African Women will be in exhibition in Bahia from January 20th to February 20th. The photography project has been shown in many different parts of Brazil and now reaches the most African State of the country at Instituto ACM in the historic Pelourinho neighborhood.
Known as one of the poorest regions between two of the wealthiest states in Brazil, São Paulo and Paraná, the town of Eldorado still harbor a large number of colorful birds in protected areas of what is left of the Atlantic Forest.
Brazilian Gabriel Medina won his second elite ASP World Tour victory this season at Ocean Beach in San Francisco.
The 17 year old newcomer, faced experienced Australian Joel Parkinson, bottom left, in the final of the Rip Curl Pro Search San Francisco.
In this event in California, the prodigy beat surfing legend Kelly Slater among others.
Surfing legend Kelly Slater wins record 11th World Championship at Ocean Beach in San Francisco, California.
Kelly Slater 11th ASP World Title at Rip Curl Pro Search is his first title on North American soil, and makes him at 39 years of age, the oldest surfer ever to win a World Title.
Stanford Cardinal extended the nation’s longest winning streak to 15 games, QB Andrew Luck (12), top left, completed 16 of 21 passes for 169 yards and two touchdowns.
One TD caught by wide receiver Drew Terrell (4), top right, in front of Washington safety Justin Glenn (20) at Stanford Stadium on Saturday, October 22nd.
Stephan Taylor (bottom right), Tyler Gaffney (bottom left). and Anthony Wilkerson powered Stanford to a school-record 446 yards rushing.
Final score: Stanford 65, Washington 21. (Palo Alto Daily News)
An NFL quarterback caliber, a very solid defense team, and the most underrated running back in college football, are strong ingredients for a championship. Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck, left, completed 23 of 26 passes for 227 yards in a 45-19 victory over UCLA in a sold out Stanford Stadium on Saturday night, October 1st. UCLA quarterback Richard Brehaut, center, had a hard time against Stanford defense. Cardinal running back Stepfan Taylor, right, ran for 112 yards on 17 carries and scored two touchdowns. (Palo Alto Daily News)
Andrew Luck threw two touchdowns and ran for another score in the season opener at The Farm, leading seventh-ranked Stanford past San Jose State 57-3.
The Cardinal quarterback completed 17 of 26 passes for 171 yards, and could be NFL next draft’s No. 1 pick.
The Tony Award-winning SF Mime Troupe presents 2012-The Musical!, written by Michael Gene Sullivan and directed by Wilma Boneta.
This creative and funny comedy will make you laugh at the absurdities of politics and contemporary life.
Their free tour comes to Washington Square at North Beach in San Francisco every August.
Stanford wideout Chris Owusu (81), top left, shown running away from San Jose defender Vince Buhagiar (36), had a big day at Stanford Stadium on Saturday, September 3rd. Cardinal’s 57-3 season-opening victory over San Jose State was a great start for the seventh-ranked in the country. (Palo Alto Daily News)
Rafael Nadal won the USOpen 2010, can he win again this year?
(Photos: Indian Wells 2011)
Brazilian Rock Band “Os Mutantes” at The Independent in San Francisco on Sunday August 30, in their North American tour in 2009.
Earthquakes Ramiro Corrales (12), top left, goes around Colorado Rapids Kosuke Kimura at Buck Shaw Stadium in Santa Clara. Colorado defender Kimura jumps with Wondolowski (8), top right. Colorado Rapids goalkeeper Matt Pickens stops Quakes Chris Wondolowski’s header in the 22nd minute, bottom left, before his teammate Joey Gjertsen, bottom right, gets the rebound to score and celebrates the first goal of the game. His goal was not enough to stop San Jose’s winless streak to reach 11-straight games in a 2-1 loss to Colorado on Saturday night, August 13th 2011. (Palo Alto Daily News)
Top swimmers from around the nation, including nine U.S. Olympians, competed at the 2011 Swimming National Championships August 2-6 in Palo Alto, Calif. at Stanford University’s Avery Aquatic Center.
