Daily Life Around The Globe From The Denver Post

The Denver Post has excellent photo blogs bringing together some of the very best photo-journalism from around the world, here is a taste from this post ‘Daily Life from Around The Globe”

Chinese artist Liu Bolin, center, is helped by his colleagues as painted to blend into rows of drinks in his artwork entitled “Plasticizer,” to express his speechlessness at use of plasticizer in food additives, in his studio at the 798 Art District in Beijing, China, Wednesday, Aug. 10, 2011. (AP Photo) #

A couple prepare for wedding photos on a bridge near a Chinese pavilion at a tourist attraction in Hangzhou, in eastern China’s Zhejiang province, Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2011. (AP Photo/Alexander F. Yuan) #

A Pakistani eunuch chants prayers while visiting the local shrine of famous saint Beri Imam, in Islamabad, Pakistan, Thursday, Sept. 29, 2011. (AP Photo/Muhammed Muheisen) #

A shepherd rests, as his sheep graze in Calcutta, India, Wednesday, March 14, 2007. (AP Photo/Sucheta Das) #

Afghan refugee children react while gathering in an alley of a slum on the outskirts of Islamabad, Pakistan, Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2011. (AP Photo/Muhammed Muheisen) #

A wall painted with the colors of the Cuban flag as a woman stand in a balcony in Havana, Sunday, Jan. 21, 2007. (AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos) #

See the full set of images here

Scenes From 21st-Century China

More images from the very excellent magazine The Atlantic

China, the most populous country and the second-largest economy in the world, is a vast, dynamic nation that continues to grow and evolve in the 21st century. In this, the latest entry in a semi-regular series on China, we find images of tremendous variety, including astronauts, nomadic herders, replica European villages, pole dancers, RV enthusiasts, traditional farmers, and inventors. This collection is only a small view of the people and places in China over the past several weeks

There are nearly 50 images to enjoy, here are just a few to whet your appetite

Liu Yang, China’s first female astronaut, waves during a departure ceremony at Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, Gansu province, on June 16, 2012. China sent its first woman taikonaut into outer space this week, prompting a surge of national pride as the rising power takes its latest step towards putting a space station in orbit within the decade. Liu, a 33-year-old fighter pilot, joined two other taikonauts aboard the Shenzhou 9 spacecraft when it lifted off from a remote Gobi Desert launch site.(Reuters/Jason Lee)

A woman carries her daughter who is wearing a mask as they make their way along a busy intersection in Wuhan, Hubei province, on June 11, 2012. The Chinese metropolis of Wuhan was blanketed by thick yellowish cloud, raising fears of pollution among its nine million inhabitants, as air pollution is increasingly acute in major Chinese cities and authorities are frequently accused of underestimating the severity of the problem in urban areas, especially in Beijing. (STR/AFP/Getty Images)

Farmers herd a flock of ducks along a street towards a pond as residents drive next to them in Taizhou, Zhejiang province, on June 17, 2012. (Reuters/China Daily)

A rainbow arches over Hong Kong’s Victoria Harbour, on June 19, 2012. (Reuters/Bobby Yip)

A laborer works on a residential building under construction in Aksu, Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region, on June 17, 2012. China’s annual real estate investment growth slowed to the lowest pace since the global financial crisis, official data showed recently, stoking expectations that curbs on the property market may be eased. (Reuters/Stringer)

See more images of China here

The Wedding Crasher

Whilst researching I came across this blog by Michael Yamashita, he writes about wedding photography and the rather remarkable way it is undertaken in some places in China,

“Who hasn’t shot a wedding?  On Geographic assignments, it’s hard to think of a story where I did not shoot one as part of my coverage, sometimes by plan, but mostly by accident — you’re in a small town out in the middle of nowhere and a procession is coming your way from down the street.  What celebration/ceremony says more about a culture than an old-fashioned wedding, the ultimate cultural photo op? Everyone loves a wedding. On these joyous occasions, everyone welcomes a photo, not to mention the photographer taking them. But unique to China is the wedding studio, where the real wedding takes place before the actual wedding ceremony.  Here the couple can have their choice of any of several wedding scenarios, with sets and costumes to match.  A Japanese wedding at a shrine, a western church wedding, a cruise ship wedding, a Shanghai 1920s wedding, or an outdoor wedding – whatever the bride and groom’s preference.  Wedding packages $5000 and up include a video as well as stills.  Here’s a sampling.”...MORE

all photos by Orange Photography Studio, wedding photos and video – Shanghai, China

See More here

Pollution in China

From the excellent Denver Post pblogs comes these images that at the start of a new year offer little hope.

Beijing authorities cancelled hundreds of flights and shut highways as thick smog descended on the Chinese capital on December 4 and 5, reducing visibility at one of the world’s busiest airports. Air quality in Beijing reached “hazardous” levels on December 5, according to the US embassy, which conducts its own measurements, while China’s state Xinhua news agency said pollution was likely to reach “dangerous” levels.

Take a look at pollution across China from the past year.

A woman wears a mask as she makes her way along a street in thick smog in Beijing on February 21, 2011. Beijing went “beyond” measurable pollution levels, the US embassy said, as a Chinese official warned people to stay indoors and avoid outdoor activities. Air pollution in Beijing has been consistently listed as among the worst in the world by international organizations such as the United Nations. (GOH CHAI HIN/AFP/Getty Images

Photo taken on January 19, 2011 shows heavy smoke after an explosion ripped through an oil refinery in Fushun, northeast China’s Liaoning province. The blast shattered the windows of buildings 100 meters away and ignited a blaze later brought under control by firefighters, which left more than 30 people injured. No deaths were reported at the facility owned by a subsidiary of China National Petroleum Corporation. (STR/AFP/Getty Images)

Sunshine is filtered through particularist, as seen from Kowloon Peak, hanging over Hong Kong on February 6, 2011. According to the Environmental Protection Department (EPD) the pollution in Hong Kong ranged from medium to very high, with the pollutants such as respirable suspended particulates, nitrogen dioxide and ozone affecting the air quality. (ANTONY DICKSON/AFP/Getty Images)

Chinese children swim along the algae-filled coastline of Qingdao, in eastern China’s Shandong province on July 17, 2011. Green algae continues to spread in waters off China’s east coastline and although not poisonous, it can hinder the fishing industry and tourism in affected areas. (STR/AFP/Getty Images)

cityscapes and silhouettes

these are really great, simple idea, well seen, brilliantly executed, why haven’t we all done this before

By: jasper james

more about the photographer..

Liu Bolin, the invisible artist

Liu Bolin is an artist who is invisible, well he is just visible if you look carefully. He stands in front of iconic landmarks, telephone boxes, buildings, supermarket shelves and then with the help of 2 assistants is painted to merge with the background. The final piece is photographed.

 

Invisible Artist

This

article has an explanation of his work and more pictures

This You Tube vid has the artist explaining his work