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| July 23, 2008 |  Email to a friend  Permalink |
Everybody In - Beating the Heat
The northern hemisphere is feeling the summer heat. A number of heat waves have already rolled across parts of southern Europe,the United States and Asia. From swimming pools to rivers, wave pools, ocean beaches and more, here are some recent photos of people around the world having fun, competing and keeping cool in the water. (22 photos total)
Swimming instructor Abbas Khalid (L), 35, assists an Iraqi child during a swimming class at a public pool in central Baghdad on July 15 2008. Abbas has been giving swimming lessons for Iraqi children for the past two summers, when school is out and kids take to the water to cool down. (AHMAD AL-RUBAYE/AFP/Getty Images)
People swim to avoid the heat in a swimming pool in the Everland amusement park in Yongin, about 50 km (31 miles) south of Seoul, July 13, 2008. (REUTERS/Everland Amusement Park/Handout)
Spanish long distance swimmer David Meca attempts a world-record breaking swim from the beach at Tarifa, on the southern tip of Spain, on July 4, 2008. Meca is hoping to beat his own record in 2000 of crossing the straits of Gilbraltar three times non stop between Tarifa and the Spanish enclave in Morocco of Ceuta. (JOSE LUIS ROCA/AFP/Getty Images)
Manny Cothran, 11, of Nowata, Okla., is enveloped in a shield of cool water at the Splash Pad Waterpark in Owasso, Okla., Tuesday, July 22, 2008. (AP Photo/Tulsa World, Stephen Holman)
Palestinian women and girls spend some time at the beach June 20, 2008 in Rafah, southern Gaza Strip. Today is the second day of a truce between Palestinian militant groups and Israel, brokered by Egypt. (Abid Katib/Getty Images)
About 25,000 people attend on July 15, 2008, the boat procession of the Virgin of Carmen (Virgen del Carmen), the protector of fisherman, at Puerto de la Cruz on Spain's Canary island of Tenerife. (DESIREEE MARTIN/AFP/Getty Images)
A serviceman and his horse from the Household Cavalry, the Life Guards regiment, swim in the sea along Holkham Beach, Holkham, eastern England, Tuesday July 22, 2008. Members of the Household Cavalry are currently stationed in the area during their three week summer training camp and a break from ceremonial duties in London. (AP Photo/PA, Chris Radburn)
A man leaps into the waters of the Arabian Sea near the Gateway of India in Mumbai on July 5, 2008, as a high tide approaches the western Indian city. The monsoon season, which runs from June to September, accounts for about 80 percent of India's annual rainfall. (SAJJAD HUSSAIN/AFP/Getty Images)
Anthony Chance, 23, a Florida State University student from Crestview, Fla., enjoys a plunge into the cool waters of Wakulla Springs, Thursday, July 10, 2008, in Wakulla, Fla. Chance said he was taking a break from school and the mid-ninties temperature with a visit to the Springs.(AP Photo/Phil Coale)
Participants are seen waiting, at the start of the 3.8 kilometer (2.4 mile) swimming event of the Ironman Frankfurt 2008 triathlon in a lake near Frankfurt, central Germany, on Sunday, July 6, 2008. (AP Photo/Daniel Roland)
Participants begin swimming at the start of the 3.8 kilometer (2.4 mile) swimming event of the Ironman Frankfurt 2008 triathlon in a lake near Frankfurt, central Germany, on Sunday, July 6, 2008. (AP Photo/Daniel Roland)
Afghan youths dive at a swimming pool on Wazir Akbar Khan hill in Kabul on June 24, 2008. Temperatures in the Afghan capital are approaching the 30 degrees Celsius mark as the summer sets in in Central Asia. (SHAH MARAI/AFP/Getty Images)
Hungary's Olympic hopeful Nikolett Szepesi swims at the 50-metre backstroke competition during the Hungarian Swimming Championship in Budapest July 11, 2008. (REUTERS/Laszlo Balogh)
Residents hold a portrait of late Chinese leader Chairman Mao Zedong and a plate with Beijing Olympic logo while swimming in the Yong River in Nanjing, Jiangsu province, July 13, 2008. The swimming activity was held to mark the 42nd anniversary of Mao swimming in the Yangtze River and to welcome the upcoming 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, local media reported. (REUTERS/Jeff Xu)
A boy lies in the water off Compostela beach in Vilagarcia de Arousa, northwestern Spain on July 22, 2008. Temperatures in Spain are expected to hover around 40C over the course of the week due to a current of hot air from Africa. (MIGUEL RIOPA/AFP/Getty Images)
A bull charges men off the port during the traditional bulls celebration on the seafront in Denia Alicante on July 7, 2008. (DIEGO TUSON/AFP/Getty Images)
