The Royal Australian Air Force draws 180,000 patrons to the Australian International Airshow, Egyptian activists perform the “Harlem Shake” in front of the Muslim Brotherhood headquarters, the Shanghai Nature museum prepares panda specimens, Cirque du Soleil’s “Kooza” hits Madrid and more in today’s daily brief.
The North Florida Survival group trains children and adults alike to handle weapons and survive in the wild. The group passionately supports the right of U.S. citizens to bear arms and its website states that it aims to teach “patriots to survive in order to protect and defend our Constitution against all enemy threats.”
Armed with his camera, Reuters photographer Brian Blanco joined the group on a training mission led by Jim Foster on December 8, 2012.
Browse pictures of the festivities surrounding the official start to President Obama’s second term, including inaugural balls and the week of preparations in Washington, D.C.
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It was quite the gig at the National Aquarium. A skin-tight, sequined mermaid costume with a 15-foot train. A team of frogmen carried her across a makeshift pond and placed her on a rock. Cameras clicked and flashed. Three seals paid a visit followed by then Baltimore Mayor William Donald Schaefer in an old-fashion swimsuit.
Deborah Lee Walker, who posed with Schaefer for the iconic 1981 photo, shares her tale three decades later: “I had no idea it was going to be as big a deal as it was. But it turned out to be the most fun I ever had on a job.”
From fireworks to 2013 glasses and hats, here’s a look at New Year celebrations around the world.
Colonial Williamsburg was a success when it opened to the public in 1934. But when visitors continued to arrive into the fall and the Christmas holidays, town fathers were at a loss for attractions, so they placed live candles in the windows of all the restored buildings and paid staff members to baby sit them through the evenings so the buildings would not burn.
But as time passed, officials decided that a Christmas decorating contest would give residents of the town the incentive to put on a show for visitors. Today, the contest is more competitive – and creative – each year, with bragging rights and a cash prize on the line.
Memorials sprang up, and U.S. flags were flown at half-staff a day after 28 people, including 20 children, were killed in a shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut. On Sunday, President Barack Obama, Conn. Governor Dannel Malloy, and a united clergy spoke at an interfaith vigil to console a community and nation shaken by tragedy.
In today’s technology-laden society, almost everyone has a camera on them at all times. However, many have claimed that the abundant snapping of pictures with a cell phone has belittled thoughtfully composed photography in a similar way that text messages and emails have bastardized grammatically correct, handwritten letters.
Amongst the quiet homes of Glen Burnie, Maryland lives a mustachioed gentleman working to bring class and artistry back to photography. With techniques ranging from Civil War era Wet Plate Collodion to the latest innovations in the digital realm, John Milleker Jr. always approaches a job with an eye for composition no matter the medium.
In the interview and video below, John talks about his hefty photographic arsenal and the lengths he’s taken to protect the more ‘analogue’ weapons he occasionally wields.
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Displaced Congolese, anniversary of Francisco Franco’s death, supposed Russian spy Valentin Danilov released, holy month of Muharram and more in today’s daily brief.
Today is the last day to enter your photos for inclusion in the Domino Sugar sign contest. If you need last-minute inspiration, here’s a sampling of the photos submitted so far by readers.
The contest, which is sponsored by Domino Sugar, celebrates the iconic Inner Harbor sight and the Baltimore refinery’s 90th anniversary. Winner of the best overall photo, as selected by a panel of judges from Domino Sugar, will receive $990 and a runner-up will get $590. The top 10 contestants will be awarded a prize pack with products made at the Baltimore plant. Winners will be announced Dec. 12. Visit baltimoresun.com/domino for more details or click here to view the full contest rules.
Interested in participating? Submit your new or old photos of the Domino Sugar sign here.
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Freddie Gray: protests, aftermath
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A. Aubrey Bodine
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