Former No.1 Serena Williams won her first WTA tournament in more than a year at Bank of West Classic at Stanford University on Sunday, July 31 2011. She beat French player Marion Bartoli, currently No.9 in the world, in two straight sets 7-5 6-1. (Palo Alto Daily News)
Azarenka and Kirilenko defeated top seeds Liezel Huber and Lisa Raymond 6-1, 6-3 in the final of Bank of West Classic 2011 at Stanford University on Sunday, July 31 2011.
Maria Sharapova beat Daniela Hantuchova 6-2, 2-6, 6-4 in the second round of the Bank of the West Classic 2011 on Wednesday night at Stanford University. (Palo Alto Daily News)
Serena Williams seemed to be reaching the top of her game on Tuesday, May 26, at Bank of West Classsic in Palo Alto. In her first U.S. tour match since ’09, Serena groundstrokes and serves, were too powerful for Australian Anastasia Rodionova, and the former No.1 easily won her first round match in straight sets in just 47 minutes 6-0 , 6-0. (Palo Alto Daily News)
Earthquakes forward Ryan Johnson (19) dribles around Philadelphia defender Danny Califf, top left, in the first half of a scoreless draw at Buck Shaw Stadium on Saturday, July 9th 2011. Philadelphia goalkeeper Faryd Mondragon (1), top right, blocks a cross before Earthquakes forward Chris Wondolowski (8) can reach it, Chris was named to the MLS All-Star First XI for the first time in his seven-year career on Sunday. Phladelphia Union midfielder Stefani Miglioranzi (6) kicks the ball away from defense, bottom right. Quakes Ryan Johnson (19) and Philadelphia defender Sheanon Williams (25), bottom left, jump for a ball in the first half in Santa Clara. (Palo Alto Daily News)
Earthquake Steven Lenhart , foreground player top left photo, between Red Bull’s defenders Tim Ream and Carlos Mendes (44), scores with a powerful header in the 68th minute to give San Jose a 2-1 lead. Earthquake Steven Lenhart , left, try to get to the ball before Red Bull’s defender Tim Ream and gooalkeeper Bouna Coundoul (18) in the first half of a 2-2 draw on Saturday at Stanford’s stadium. Red Bull keeper Bouna Coundoul reaches the ball before Earthquakes forward Simon Dawkins, top right. Keeper Coundoul and Quakes forward Lenhart, had a disagreement at the beginning of game. (Palo Alto Daily News)
Los Angeles Galaxy goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts, first top, has a rough collision with San Jose Earthquakes midfielder Khari Stephenson (7), and gives his place to backup Josh Saunders. He is ejected in the 43rd minute after tangling with Earthquakes Steven Lenhart, top right. L. A. midfielder Mike McGee, bottom right, is celebrated by his teammates in the end of the game at Santa Clara, CA, after keeping the game scoreless. He became a makeshift keeper at the end of the first half and was crucial to stop Earthquake’s offense, such as Ryan Johnson, bottom left, on June 25th 2011. (Palo Alto Daily News)
Stanford University hosted the 2011 NCAA Division I Men’s and Women’s Tennis Championships on May 19-30 at the Taube Family Tennis Center. (Palo Alto Daily News)
San Jose Earthquakes still winless at home this season. In the last 2 games at Buck Shaw Stadium in Santa Clara, California, the Earthquakes in April 9th, tied with Toronto, 1-1, and in April 23rd, lost to Chivas USA (red and white striped jersey), 1-2. Earthquakes star Chris Wondolowski, top, poses with the Golden Boot Award he received for being the top goal scorer in Major League Soccer last season. (Palo Alto Daily News)
4th Annual Photography Masters Cup Photojournalism nominee: Carrying the Power (Ethiopia), top left, and Portrait nominee: La Femme du Cambodge (Cambodia).