A US soldier walks past an Iraqi child playing in a wading pool in the courtyard of a residence in the Dora neighbourhood in Baghdad on July 2, 2008. (ALI YUSSEF/AFP/Getty Images)
A South Korean woman plays with mud during the Boryeong Mud Festival at Daecheon Beach in Boryeong, South Korea, Sunday, July 13, 2008. The 11th annual mud festival features mud wrestling, mud sliding and a mud king contest. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)
Visitors swim in a pool at the scenic spot called Salt Lake, also known as China's Dead Sea, at Penglai Township in Dayin County of southwest China's Sichuan province Saturday, July 12, 2008. Officials said Sunday that tourists can now travel safely to Sichuan's scenic spots, apart from those in 30 counties seriously affected by the May 12 earthquake. (AP Photo/Color China Photo)
A bather is silhouetted as he prepares to dive into the Walensee lake in the town of Walenstadt, about 75 km (47 miles) outside of Zurich, July 16, 2008. (REUTERS/Christian Hartmann)
Children learn to swim in a pool in Xiangfan in central China's Hubei province Sunday July 13, 2008. (AP Photo)
A surfer falls from his surf board the Escobilla beach in Ixtapa, Mexico, Sunday, July 6, 2008. (AP Photo/Eduardo Verdugo)
More links and information:
Baghdadis make splash in new pool as temperature soars AFP 7/5
Spain issues heatwave alert Independent 7/23
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This blogger might want to review your comment before posting it.
Wow, those asian pools are hella crowded.
Love the compilation!
I like photo of the US Soldier and the Iraqis, they were smiling :)
http://superboyreturns.blogspot.com
Nothing else right now brings the four corners of the world together in one place like the Big Picture.
This blog is THE best.
Love it!
Thanks.
is china really that populated that an entire sea cannot accomadate a few weekenders?
Very neat to see how different cultures beat the heat.
Wonderful blog, brilliantly and thoughtfully executed.
But one thing: why, why, why are the non-western photograph subjects almost always identified by their nationality first? Particularly when the caption includes the location of the photograph after the text. It gets redundant & very uncomfortably us/them culturally centred. (particularly in the last set about the Olympics, featuring "chinese workers", "chinese man", etc, all taking place in China.) White westerners are never described as "an American boy" or "an English soldier".
Not looking to start a flame war on journalistic ethics, but I think it's something worthy of consideration, especially considering your international audience & clearly inclusive/bridging-gaps political intent.
Thank you so much, pictures are, as always, perfect.
Big fave to the water shield.
hahaha I just love the last photo of the surfer.
Great compilation. Good to know we all love the cool water :)
Hahahaha, "Indian boy". The man has a beard, for god's sake.
And the kid in Wakulla Springs looks like he's getting swallowed up by a drainage pipe.
Nice pictures, anyway.
Cliff, the uncomfortableness is all in your mind.
It's a bit disturbing, that the american soldier points his gun directly at the boy in the pool...
BANG!
oh, sorry...
They swim with their hats on in Korea?
water shield is awesome.
Superb moments!
Notes from the author:
@Cliff: Excellent point. The captions for these images can come in from various places and are often designed to be a stand-alone description of the photo. When all lumped together like this, it can become redundant. I do edit and/or write parts of the captions, and will try harder to eliminate redundancy
@David Crespo: Thanks for the heads-up, it's been changed to "man"
Cliff, it's an American news site (note:boston). I think you're looking too far into it. In fact, you referring to Americans as 'white westerners' gives me the impression that you're the one who should watch his racial generalizations.
As always, a great post. Hopefully it's popularity will grow and call for more frequent updates :)
As always very high quality. Also love the sense of humor :)
@Dan, Cliff didn't refer to Americans as white westerners, he merely said that white westerners were rarely described by their nationality such as American or English. This by no means implies that all Americans (or all English) are white.
Amazing pictures as always, but a few of them look rather dangerous! How can you tell if someone's drowning in the salt lake, and the Korean amusement park? And with a giant, densely-packed crowd wading into the water during the Spanish boat procession, at least one person seems doomed to get hurt.
great pics... cliff, get over it. it's a description, not a racial profile.
