Pictures We Love: Best of July

Sneaking a Peek

Photograph by Edgard Garrido, Reuters

Dogs peek out from inside a canine car used to protect breed dogs from kidnapping in Mexico City on July 18. Robberies of canines have quadrupled during the last few years in Mexico, where criminal gangs threaten owners in public parks with guns or use dogs in heat to lure their pets and then hold them for ransom.

Why We Love It

"I love the way these dogs are peeking out of the cracked door. It creates a nice little sliver of space in a backdrop of red. They are stacked like a totem pole of pups." —Janna Dotschkal, associate photo editor

Published August 1, 2013

Out of the Blue

Photograph by Warren Toda, European Pressphoto Agency  

The Canadian side of Niagara Falls is illuminated in blue on July 22 to celebrate the birth of Britain's royal baby boy, the son of Prince William and wife Catherine.

The falls were first illuminated in 1860 to celebrate a royal visit by Albert Edward, the Prince of Wales, who later became King Edward VII.

Why We Love It

"It can be nice to step back and capture the whole context of a scene, rather than the most important part. The wider angle here shows us the beams of light, which are beautiful." —Chris Combs, news photo editor

Published August 1, 2013

Sunk and Rescue

Photograph by Matthew Hertzfeld, Toledo Fire and Rescue/Reuters

A woman waits to be rescued after a massive sinkhole opened up underneath her car in Toledo, Ohio, on July 3. Firefighters said a water-main break caused the sinkhole. The woman was rescued without major injuries.

Why We Love It

"This photograph has the feel of an archaeological dig, albeit a topsy-turvy one, with each layer speaking to a particular point in time." —Alexa Keefe, photography producer

"When I look at this photo, I feel like I am looking at a movie set. The street has pulled apart to show a different era, and it seems as if the car has fallen into another realm." —Janna Dotschkal, associate photo producer

Published August 1, 2013

Up, Up, and Away

Photograph by Hendrik Schmidt, AFP/DPA/Getty Images

A hot-air balloon is prepared on July 25 to fly in Leipzig's International Balloon Fiesta. The festival attracts thousands of people each year to watch balloons soar over Germany at the end of July.

Why We Love It

"I love the feeling this image evokes. It brings to mind a moment mid-dream, a kind of hazy twilight hour. The subdued tones, the lighting, and the unidentifiable silhouettes all add to the magic." —Alia Wilhelm, photo intern

Published August 1, 2013

Clashes in Cairo

Photograph by Mohamed El-Shahed, AFP/Getty Images

Egyptian soldiers are stationed on a street in Cairo following the toppling of Egyptian president Mohamed Morsi on July 4. Following days of massive protests, the former president was ousted and chief justice Adly Mansour was sworn in as interim president.

Why We Love It

"I like the contrast present in this image. You can easily put yourself in the shoes of the biker and imagine cycling peacefully across an illuminated street in nighttime silence. But then it becomes clear that the object behind him is a tank and the sense of serenity is lost. It's an interesting and novel way of showing tension." —Alia Wilhelm, photo intern

Published August 1, 2013

Costume Party

Photograph by Navesh Chitrakar, Reuters

A Tibetan girl looks through the window of a monastery, dressed in traditional costume to celebrate the 78th birthday of the Dalai Lama in Kathmandu, Nepal, on July 6.

Last month, Nepalese Prime Minister Khil Raj Regmi reaffirmed his support of the One-China Policy, which recognizes Tibet to be a part of China and not Nepal.

Why We Love It

"I like her sense of quiet determination." —Chris Combs, news photo editor

Published August 1, 2013

Lunchtime

Photograph from AFP/Getty Images

An Indian parrot hatchling is fed by hand in Dimapur, India, on July 24. The bird is one of hundreds taken from the wild by local hunters and smuggled for profit, despite a ban on trade of all bird species in India.

Wildlife of all types is frequently hunted either for consumption or for sale to residents. The bulk of the trade is in three- to four-week-old chicks.

Why We Love It

"It's not just the subject matter that makes this a memorable image: The hand gives us a sense of how small this creature is, though it comically already embodies most of the characteristics of a grown parrot." —Alia Wilhelm, photo intern

Published August 1, 2013

Working the Racetrack

Photograph by Chip Somodevilla, Getty Images

Racegoers flaunt their fashions during the Durban July horse races on July 6 in South Africa. The 2,200-meter (7,200-foot) race has been held on the first Saturday of July since 1987. The winner takes home 2.5 million Rand, or about $245,000.

Why We Love It

"There is a wildness to this frame that makes it very fun to look at. The horses juxtaposed with the ladies in their millinery is wonderful." —Alexa Keefe, photography producer

"There's a lot going on here, which you get a sense of right away. There is no shortage of things to examine, from the horses on the wall to the women fussing over their costumes. It's an intriguing kind of ridiculousness that draws you in and makes you laugh." —Alia Wilhelm, photo intern

Published August 1, 2013

There She Blows

Photograph by Babak Tafreshi, TWAN

Yellowstone's Old Faithful geyser erupts under the stars during a summer night in Wyoming. The geyser is known as one of the most predictable natural landmarks in the world, erupting in intervals of between 60 and 110 minutes.

Why We Love It

"I think this image really captures the elegance of Yellowstone's most famous geyser. The soft light adds a serene quality to the image, and the night sky's purple tones nicely complement the golden colors of the earth below. The sprouting water looks less like a sudden burst of power and energy, and more like a cloud of smoke rising effortlessly from the ground." —Ben Fitch, associate photo editor

Published August 1, 2013