavy loads, but some are used for fun by taking advantage of the sloping topography of the city. Fun, imagination, creativity and a lot of adrenaline is what it is all about in this event, year after year it is one of the most anticipated by the community. In Colombia it is not all drugs, there are many good things to live for.
We’d like to thank Jorge for sharing his photos.

Photo By Jorge Mario Duenas

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the greek riots by orestis seferoglou

My name is Orestis Seferoglou and I covered the large anti-austerity protests in the center of Athens Greece. Protests in the center of Athens. Hundreds of Thousands went on strike on Wednesday at the start of a two-day general strike to protest a new round austerity measures. Demonstrators clashed with riot police, pelting them with petrol bombs and chunks of marble. This was one of the largest demonstrations in Athens in months.

Note: We added some Reuters images from the same demonstrations.
We’d like to thank Orestis for sharing his photos. You can check out more of his work on his website.

Demonstrators wearing printed t-shirts saying: no to dissolution Photo By Orestis Seferoglou

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the thailand floods

Thailand is known for it’s people who seem to be forever smiling at you when you visit their country, but lately it is not such a happy place. It’s water water everywhere and rising by the inch.

Soldiers help workers and civilians to evacuate from the flooded area at Nawa Nakhon industrial estate in Pathum Thani province, suburb of Bangkok October 18, 2011. Thailand's cabinet met on Tuesday to discuss the mounting economic cost of floods that have killed 315 people, and residents of Bangkok were told not to drop their guard even if the immediate danger to the capital had passed. REUTERS/Damir Sagolj

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100 pix of the 2011 rugby world cup

The All Blacks aka New Zealand have bene the best rugby tema in the world for the past 16 years, but they hadn’t won a World Cup in 24 years and in today’s final it almost turned all black for them again. From a superiority on the field in the first half (and a 5-0 lead) the game turned in France’s favour in the second half. New Zealand were leading 8-0 after a penalty kick, but France scored a try and conversion to bring the score back to 8-7. For the final 30 minutes France had the All Black’s with their backs against the try line but could not force a way through. In the end New Zealand hung on to take home the Webb Ellis Cup in front of the home crowd.

New Zealand All Blacks' Sonny Bill Williams avoids the tackle of Japan's Takehisa Usuzuki (on ground) as he sets up a try for teammate Ma'a Nonu during their Rugby World Cup Pool A match at Waikato Stadium in Hamilton September 16, 2011. REUTERS/Bogdan Cristel

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london from above

London is surely in the top 5 of Most Iconic Cities In The World. It boasts millions of inhabitants, a diversity of cultures only rivalled by New York, great architecture, great food, great shopping and plenty of other plus points. I’ve lived in London so I can also tell you that public transport is a nightmare, parking your car is a nightmare, the city can be very dirty and it ain’t cheap. You won’t see any of that though in these From Above images.

London From Above

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Afghanistan, October 2011

With a per capita GDP of $900, Afghanistan ranks as one of the world's ten poorest countries. By any measure, challenges are numerous. Aid agencies observe an erosion of women's rights as foreign troops prepare to leave, the infant mortality rate is among the world's highest, and despite eradication efforts, 90 percent of the world's opium is still produced by Afghan farmers. Meanwhile, military fatalities approach 2800 since the war began in 2001. Civilians are afforded no such precision for their casualties, with varying estimates in the tens of thousands being the only accounting. Gathered here are images from the country made in October of the lives of women and children, daily life, and consequences of the conflict in Afghanistan and in the United States. -- Lane Turner (37 photos total)

Meena Rahmani, 26, owner of The Strikers, the country's first bowling center, holds a bowling ball in Kabul. In an Afghan capital scarred by years of war, a young Afghan woman has bet $1 million that the country could use a chance to have a bit of fun. Located just down the street from Kabul's glitziest mall, it offers a place where Afghan men,

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World coolest pix of week 42

AT the beginning of the week I thought week 42 was going to be about the #OccupyEverywhere movement which started on Wall Street and has steadily spread across the world. However, one Gaddafi changed all that. Let’s not forget the other news though, floods in Thailand (we’ll have a full gallery up soon), riots in Greece (point of view gallery coming soon) and Rome.

Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi (C) reacts at the lower chamber of the deputies in Rome October 14, 2011. Berlusconi's government won a confidence vote on Friday in the lower house of parliament. REUTERS/Alessandro Bianchi

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The Hajj and Eid al-Adha

The Hajj pilgrimage draws millions of Muslims from around the world every year to Mecca, the birthplace of the Prophet Muhammad, Islam's holiest place. Saudi Arabia expects to host perhaps three million people in a ritual journey that every able-bodied Muslim who can afford it must make at least once in their lifetime. It is the largest annual gathering of humanity anywhere. Timed to the Muslim lunar calendar, the Hajj is followed by the celebrations of the three-day festival of Eid al-Adha, or the Feast of Sacrifice, which symbolizes Abraham's willingness to sacrifice his son. Collected here are photographs of the Hajj in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, as well as images of preparations for the Hajj and Eid al-Adha in many other parts of the Muslim world. -- Lane Turner (42 photos total)

A Muslim pilgrim prays as visits the Hiraa cave at the top of Noor Mountain on the outskirts of Mecca, Saudi Arabia on November 2, 2011. According to tradition, Islam's Prophet Mohammed received his first message to preach Islam while he was praying in the cave. (Hassan Ammar/AP)

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in the picture brian lynch

I am a keen amateur photographer who enjoys taking photos of landscapes, still-life and of course my grandson.I love taking photos in Bonnie Scotland and in the gulf coast of Florida, where I am lucky enough to have a second home.