I can't decide which is my favorite:
the bull going after those people or the big kid doing the cannonball.
This is one of my favorite series yet on this blog.
anyone notice where the US soldier's rifle is aimed? looks to me that it's pointed right between that Iraqi kid's eyes.
These pictures are fantastic -- I especially love the one of Nikolett Szepesi...gives
new meaning to the phrase "fluid movement." :-)
Chill out Cliff.
"Visitors SWIM in a pool..."
Crazy as hell. I'd panic in an instant if I ware in the middle of the mayhem that's going on at that pool in China...
Plus think about the water. Either they pump it full of chlorine till it shines a bright blue or you are swimming in what I'd call toilet bowl water.
Wonderful! As ever... for hot temperatures water and ice creams: http://davidlatache.blogspot.com/2008/05/roxanne.html
The second pic scares me for some reason...
A friend from Korean mentioned to me once that culturally having a tan or freckles is not desired - the paler the better - that may explain all the hats.
Yeah, it is scary how one can interpret the photo of the soldier "pointing" his rifle at the kid in the pool. Obviously, it's not intentional, but wow...
I agree with Marla; this is one of my favorite series/posts yet!
Ahh summer. :D
Uh, that's racist Jason. Tell him Cliff!!
the bull one is awesome!
Having studied the photo of the soldier intently, I don't think the weapon is pointed in the child's direction.
Most importantly, note his trigger finger covering the firing selector of the M4 Carbine. The firing selector is in the "Safe" position, not "Semi" or "Burst."
If the weapon *was* pointed in the child's direction at any point it would be in a frame previous to the photo published. I find that unlikely as the positioning of the soldier's feet lead me to believe that he had his back to the wall in order to straddle the pool to step over it. (Note: no mud or cloudiness in at the edge of the pool.) Doing this would turn his torso such that the weapon did not vector in the child's direction for more than a tenth of a second and that only in mid-turn.
This soldier was not endangering that child's life.
really outstanding shooting by all. i look forward to checking in on the sights every few days. one of the best things on the net. keep it up
I think I spotted a cheater in that triathlon picture. I'd be interested to see who won that event.
That american soldier should still have his gun pointed in the other direction because accidents do happen ... but what I really want to know is what everyone in that pic is focusing on ... an animal perhaps? something close to the ground ... not the photographer ... seems to be amusing everyone in the pic... hmmmm...
I wonder how "warm" the water is in some of those crowded pools?
If the water starts out blue at the beginning of the day, and ends up yellow at the end... do not go in that pool!
Really nice pictures.
Best wishes from Germany
Too bad the only American in these shots (other than the soldier) is a fat kid.
Oh well, summer fun is to be had by all!
If you'll notice, the soldiers finger is not on the trigger.
Wow the Chinese should make bigger pools. You could walk across the heads of the swimmers. http://www.letutor.com
seeing the photos in China... i can only think of one thing... God help us!
Scott,
I suppose you mean the guy in the kayak.
Fantásticas fotografías. Como siempre..
Re: Second picture of triathletes.....I found Waldo!
Was there a tsunami after the Florida student jumped in the water?
@Dan: good observation; being white, western and Australian it's also strikes me as a little unusual.
@Alan Taylor: Thanks for the great series!
I reckon any time a young child and an armed gun are together, there's a possibility for an accident.
"SWIM WITH YOUR DICTATOR" - Swim with the sharks? stupid. Cages are not fun (trust me) - Swim with dolphins? do you know how dangerous and free spirited they are? - Whales? boring! too big! - Call now 1-800-SWIM-MAO or mymao@yangtze.cn (free towels first 100000 callers)
ps: unlike shark operators we'll put you in the cage afterwards, not while you swim! we know human rights.
Paul in Boca,
You saw him too! That cheater!
:)
Hey David La Tache, your shameless self-promotion and unrelated photos really detract from the incredible quality and content of "The Big Picture".
Big O toilet ;-)
cliff I think there are bigger instances of racism to worry about. Get over it.
what about songkran?
what a great series.thanks for the pics!
Brilliant photos... I feel cooler already. I love the one of the horse and the serviceman in the water... :)
I love this site, I wish I could take photos like these:-S
my photos are not this good by you can see them at http://amir97522.blogspot.com
Nice pics from Spain, where I live...
^^
www.lessonsofhate.blogspot.com
Amazing as usual!
www.dariosalvelli.com
I was at The Mud Festival in South Korea this year. Let me tell you, it was one of the wildest things that I have ever done. Covered in mud head to toe, live concerts. a rave with mud hoses.
