Levitating Girl Natsumi Hayashi is a sweet-looking Japanese girl who, one day, decided to take self-portraits..of herself levitating. She can be spotted in and around Tokyo, equipped with her SLR and her self-timer. When she feels the moment strike, she presses the shutter button down and then, quite literally, "jumps" into place. What I love most about her shots is that they don't feel forced. Natsumi has a way of making us feel as though she naturally levitates throughout life. When I asked her how others react to her jumping around Tokyo, here is a funny story that she shared. "So I stopped jumping and apologized to them by saying, 'I am taking jumping photos for my wedding party's slide show.' "Then, I took one of the best levitation shots of the entire series." "We are all surrounded by social stress as we are bound by the forces of earth's gravity," Natsumi says when asked why she took on the series. Natsumi Hayashi's website
National Geographic Photo Contest 2011 National Geographic is currently holding its annual photo contest, with the deadline for submissions coming up on November 30. For the past nine weeks, the society has been gathering and presenting galleries of submissions, encouraging readers to vote for them as well. National Geographic was kind enough to let me choose among its entries from 2011 for display here on In Focus. Gathered below are 45 images from the three categories of People, Places, and Nature, with captions written by the individual photographers. [45 photos] Use j/k keys or ←/→ to navigate Choose: Many people pilgrimage to Uluru, but what is seen there often depends on where you've come from. Eruption of the Cordon del Caulle. Beluga whales in the arctic having fun. This is a streetcar in New Orleans traveling back towards The Quarter on St. This image captures almost 6 hours of climbing parties on Rainier going for the summit under starry skies. Russia, polar region of West Siberia, Tazovsky Peninsula.
Incredible Wildlife Photography Wildlife — By Stephanie on January 11, 2010 at 10:58 am Canada goose protects her young Ever have one of those moments when you think to yourself, “Boy, I wish I had my camera?!” Well, you can enjoy the good fortune of the photographers who were not empty handed when they shot these amazing animal pictures. These high-speed images are treasures that tell stories we rarely get to see – let alone capture – in stunning detail. Bringing home the bugs.... If you oohed and ahhed over the first couple of pictures, you might have to prepare yourself for the next image…. open wide! All in one bite? The best wildlife photography is often expressed through the unexpected. Hey! What is more adorable than a curious monkey – particularly one that wonders what all the photography fuss is about? Among cute animal photographs, you’ve gotta agree… this one tops the charts! Ready for my close-up! Looks like a Chorus Line is coming to a desert near you! Synchronized stretching A little more to the left, please
The Top 75 'Pictures of the Day' for 2012 *Update: The Top 100 ‘Pictures of the Day’ for 2012 have just been published. Click here to check out the most up-to-date post! After the positive reception from last year’s “Top 50 ‘Pictures of the Day’ for 2011“, the Sifter promised to highlight the top 25 ‘Pictures of the Day‘ at the end of every quarter, eventually culminating in an epic Top 100 for 2012. It’s hard to believe we’re already into the final quarter of 2012. *Please note the photographs themselves were not necessarily taken in 2012, they just happened to be featured as a ‘Picture of the Day’ this year. Enjoy!
Neon Waterfalls in Long Exposure A superb photographic series “Neon Waterfalls” from Sean Lenz and Kristoffer Abildgaard who placed in cascades and waterfalls California glow sticks. Brillant use of long exposure to capture the universe and light. More images of this project in the following section.