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August 29th, 2008

Democratic National Convention Day 4 and final day: notable images

Posted by: Molly Riley

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Remote camera: With all the hundreds of photographers and thousands upon thousands of images captured on this night, one would think it would be impossible to get this exclusive angle. But not for Reuters. Jim Bourg, EIC for Reuters News Pictures in Washington obtained permission to place remote cameras on either side of the stage for the big event. With the help of Reuters photographers Rick Wilking and Brian Snyder, Jim secured cameras on metal bars projecting out from the stage, one of which captured this image as Sen. Obama walked out to greet the crowd. The unmanned camera was triggered wirelessly from another location while the images were fed live as they were captured into a laptop under the stage and subsequently into an editors workstation via Reuters editing software called Paneikon. A full description and photos of the remote set up will be available here in the days to come.

Caption: U.S. Democratic presidential nominee Senator Barack Obama (D-IL) acknowledges supporters as he addresses the 2008 Democratic National Convention in Denver, Colorado August 28, 2008. REUTERS/Jim Bourg This photo appeared on the front of the Boston Globe Friday, as well as many other places.

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Emotions run high on final convention nights, but none seem as unscripted as Sen. Biden in this image. We rarely get to see Senators or vice presidential candidates with the excitement of a kid in a candy store.

Caption: U.S. Democratic vice presidential nominee Senator Joe Biden (D-DE) cheers as he stands with his wife Jill (C) and Michelle Obama (R), wife of his running mate, Democratic presidential nominee U.S. Senator Barack Obama (D-IL), at the 2008 Democratic National Convention in Denver, Colorado August 28, 2008. REUTERS/Mike Segar

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Family always plays an important role in politics. Obama is in the spot light as he walks to greet his family immediately after delivering his acceptance speech in this nicely lit image.

Caption: Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama (D-IL) walks to his wife Michelle (C) and children Malia (L) and Sasha (R)
after his speech at the 2008 Democratic National Convention in Denver, Colorado August 28, 2008. REUTERS/Brian Snyder

August 28th, 2008

Democratic National Convention Day 3: notable images

Posted by: Molly Riley

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Gary Cameron remarks “Bill kisses the Clinton political machine goodbye or, more likely, puts it on hold for 4 to 8 years.”

Caption: Former U.S. President Bill Clinton blows a kiss to delegates at the 2008 Democratic National Convention in Denver, Colorado August 27, 2008. REUTERS/Damir Sagolj

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I like that this image shows the viewer what the crowd is like at the convention, especially the sea of photographers in front of the stage.

Caption: Democratic presidential nominee U.S. Sen. Barack Obama, (L) (D-IL) stands with his vice presidential nominee U.S. Sen. Joe Biden (D-DE) after Biden addressed the 2008 Democratic National Convention in Denver, Colorado, August 27, 2008. REUTERS/Larry Downing

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Public display of affection is quite popular at conventions, and this is a particularly nice moment.

Caption: Democratic Vice-Presidential candidate Sen. Joe Biden (D-DE) kisses his wife Jill after his acceptance speech at the 2008 Democratic National Convention in Denver, Colorado, August 27, 2008. REUTERS/Larry Downing

August 27th, 2008

Democratic National Convention Day 2: notable images

Posted by: Molly Riley

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Caption: U.S. Senator Hillary Clinton (D-NY) gestures from the stage at the 2008 Democratic National Convention in Denver, Colorado August 26, 2008. REUTERS/Chris Wattie

One of the most expressive faces seen of Sen. Clinton, as she interacts with the crowd following what many say may have been the most important speech of her life. With the deafening cheers from the audience, we are reminded how passionate Sen. Clinton’s supporters are.

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Caption: U.S. Senator Hillary Clinton (D-NY) addresses the 2008 Democratic National Convention as the audience cheers in Denver, Colorado, August 26, 2008. REUTERS/Eric Thayer

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Caption: U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR) and his wife Nancy hold their 10-month-old twins William (L) and Ava (R) on the convention floor as Ava claps for Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius during her address at the 2008 Democratic National Convention in Denver, Colorado August 26, 2008. REUTERS/Brian Snyder

Only 17 more years until they can vote in the US elections!

August 27th, 2008

Democratic National Convention Day 1: notable images

Posted by: Molly Riley

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Opening night of the DNC in Denver proved to be moving when U.S. Senator Edward Kennedy appeared unexpectedly in his first public appearance in over a month, in support of Sen. Barack Obama. Kennedy, diagnosed with brain cancer in May, was clearly in his element on a familiar stage addressing the convention in an emotional speech. These photos clearly show Kennedy’s passion, emotion and conviction.

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Caption for both photos:

U.S. Senator Ted Kennedy (D-MA) gestures on stage at the 2008 Democratic National Convention in Denver, Colorado August 25, 2008. REUTERS/Rick Wilking (UNITED STATES) US PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION CAMPAIGN 2008 (USA)

August 23rd, 2008

from View from the Bird's Nest:

Beijing Games: picture of the day

Posted by: Kevin Fylan
Tags: Uncategorized

Maradona and Ronaldinho

Rickey Rogers writes: Pictures of sports idols don't get much better than this one. Argentine soccer legend Diego Maradona kisses the hand of modern-day Brazilian idol Ronaldinho.

The rivalry between their countries, their differences in personality and the arrogance for which Maradona is known all make this fraction of a second one that in the sports world speaks volumes.

