January 2013 is almost at it’s end. Today I’m introducing a new feature on Running Wolf’s Rant, the Epic Photo section. This section will be updated at the end of the month and will be featuring epic photos that were taken during that month.
January 2013 was an interesting month. Today’s topics for the 5 Epic Photos include the extreme pollution in China, New Year’s Eve fireworks in London, a red dust storm which approached Western Australia, the FIS Ski Jumping World Cup in Japan and a sled race in France.
In the photo below (taken by Jason Lee and published by Reuters) vehicles drive on the Third Ring Road on a very hazy winter day in Beijing on the 12th of January. According to a study conducted by Beijing University and Greenpeace microscopic pollutant particles in the air have killed +/- 8,600 people prematurely in 2012 and cost China at least $1 billion in economic losses in four of it’s cities.  On the 13th of January dense smog shrouded Beijing for a second day in a row. Residents were advised to stay indoors. Shares in a Chinese face mask manufacturer soared on the 15th of January. Investors looked for opportunities to cash in on the severe air pollution that has blanketed large parts of the country. This is pretty scary. I’m glad we don’t have this problem in South Africa.
On New Year’s Eve 2012 / 2013 more than 250,000 people from around the world gathered on the banks of the river Thames to watch a spectacular fireworks display which started as Big Ben was chiming  it’s way into 2013. 12,500 fireworks were set off in the display (which cost approximately £200,000). It was one of the most spectacular New Year’s Eve fireworks displays in the world. Kirsty Wigglesworth captured this epic photo of the fireworks behind Big Ben on the 1st of January.
In this photo, a red dust storm towers over the ocean ahead of a cyclone approaching the coast of Western Australia. A tugboat worker (Brett Martin) captured this photo 25 nautical miles from the town of Onslow. He reported that the water was flat and glassy before the storm hit late on the 9th of January, but when the wild weather arrived, the swell lifted by 2 meters and winds increased to 40 knots. Visibility was reduced to 100 meters. It’s a pretty damn awesome (and scary) sight if you ask me.
In this photo Jan Matura of the Czech Republic flies over Sapporo City on his way to victory during day the first day of the FIS Men’s Ski Jumping World Cup in Japan. The FIS Ski Jumping World Cup is a ski jumping tournament held yearly by the International Ski Federation since the 1979 / 1980 season. It’s a damn awesome photo and one that should definitely be on my list of epic photos for January 2013.
In the last epic photo for January 2013 sled racers and their dogs compete in Megeve, France during the departure of a stage of the Grande Odyssee sled race. The event is an international sled dog race spanning 900 kilometres over the French Alps and Swiss Alps. It was first held in January 2005. The 2012 prize money was $100,000. This photo was taken by Jeff Pachoud.
Which one of these epic photos is your favorite? Leave a comment and let me know. Feedback is appreciated and welcome here.
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Watch this space for regular updates in the Photography category on Running Wolf’s Rant.
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