Pretty much the best thing I've done in my whole life.
That's so magic and so simple… Water is life. Really.
http://allantverslendroit.wordpress.com
Cliff's got a point, if a little over-elaborated.
Regardless - am I the only one reminded of Where's Wally when looking at those pictures? :D
Dude that is pretty cool. Very nice photos indeed.
JT
www.FIreMe.To/udi
I can only imagine how much pee is in those pools!!
I love this blog, thank you.
And by the way, I feel the same as Cliff...
splendid set of pictures for such warm days like we're gettin right now. Very diverse set with some very refreshing scenes...
just keep coming back to this marvelous blog!
@ 52: sorry Johnny, you're reason...
Cliff has a point, if you're offended by attempts to add context to photos (location/nationality).
And Cliff has a point, if you ignore that he's wrong about Alan not doing the same thing for photos of "white" Westerners - see caption of " A U.S. soldier..." six photos from bottom...
*yawn*
I was taught not to point a gun near anything I wasn't willing to destroy, regardless of whether my finger was on the trigger...but I don't have anywhere near the experience of a soldier. I'm guessing it's not pointed as close to the kid as it looks, especially since everyone is smiling.
Check out the second photo. The guy near the bottom, with the red glasses, has a MOUTHFUL of that water. GRRRRRRRRROSS!!!!
Incredible photos, as usual... makes me want to take a swim.. just not in any of the overcrowded pools! (I'd panic in there, too!)
@62 David, the point is that it's annoying how you (and others who do it, too) constantly use this blog to promote your own blog in a totally tacky way.
Stop right there ramona! I thought the popsicle photo David pimped earlier augmented this collection nicely and I'm sure it nearly made Alan's final cut...
Beautiful pictures and wonderful compilation. Thanks!!
Anthony Chance displaces a great quantity of water when fully submerged.
whoa, that puerto de la cruz looks super crowded. also, women go swimming in burkas?
FLABBER HEERSCHT!!
Asians don't like tans. Until the recent economic boon they were too busy making a living to recreate in water sports!
To everyone who gets upset about a person pimping their own blog/pictures etc on these threads:
If you don't like it, don't click on the person's link. How much time does it take to skip over a self promoting comment, 1/2 of a second?
I don't mind the self promotion... maybe it leads to something interesting. But if you don't like it, just skip over it. Don't berate the person.
Beautiful pictures and amazing!!
Hmm 81 comments and nobody has picked up the unsubtle neo-photoshop job on the 'Mao' pic? (Olympics placard)
Love this blog and its amazing photographs but I am now not sure what kind of vetting (if any) is taking place to ensure the pics are Kosher.
Thoughts?
@Moscool: I didn't notice at first, but yes, the floating sign on the right in image 14 does appear 'out of place'. I believe that's just because of its thin, even border, but I'll let you all be the judge. Here are 3 supporting images, from the same photographer, same place. Sign from 14 full-size, another photo of the scene, and sign at full-size from 2nd photo. It just looks strange, I do not think it's photoshopped, and yes, I do pay attention to things like this, thanks.
Its a melting 32 degrees here, crazy hot. I was seriously ill yesterday with an intense migraine... These are some fab pics of people staying cool in the water...
they ALWAYS show the insanely crowded pool in China...meanwhile this really isn't the reality, so don't get the wrong impression.
Clearly by the looks on the women's faces, that soldier was in NO way pointing that gun at the child. Seriously folks. Have a little more faith in our soldiers! If you take a minute to study it, it is clear that he is in front of the child and the gun is in fact pointed away from him. I would guess that as he was passing the child the gun was pointed in front of him and away from the boy.
Thanks for the great blog, and the amazing shots of our world and our troops too!
Great photo's . . . in reading the comments trere seems to be tremendous support for this effort !
The 4th from last picture in China has got to be a lifeguard's worst nightmare
WOV very nice pictures
grate super senstive digital camera photos Thanks for photographer
WOV very nice pictures
grate super senstive digital camera photos Thanks for photographer
Very beautiful pictures as usual.
I'm very happy to see the bull's pic becaus i went to Denia a lot of times for holidays and I have ever seen this show
Amazing and so interesting pics from this Blog . Fascinating to see what happened all over the world from the eyes and lens of such professional photographer !! A real pleasure !!!
Life is good here. I have my own pool and won't complain again.
hahaha thats so funny :D