The best photographer with the best equipment in the world will not capture that special moment if he or she is not there. So, I try to ensure my camera is with me at all times.

I am currently using a Nikon D80 with various lenses and use aperture for the majority of processing. My personal motto is – “take a photo, it’ll last longer”.
We’d like to thank Brian for sharing his photos. You can check out more of his work on his website.

A Storm's A Coming!

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25 gorgeous cityscapes

There are many different cities around the world. What is a city in one country might only be a village in another. These are 25 images of gorgeous cityscapes from around the world.

Gorgeous Cityscapes

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in the picture ahmed saad

My name is Ahmed Saad, i’m a 23 year old Egyptian mechanical engineer and a photography hobbyist. i’ve started photography in late 2007 and I fell in love with it. I’ve lived in malaysia for a while and backpacked through South East Asia
We’d like to thank Thamer for sharing his photos. You can check out more of his work on his website.

Photo By Ahmed Saad

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World Population: Where it's thick and where it's thin

The growing population of the world, now estimated to be over 7 billion, marks a global milestone and presents obvious challenges for the planet. There are extremely densely populated cities and sparsely populated countries. China is the most populous country with India following closely behind. This post brings together some disparate illustrations of our world as it grows, including scenes from Mong Kok district in Hong Kong, which has the highest population density in the world, with 130,000 per one square kilometer. In Mongolia, the world's least densely populated country, 2.7 million people are spread across an area three times the size of France. Then there's Out Skerries, a tiny outcropping of rocks off the east coast of Scotland where the population is just 65. And doing what he can to contribute to that 7 billion global milestone is Ziona, the head of a religious sect called "Chana." He has 39 wives, 94 children, and 33 grandchildren. The world is an interesting place. -- Paula Nelson (41 photos total)

Motorists pack a junction during rush hour in Taipei in 2009. Taiwan's capital is notorious for its traffic jams, even though many motorists choose motorcycles and scooters over cars. United Nations analysts warn that population growth increases pollution, deforestation, and climate change. (Nicky Loh/Reuters)

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Pan American Games 2011

The 16th Pan American Games wrapped up with closing ceremonies this past weekend in Guadalajara, Mexico. Over 6,000 athletes from 42 nations in the Western Hemisphere competed for gold, silver, and bronze medals in many of the same events that will be seen during the Olympic Games next summer in London. Athletes were also vying for Olympic qualifying berths in many of the events. The 2015 edition of the games will be held in Toronto. -- Lloyd Young (35 photos total)

Cuban Jose Alberto Sanchez (left) battle other runners in the men's 3000 meter steeplechase race. (Antonio Scorza/AFP/Getty Images)

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harvesting guano in peru

There is money to be made from and in everything. Even bird excrement.

Thousands of Guanay Cormorant birds fly over and nest on the Ballestas island, south of Lima, October 10, 2011. Ballestas, as with other 21 islands along the Peruvian coast, are home of nearly 4 million migratory birds as guanays, boobies and pelicans which excrement make up the world's finest natural fertilizer. The bird dung, also known as guano, reached its greatest economic importance in the 19th century as a coveted resource,

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Thailand flood reaches Bangkok

Flood waters inundating Thailand north of Bangkok since July have made the journey south and reached the capital. The disaster is responsible for 400 deaths in Thailand and neighboring Cambodia and Vietnam. Thailand is the world's biggest rice exporter, but the floods have wiped out over a quarter of the country's crop. The government has declared a five-day holiday for the capital to allow residents time to evacuate. Damages could top six billion dollars in Thailand's worst flooding in 50 years. Collected here are images of the water as it moves south to Bangkok, and how residents there are dealing with the disaster. -- Lane Turner (43 photos total)

A woman holds a toddler as she walks through floodwaters in an area near the Chao Praya river in Bangkok on October 29, 2011. (Nicolas Asfouri/AFP/Getty Images)

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in the picture daniel enriquez

Hola, I am Daniel from México. Usually I do not seek a photo, it finds me, for my work I have the chance to travel a lot and that helps to see people, places and special moments. I always have my camera close. I think that anyone who can take a second to watch and feel can be a photographer
We’d like to thank Daniel for sharing his photos. You can check out more of his work on her website.

Photo By Daniel Enriquez

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egyptian coptic christian protests

Take your mind back to February of this year. The Egyptian Revolution was in full swing on Tahrir Square. The world was watching and the world was behind the hundreds of thousands of protester who wanted to get rid of Mubarak and his corrupt regime. Mubarak left office and is standing trial, the army took over to maintain stability until free elections could be held and all seemed well. However, underneath all the glitz and glamour of newly found freedom something disturbing has been brewing for a while. Religious beliefs. Even before the revolution the Coptic Christians, who make up about 10% of Egypts mainly Muslim population, had it tough. Targetted, repressed and treated like second class citizens. After the revolution things did not change fopr the better. In fact, things have gotten so bad the Coptic Christians have taken to new protests on Tahrir Square after a church build in the south of Egypt was deemed illegal and destroyed by hardline Muslims. During these protests on Tahrir Square the heavy handed tactics by the army and riot police have resulted in almost 20 people killed. Religion, the root of all evil?

Warning: some images depict scenes of death.

Egyptian Christians clash with soldiers and riot police during a protest against an attack on a church in southern Egypt, in Cairo October 9, 2011. Nineteen people were killed in Cairo on Sunday when Christians, some carrying crosses and pictures of Jesus, clashed with military police, medical and security sources said, in the latest sectarian flare-up in a country in political turmoil. REUTERS/Mohamed Abd El-Ghany

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