Photography Masters Cup is the leading international award honoring color photography. This celebrated event shines a spotlight on the best professional and amateur photographers in a prestigious annual contest and globally webcast event. Last year’s Photo show attracted over 40,000 viewers from 154 countries who logged on live to see the Winners Gala. With a collective Jury of the world’s most recognized experts from National Geographic Channel to Hasted Hunt Kraeutler in New York, the Masters Cup is the industry’s most authoritative and important photographic event for color photography and brings to light the best work of the year as nominated by the esteemed international panel.
The BNP Paribas Open, the most-attended tennis tournament in the world outside of the Grand Slams. It is one of the few major events combining both men and women over a two-week period on the ATP World Tour and WTA. Held annually at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden, a state-of-the-art facility boasting a 16,000 seat stadium, the second largest in the world is one of the world’s most beautiful venues for watching the top professionals compete. INDIAN WELLS, CALIFORNIA, USA – MARCH 7-20, 2011
The BNP Paribas Open, the most-attended tennis tournament in the world outside of the Grand Slams. It is one of the few major events combining both men and women over a two-week period on the ATP World Tour and WTA. Held annually at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden, a state-of-the-art facility boasting a 16,000 seat stadium, the second largest in the world is one of the world’s most beautiful venues for watching the top professionals compete. INDIAN WELLS, CALIFORNIA, USA – MARCH 7-20, 2011
Canadian Milos Raonic beat last year’s tournament champion, Fernando Verdasco, top right, 7-6 (6), 7-6 (5), in the final of SAP Open 2011 in San Jose, California, on Sunday February 13th 2011. The 20-year-old Raonic, after upset ninth-ranked Fernando Verdasco, is now ranked No. 59. Raonic could be the next big tennis sensation after winning his first ATP World Tour title. (Palo Alto Daily News/2011)
Former Stanford player Scott Lipsky (USA), left, and Rajeev Ram (USA), right, dressing in white, defeated Alejandro Falla (COL), left, and Xavier Malisse (BEL), right, 6/4, 4/6, 10-8 in the final of SAP Open 2011 in San Jose, California. (Palo Alto Daily News/2011)
The SAP Open was played for the 123rd year, Monday, February 7 through Sunday, February 13, 2011, at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, California. The ATP tournament is the second oldest men’s professional tennis tournament in the United States. (Palo Alto Daily News/2011)
Northern California had an exciting year in sports. The San Francisco Giants won the World Series for the first time since moving to the west coast. Tim Lincecum, top left, pitching against the Red Sox, had another strong year as one of the best pitchers in MBL.
Stanford Andrew Luck, top right, is considered one of the top QB in College football, with great prospects for the 2011 NFL Draft.
San Francisco native Sam Querrey, bottom right, SAP Open 2010 Doubles Champion, reached his highest ATP ranking career ever, finishing the year as number 18.
The San Jose Earthquakes reached the Western Conference final this season, and Bay Area native Chris Wondolowski (8), bottom left, won the Breakout MLS Star of 2010 award.
Cardinal QB Andrew Luck, top left, is chased by USC’s Nick Perry (8) at Stanford Stadium in Palo Alto, California on Saturday, Oct. 9, 2010.
Stanford’s wide receiver Chris Owusu, top right, had a crucial 88-yard kickoff return.
Stanford QB Andrew Luck, bottom right, is tackled by USC’s Shane Horton during the second half.
USC Jawanza Starling (29), bottom left, tackles a five-yard run by Cardinal Stepfan Taylor (33) in the final seconds of the game. (Palo Alto Daily News/ 2010)
The 40th edition of the Bank of the West Classic took place from July 26th – August 1st, at the Taube Family Tennis Stadium, Stanford University. The Bank of the West Classic is the longest-running women-only professional tennis tournament in the world.
This year’s strong tournament lineup had former number one Ana Ivanovic, top center, and current WTA number 6 Elena Dementieva, bottom center.
In the final, ranked 12 in the World Victoria Azarenka, right, beat another former number one Maria Sharapova, first left, in straight sets. (Palo Alto Daily News 2010)
Giants Edgar Renteria, left, singled to left in the bottom of 6th inning.
San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Tim Lincecum, top center, was knocked out after just three innings.