The original caption reads: Former Argentine soccer player Diego Maradona kisses the hand of Ronaldinho of Brazil after the medal ceremony for men's soccer at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games August 23, 2008.  REUTERS/Alfred Cheng Jin

August 23rd, 2008

from View from the Bird's Nest:

A costly kick to the head

Posted by: Kevin Fylan
Tags: Uncategorized

A kick to the head

Cuba's Angel Valodia Matos was banned for life from taekwondo on Saturday after he kicked the match referee in the head in his bronze medal bout.

Matos's coach was also banned for the behaviour that the official said was in "strong violation of the spirit of taekwondo and the Olympic Games".

That would be putting it mildly, one might say.

PHOTO: Angel Valodia Matos of Cuba kicks out at referee Chakir Chelbat of Sweden during the men's +80kg bronze medal taekwondo competition against Arman Chilmanov of Kazakhstan at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games August 23, 2008. REUTERS/Issei Kato

August 22nd, 2008

from View from the Bird's Nest:

Beijing Games: picture of the day

Posted by: Kevin Fylan
Tags: Uncategorized

combo shot

Rickey Rogers writes: A combination photograph as Germans Christian Gille and Thomasz Wylenzek crash into a buoy after winning silver in the C2 1000 m final, gets the vote of Picture of the Day.

What seems like good fun as one team member drags another into the water, suddenly appears to be a real-life drama judging by their situation as they are saved by a rescue boat.

The rowers are completely exhausted by their efforts in the race and can't right their canoe and climb back in on their own.

The original caption reads: In this combination photograph Christian Gille and Thomasz Wylenzek of Germany crash into a buoy and then are rescued by race officials after winning silver in the final of the double canoe C2 1000m event at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. REUTERS/Darren Whiteside/Hans Deryk (CHINA)

As per yesterday, feel free to send in suggested captions.

August 21st, 2008

A visual journey

Posted by: Shannon Stapleton

On the bus

With the hopes of seeing a slice of Americana and a desire to get back to the Big Easy, I thought what better way to get to see the country than take a Greyhound bus. My trip, which originated at Port Authority in New York City and was to end in New Orleans, covered 1,400 miles, 15 scheduled stops and 4 bus changes.
As hoped I met some really interesting characters along the way : A man who claims to have staged a pre-meditated suicide in hopes of claiming a new identity, a pastor who has fathered 13 children, a kid who hiked the whole Appalachian trail by himself, a marine who claimed to have not been home for 6 years and was returning to New Orleans via Boston to see his six-year-old daughter for the first time and his wife, amongst many other people who if I dared to approach I’m sure had their own stories to tell.

Waiting at the terminal
I left Port Authority at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday (8/12) and arrived some 31 hours later on time in New Orleans at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday (8/13). Along the way we made a few meal stops as they were called and I have to admit I see why America has an obesity problem. The only food options at these stops were McDonald’s or random other stops that had the options of Fried Chicken with or without fries. Unless you were packing your own meals, healthy options were few and far between.

McDonalds
Sleep was tough. The first bus I was on was pretty comfy, however, when we switched to a Carolina Tramways bus chartered by Greyhound it was far from comfortable. A school chair had more cushion that these seats and unfortunately it was the longest non-stop leg of the trip. Once in Atlanta, we changed buses to what felt like a Rolls Royce compared to tha old bus and I was able to get my only 3 hours of sleep along the way.
Seeing the night come and go was great and I really knew I was in the south when we stopped in Opelica, Alabama for a meal and ordered some good ‘ole salt cured bacon, grits and sweet tea. Getting close to New Orleans I chatted with a bus driver and reminisced about Katrina. She was telling me how she drove Greyhound buses to evacuate the people days after the storm and I remembered being on one of those flooded overpasses myself watching these people finally being taken out of that dire situation.

Waving
Arriving in New Orleans I was glad to be off the bus, however, I felt a little sad that my visual journey of 30 some hours had come to an end. That feeling left quickly after getting dinner at my favorite oyster joint and falling to sleep on a nice bed for 12 hours.

View a slideshow of Shannon’s trip here.

August 21st, 2008

from View from the Bird's Nest:

Beijing Games: picture of the day

Posted by: Kevin Fylan
Tags: Uncategorized

Heavy horse

This is one of those pictures that really makes you wish we had a caption competition.

Hang on a minute ... Why don't we have a caption competition just for once? No prizes, I'm afraid, but if you feel inspired send in your ideas in the comments. The serious caption we sent out with the pic is below, but I'm sure you can do better...

PHOTO: David Svoboda of Czech Republic fails a jump on horse HunHun during the men's riding show jumping event of the modern pentathlon competition at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, August 21, 2008. REUTERS/Desmond Boylan

August 20th, 2008

from View from the Bird's Nest:

Beijing Games: picture of the day

Posted by: Kevin Fylan
Tags: Uncategorized

First gold

Russell Boyce writes: A big celebration for a first medal win for Afghanistan gets the picture of the day nomination.

New Delhi based Reuters News Pictures photographer Desmond Boylan captured this special moment as Afghanistan's Rohullah Nikpai celebrated beating Spain's Juan Antonio Ramos to win a bronze medal during the men's -58kg taekwando bronze medal competition at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games.

For a selection of other great Reuters pix from the Games click here.