Pictures We Love: Best of September

Ship-breaker at Work

Photograph from Fame Pictures/Barcroft Media

A ship looms over a young welder near Chittagong, Bangladesh, in a photo released in September. Child ship-breakers work alongside adults in the deadly industry on the Bay of Bengal, where oil tankers, cargo ships, and other giant vessels are brought to be taken apart for scrap.

Though shipbreaking provides jobs and materials, the practice also exposes workers to both physical hazards and chemicals.

Why We Love It

"This worker is perfectly lit by the warm light coming off the sparks. The photographer angled the shot from below, allowing a sense of place and a complete view of the welder. This produces a very dramatic effect."—Janna Dotschkal, associate photo editor

"This picture seems truly classic and timeless in its composition and lighting. The thing that gets me when I look at the photograph, though, is the looming ship in the background, so dimly lit yet so present—it completes the portrait of this young ship-breaker and his work."—Katel Ledu, director of photography

Published September 30, 2011

Sea Surge

Photograph by Daiji Yanagita, Chunichi Simbun/Reuters

Surging waves caused by Typhoon Roke hit the breakwater in Udono in the Japanese port town of Kiho, Mie Prefecture, on September 21.

The typhoon left six people dead and six missing after pounding Japan with heavy rain and strong winds, but it did not have a major impact on the tsunami-crippled Fukushima nuclear plant, according to Japanese public broadcaster NHK. (Related pictures: "A Rare Look Inside Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Plant.")

Why We Love It

"I'm glad for the photographer that this appears to have been shot from a great distance."—Chris Combs, news photo editor

Published September 30, 2011

Lady L

Photograph by Shen Bohan, Xinhua/Corbis

Diagnosed with HIV in 2010, 34-year-old Lady L sits on the sofa in the home she shares with her younger brother in Yaoundé, Cameroon, in a picture taken on August 22 and released September 1. Lady L's two children live with their father in another city.

About 610,000 adults and children in Cameroon—5.3 percent of the population—are living with HIV/AIDS, according to USAID statistics from 2009.

Why We Love It

"In this photograph, the couch is centered perfectly in the frame and the subject (the woman) is off center. This composition and the placement of the subject draws your eye to her turned away face and anonymity. The grain of the wood also naturally draws your eye to the left center of the frame."—Janna Dotschkal, associate photo editor

"With posing, clothing, and setting, photographer Shen Bohan underscores the anonymity of those living with HIV/AIDS in Cameroon."—Chris Combs, news photo editor

"The simple composition of this photo lends itself so well to the way the subject's clothing competes with the couch she sits on. The pose of her body, turned away from the camera, immediately elicits emotion."—Katel Ledu, director of photography

Published September 30, 2011

Hair Affair

Photograph by Allison Joyce, Reuters

A model's hairstyle is a work in progress backstage at the Monique Lhuiller Spring/Summer 2012 show on September 10 in New York City.

Lhuiller's show was one of many staged during New York Fashion Week, held semi-annually to showcase the work of top designers.

Why We Love It

"I enjoy this picture because, while it's playful, it shows the serious production that surrounds fashion shows, even down to the details of the model's hair."—Web Barr, associate photo producer

"The harsh lighting and tight crop add to the feeling that the 'faceless' model is more object than human at this moment."—Monica Corcoran, senior photo editor

"Just as telling as the semi-obscured model's face are the two hands tugging on her hair. Both say so much about how much pain and process go into preparing for a fashion show."—Katel Ledu, director of photography

Published September 30, 2011

In Plain Sight

Photograph by Ben Bronselaer, My Shot

A red-billed oxpecker nearly disappears against the patterned hide of a giraffe in a photo submitted to My Shot in September.

The world's tallest mammals, giraffes can reach heights of up to 19 feet (6 meters) and can run as fast as 35 miles (56 kilometers) an hour.

Why We Love It

"The composition and framing takes this photo to another level. By not showing more of the giraffe, the photographer forces the viewer to think a little bit harder about what it is they're actually seeing."—Monica Corcoran, senior photo editor

Published September 30, 2011

Berry Bounty

Photograph by Daniel Acker, Bloomberg/Getty Images

A picker is driven through a flooded cranberry bed during a harvest at Elm Lake Cranberry Co. in Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin, on September 27.

The 2011 cranberry crop is forecast to be up 20 percent from 2010, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The 2011 crop may also yield the second largest production on record, Bloomberg News reported.

Why We Love It

"An aerial perspective for this image is ideal for the graphic elements of the cranberry beds. The top half of the photo reflects the sky in an impressionistic fashion and serves as a strong contrast to the uncleared cranberry bed below. Although the cranberry beds don't follow the rule of thirds, the tractor is placed perfectly in the frame and has dynamic space in the direction it's traveling."—Janna Dotschkal, associate photo editor

"The linear nature of this photo and the dark reflection of clouds in the waterway at the top of the frame flatten the picture into an abstract image, broken only by the moving cranberries."—Sarah Polger, senior photo editor

Published September 30, 2011

Lawn Mower Race

Photograph by Matthew Lloyd, Getty Images

Competitors take part in the 12-hour Lawn Mower Endurance Race on September 24 in Billingshurst, England.

Started in 1973 as a motorsport that would be accessible to as many as possible, the competition features little commercialism or sponsorship, no cash prizes, and no modification of engines. Trophies are donated from various sources.

Why We Love It

"The dark, eerie lighting adds a little irony and mystery to what could be a very comical image."—Monica Corcoran, senior photo editor

"I'm not sure how fast these guys are going on their lawn mowers, but I don't think it really matters. Although the photo is dark, the image doesn't need any more light to convey what's happening."—Web Barr, associate photo producer

Published September 30, 2011

Separation Barrier

Photograph by Uriel Sinai, Getty Images

A fence that serves as part of Israel's "separation barrier" rises over an Israeli boy in a hammock near the West Bank Jewish settlement of Beit Horon on September 8.

Construction on the barrier, with sections of fencing and concrete wall, was begun by Israel in 2002.

Why We Love It

"This photo illustrates the old 'f8 and be there' mantra of photojournalists. Sometimes all it takes is being in the right place at the right time."—Monica Corcoran, senior photo editor

"Though it may be a bit obvious and cliché, I can't stop thinking about how the barbed wire behind the napping boy looks a bit like intertwined hearts."—Katel Ledu, director of photography

Published September 30, 2011

Bellyboarder

Photograph by Ben Birchall, PA Wire/AP

Naomi Perkin, 48, a runner-up in the Junior Ladies category, holds her board ahead of the 9th World Bellyboarding Championships at Chapel Porth beach in Cornwall, England, on September 4.

A bellyboard is a common sight around the Cornish coast, and is firmly rooted in surf culture. Designed to be pushed off from a standing position as a wave approaches the rider, the plywood board is ridden lying down on the stomach.

Why We Love It

"The crazy patterns and messy framing takes your eye on a visual journey around the frame."—Monica Corcoran, senior photo editor

"The woman's hat and expression make this image. Poised and somewhat sullen, the competitor seems focused on the contest at hand. The flowered swimming cap quickly breaks the mood and suggests the spirited nature of the contest."—Sarah Polger, senior photo editor

Published September 30, 2011

Next: Pictures We Love: August >>

Photograph from AP

Published September 30, 2011