Giants Dan Runzler, right, pickoff attempted in the top of 5th inning.
Boston Red Sox rookie Daniel Nava, bottom center, a St. Francis High School student, singled to right in the top of the 7th, as the Giants fell to the Red Sox 5-1 at AT&T Park, San Francisco on Sunday June 27th. (Palo Alto Daily News, 2010)
San Jose Earthquakes defender Brandon McDonald, right, jumps higher than Toronto midfielder Juan de Guzman (6) in the second half. Toronto beat the San Jose Earthquakes 3-1, at Buck Shaw Stadium on May 29th, 2010, left.
Earthquake’s goalkeeper Joe Cannon, top, a former Saint Francis high school player, dives for a wide shot at San Jose’s 1-0 win over the Colorado Rapids Saturday night at Buck Shaw Stadium on May 1st.
Chris Wondolowski, right, scored his sixth goal of the season, as the San Jose Earthquakes and the Columbus Crew tied 2-2 at Buck Shaw Stadium on Wednesday night June 3rd, center bottom left. (Palo Alto Daily News/ 2010)
The BNP Paribas Open is the most attended tennis tournament in the world outside of the four major events. The event held at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden in California, celebrated its 35th anniversary March 8 – 21, 2010, with the best men’s and women’s tennis players in the world.
16th time Grand Slam recordist Roger Federer, top left, defending champion Rafael Nadal, top right, and top ten Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, bottom right, had no problems to advance to the second round, but in the end former top ten player Ivan Lubicic won the tournament. (Revista Tênis/ April 2010)
The BNP Paribas Open is the most attended tennis tournament in the world outside of the four major events. The event held at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden in California, celebrated its 35th anniversary March 8 – 21, 2010, with the best men’s and women’s tennis players in the world.
Former number ones Maria Sharapova, top left, Kim Clijsters, bottom right, and Ana Ivanovic, bottom right, didn’t go too far this year, but one of the hottest players of this season, Serbian top 10 player Jelena Jankovic, bottom left, was the sensation and won her first Indian Wells title. (Revista Tênis/ May 2010)
The BNP Paribas Open “Hit for Haiti” exhibition presented by Oracle, was played on Friday, March 12th and it featured players with an astounding total of 94 Grand Slam singles titles.
Stefanie Graf, second right, and Lindsay Davenport, bottom right, played Martina Navratilova, top right, and Justine Henin, third right. Then Pete Sampras, top left, and Roger Federer, bottom left, played against Andre Agassi, second left, and Rafael Nadal, third left. Oracle CEO Larry Ellison, center photo first left, donated one million dollars to the cause. Legend Rod Laver, bottom center photo, before the exhibition, poses for the photographers between Sampras and Agassi. (2010)
Stanford forward Landry Fields, top left, struggled in the first half, shooting 2-of-10 from the field, but finished strong with 16 points in Saturday’s home win over UCLA on January 14th. UCLA could not spot another successful shot by Stanford’s Jeremy Green (45) in the second half, top center.
Cardinal’s Landry Fields (2) shoots over Oregon’s Jeremy Jacob (23) and Drew Wiley on his way to 32 points, top right. Arizona (23) and Hill (44) try to stop Fields (2), bottom left. Jarrett Mann started 30 of 32 games, bottom right.
Landry Fields around Cal forward Theo Robertson, bottom center, in the second half of Saturday’s Senior day at Maples Pavilion in Palo Alto, Fields finished with 25 points and 12 rebounds. (Palo Alto Daily News/ 2010)
Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck (12), top left and right, completed 12 passes against Oregon, all of them perfectly thrown. Senior Toby Gerhart (7), top center, finished with 20 carriers for 139 yards and etched his name further in the Stanford record book, but he didn’t win what likely was his final Big Game on November 21st.
Nate Whitaker (39) gets a warm reception from coach Jim Harbaugh, bottom right, after his third field goal came with 11 seconds left Saturday November 7th. Chris Owusu touchdown against Oregon, bottom left. Delano Howell (26), bottom center, was the team’s second-leading tackler with 78 stops this season. (Palo Alto Daily News/2009)
SAP Open is the second oldest men’s professional tennis tournament in the United States. In February 14th, second-seeded player Fernando Verdasco, came from behind to beat top seeded Andy Roddick 3-6, 6-4, 6-4 in the final of SAP Open 2010 at HP Pavilion in San Jose, CA. (Palo Alto Daily News/ 2010)
David Matthew’s Band was one of the main attractions at Outside Lands 2009, a music festival at Golden Gate Park in San Francisco, California. A Grammy Award winner band, it was formed in Charlottesville, Virginia in 1991. David Matthew’s Band rocked the crowd with violinist Boyd Tinsley, left, singer- songwriter David Matthews, center, and bassist Stefan Lessard, right. (2009)
Once a year, tens of thousands of participants gather in Nevada’s Black Rock Desert to create Black Rock City, dedicated to community, art, self-expression, and self reliance. The radical-self expression city called Burning Man started with Larry Harvey and his friend Jerry James at the beach in San Francisco on June 21, 1986. The gathering has moved to Nevada since 1997, last for a week, in the end leaves no traces behind. (2009)
A San Francisco tradition for nearly 100 years; Bay to Breakers is a 12k footrace held every third Sunday in May with serious runners and costumed participants alike. Men’s elite runners from Kenya Silas Sang (40), Gilbert Okari (27), and Gilbert Kofch (30) lead the first half of the race, top left. Edna Kiplagat (4) from Kenya and Teyba Naser (14) fromEthiopia fighting for women’s first place, top right.
The spawning salmon gets high five from runners as they each year make their way from the Finish line, back through the masses, bottom right. U2 Bono look alike smiles and enjoy a band at a the end of the race, bottom left. (2009)
Larry Hunt, left, has drummed and entertained many tourists and locals in Downtown San Francisco for years. Better known as Bucketman his unique drum set performance is full of joy and fire playing drums with his friend Gabriel who has recently arrived in California from New York.
He started playing drums by the time he was 3, he played with jazz greats Jimmy Smith, Brother Jack McDuff and Louie Bellson when he was 9, formed a band with legendary jazz keyboardist Rusty Thomas at age 15, and even played with some of the 70’s bands like the Oreos and the Drifters. (Academy of Arts University 2009)
The Blues Angels flies over Alcatraz in San Francisco, California. Its called Fleet week and brings many tourists to the event every year in October. Used by the Navy for recruitment, the air show is very controversial among the residents and draws strong opposition by many of them, because of the damage the noise of the supersonic planes can cause to the environment. (Academy of Arts University 2009)
Union workers beginning a three-day strike at San Francisco’s Palace Hotel on Tuesday November 10th. Their union renegotiates an expired contract related to health care with about 62 San Francisco Hotels. (Academy of Arts University 2009)
Every year in May at Stanford University in Palo Alto, California, people gather to celebrate the American Indian culture. Known as Pow Wow, the event where both Native American and non-Native American people meet to dance, sing, socialize, and to honor American Indian culture.
There is generally a dancing competition, often with significant prize money awarded. Powwows can be seen in different cities in United States and Canada, they vary in length from one day session of 5 to 6 hours to three days. (2008)
World elite runners, top center right, competing at a traditional street running race in São Paulo, São Silvestre 2008. The eventually men’s winner #20 Kwambai James from Kenya, takes the lead from (18) Marco Joseph from Tanzania, who finished fourth.
Last group about half way to go, Kenyan (19) Cheruyot Evans picks up his pace to finish the race as a runner up. Brazilian Fabiana Cristine da Silva #202, right, was the women’s runner up. Besides professional runners like Sosangela Raimunda Pereira Faria (206), center bottom right, the 15 Km race São Silvestre since 1924, also draws thousands of recreational Brazilians runners every year.
They fight the intense heat and humidity of a Brazilian summer day with a lot of water provided by the organization, center bottom left, many of them wearing unrecognized customs, first left, others like these soccer fans wearing the Brazilian national soccer jersey, top center left, pretending to be the famous soccer players, legend Pelé, center, player of the year 2008 Kaká, left, and crowd favorite Ronaldinho, right. (2008)
The two most traditional school of samba in Rio de Janeiro, Portela and Mangueira, together on the stage to celebrate their friendship and tradition in samba music at Portela’s headquarters in Madureira (center). The visitor school Mangueira had a popular singer Erivá, left, singing the classic samba songs of both school. (2007)
Samba schools are very large groups of performers who work year round in preparation for Carnival. Samba Schools perform in the Sambadrome in Rio de Janeiro, which runs four entire nights. They are part of an official competition, divided into seven divisions, in which a single school is declared the winner, according to costume, flow, theme, and band music quality and performance.
When a Samba school enters to perform for almost one hour, the crowd cheers and fireworks go off, left. Soap opera celebrity Juliana Paes join samba school Viradouro for exposure and fun, center. The Mestre-Sala and the Porta-Bandeiras dance as a couple represented by the community members and they have to seduce the judges with their dancing and charming, right. (2007)
Highway 1, top left, is a state highway that runs along much of the Pacific coast of the U.S. State of California. It is famous for running by some of the most beautiful coastlines in the world. Sunset at Pigeons Point, top right, skateboard and sunset at Venice Beach, bottom left, and 4th of July in San Francisco, bottom right. (2006)
A baby gorilla, top left, cuddling with its mom after a Silverback (dominant male) got into a major argument with another male over giant ants for snacks. Sadly this baby is one of the few ones among 340 gorillas left at Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in Uganda according to a census in 2003. This Leopard, top right, at Masai Mara National Reserve can be found in many wildlife parks in Kenya, this solitary cat lives and hunts on their own, and it drags its kill into a tree to defend against bold scavengers. Demand for ivory, combined with habitat loss from human settlement, has led to a dramatic decline in elephant population in the last decades, bottom right, these are lucky ones living inThe Serengeti National Park. A lion, bottom left, has sex about 100 times a day, this couple lives at Samburu National Reserve, a semi-desert park located in Samburu district in the Rift Valley, Kenya. (2005)
AK-47 rifles are extremely common among the tribes in the lower Omo Valley and the Karo’s are major weapons distributers. In this region in Ethiopia to marry a bride like this young woman, center, the bridegroom needs to make a payment to the woman’s family, either in guns, or cattle, or goats. (2nd Annual Photography Master Cup Nominee Award 2007)
Masai women in Kenya dress very colorful clothing and display beautiful jewelry, in contrast with their kids wearing black during circumcision time in their lives, top right. The women dance for the tourists, bottom right, men also wears traditional blanket and jewelry, center bottom, and like to show off their jumping skills, bottom left. (2004)
Omo Valley in Ethiopia is one of the most remote places in the planet, many tribes still live the same way as their ancestors thousands of thousands years ago. The Lower Omo River in south west Ethiopia is home to eight different tribes whose population is about 200,000, among them the Mursis, left, the Hamers, center, and the Karos, right. (2005)
In a city famous for all kinds of music, the streets of the French Quarter offers many different talented musicians. Grandpa Elliott, center-left, and Stony B, center-right, have been well known street musicians at the French Quarter in New Orleans for many years.
Grandpa Elliott has been singing in New Orleans since he was 6 years old, and in 2009 he became an instant online icon with a successful worldwide project called Playing for Change. Maison Bourbon Jazz Club at the French Quarter is considered one of the finest places for Jazz in Louisiana, left and right. (2003)
Taquile is an island of Lake Titicaca, located between Bolivia and Peru. The inhabitants, known as Taquileños, are Southern Quechua speakers. It’s called Fiesta de San Santiago, when The Taquileños celebrates their roots with music and dance, every year from July 25th to August 5th. (2002)
Male Great Frigate birds, top left, are smaller than females, they have a patch of red skin at the throat called gular sac, which inflates in order to attract a female.
Galapagos Tortoise, top right, is the most recognized symbol of the Galapagos Islands, they can weigh over 500 lb. and the shell can measure 59 inches, These land-based turtles can live for more than 150 years.
The Galapagos Land Iguana, bottom left, grows to a length of three to five feet with a body weight of up to twenty-five pounds, has a 60-year lifespan and it can be found all over Galapagos islands.
White-cheeked pintail duck, bottom right, feeds on small birds and insects as well as fresh-water vegetation in shallow ponds. (2002)
New Seven Wonders of the World was a project that attempted to update the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World concept with a modern list of wonders. TheNew7Wonders Foundation claimed that more than 100 million votes were cast through the Internet or by telephone. Nothing prevented multiple votes, so the poll was considered unscientific.
After supporting the New7Wonders Foundation at the beginning of the campaign, by providing advice on nominee selection, The United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO distanced itself from the project in 2007. Here some of the nominees: (top left-clockwise) Colosseum (Italy), Machu Picchu (Peru), Eiffel Tower (France), Angkor Wat (Cambodia), Hagia Sophia (Turkey), Christ the Redeemer (Brazil). (2006)
A traditional mud brick “beehive” houses in the village of Harran, left. The women of the village are tattooed and dressed in traditional Bedouin clothes, center. A gorgeous sunset, right, in Harran, located in the southeast of Turkey, near the border with Syria. A very ancient city, which was a major Assyrian commercial, cultural, and religious center, Harran is a valuable archaeological site. (2001)
Havana is one of the most exciting and charming cities in the world, but the buildings are going through a dangerous process of deterioration, and most cars are from before the revolution and in poor conditions, top left and bottom right. Cuba’s economy has been struggling with the American embargo and the decline of financial support from former communists countries.
For many decades Los Mambises, top right, plays at the Plaza de la Cathedral in Havana paid by the government to bring Cuban music to tourists just like many other musicians in the island. Che Guevara seems to be everywhere in Cuba, watching over everybody and everything, bottom left. (2000)
The Pantanal is a tropical wetland and the world’s largest wetland of any kind. It lies mostly within the Brazilian State of Mato Grosso do Sul but extends into Mato Grosso as well as into portions of Bolivia and Paraguay.
The Pantanal ecosystem is also thought to be home to 1000 bird species, 400 fish species, 300 mammalian species, 480 reptile species and over 9000 different subspecies of invertebrates. These are some examples: Capybara, top left; Yacare Caiman, top right; Crested Caracara, bottom left; and Red-and-green Macaw, bottom right. (2000)
São Gabriel da Cachoeira is the last town in the Brazilian Amazon jungle border with Colombia. Many generations of indians from this region have been using small boats for transportation for many centuries. An older lady relax at the back of the boat, a younger woman enjoys the ride in front, while a baby sleeps under the umbrella, center.
Forgotten by the authorities, the South American indians are surrendered by astonishing nature, they have the privilege of enjoying fabulous sunsets at Negro River, right, and the company of a wild Blue-and-Yellow Macaw at their backyards, left. (1999)
Three-quarters of Cambodians are too young to remember the Khmer Rouge horrific years. Since then the government of Cambodia teaches very little about that time. These two girls, left, walking by Angkor Wat’s astonishing sculptures could only learn the Pol Plot’s regime atrocities through word-of-mouth from parents or elders (3rd Annual Photography Master Cup Nominee Award 2008).
A vendor, center, wearing a traditional Cambodian scarf called kroma at a busy road intersection from Cambodia to Thailand. Kroma has been a symbol of the Khmer Kingdom since the first century reign of Preah Bath Hun Tean. Not just a woman can wear it, a man can wear a kroma in many different ways as well, right. (1999)
Beauty pageant contenders, center, posing for the photographers at the Bo Sang Umbrella Festival in north of Thailand, just outside of Chiang Mai. Many locals, left and
right, participate in the colorful parade using their umbrellas and bicycles every year in January at this traditional cultural festival in Bo Sang Umbrella Village. (1998)