Now for something completely different
This image shows Mercury's horizon as the spacecraft Messenger was moving northward along the first orbit during which MDIS was turned on. On March 17, 2011 Messenger became the first spacecraft to orbit the planet Mercury. (AP Photo/NASA)
Scanning through Merlin this afternoon looking for interesting pictures, what caught my eye were images from NASA of the planet Mercury. The picture above was taken by the spacecraft Messenger and is the first image ever made from a spacecraft while in orbit around Mercury.
The photograph below, taken in 2008, shows the eastern part of Mercury, the smallest and closest planet in our solar system. The colors in this picture are different than what would be seen with the naked eye, but show information about the different rock types and subtle color variations on the oddball planet. The bright yellow part is the Caloris impact basin, which is the site of one of the biggest in the solar system. For the first time, Earth has a regular orbiting eye-in-the-sky spying on the solar system’s smallest and strangest planet, Mercury. NASA’s spacecraft called Messenger successfully veered into a pinpoint orbit Thursday night after a 6 1/2-year trip and 4.9 billion miles and tricky maneuvering to fend off the gravitational pull of the sun. It is the fifth planet in our solar system that NASA has orbited, in addition to the Earth and the moon.
This image released by NASA shows an enhanced photo image of Mercury from its Messenger probe's 2008 flyby of the planet. NASA says it was a taste of pictures likely to come after March 17, 2011, when the probe enters Mercury's orbit. (AP Photo/NASA/Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory/Arizona State University/Carnegie Institution of Washington)
-John Clanton
Thunder basketball
Oklahoma City's Kevin Durant (35) and Russell Westbrook (0) celebrate a point during the NBA game between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Portland Trailblazers, Sunday, March 27, 2011, at the Oklahoma City Arena. Photo by Sarah Phipps, The Oklahoman
Staff Photographer Sarah Phipps covered the Thunder game against the Portland Trailblazers in Oklahoma City on Sunday night. The Thunder won the game, guaranteeing a spot in the NBA playoffs this season. You can see more of Sarah’s images by clicking here, or you can read more about the Thunder by clicking here.
Oklahoma City's Serge Ibaka (9) and Thabo Sefolosha (2) fights for a rebound with Portland's Wesley Matthews (2) and LaMarcus Aldridge (12) during the NBA game between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Portland Trailblazers, Sunday, March 27, 2011, at the Oklahoma City Arena. Photo by Sarah Phipps, The Oklahoman
-John Clanton
Fashion, basketball and other recent assignments
Curbside advertiser Aaven Ross waves to traffic that passes by Liberty Tax Service at Pennsylvania Avenue and Hefner Road on Tuesday, Feb. 15, 2011, Oklahoma City Okla. Photo by Chris Landsberger, The Oklahoman
I have gathered up a few photos taken over the last few weeks that I thought you might enjoy. Some of the photos made it to publication in the Oklahoman and others did not, so there is a chance you might have seen a few of these already. Nevertheless, I thought they might be of some enjoyment even though it might be your second time to see them. I will do my best to make a consistent post once or twice a week to offer a closer look at photos you just might like. If you would like to see even more photos check out the Oklahoman Photo Gallery page as well.
Northwest Classen soccer player Ericka Ramirez poses for a photo with her father Luis at the Northwest Classen soccer field on Wednesday, March 23, 2011, in Moore, Okla. Photo by Chris Landsberger, The Oklahoman
Matt Shepard of Catoosa reacts after a first round loss to Tuttle's Isaac Beard in the in Class 4A 145 pound match during the 90th annual Oklahoma High School state wrestling tournament on Friday, Feb. 25, 2011, in Oklahoma City, Okla. Photo by Chris Landsberger, The Oklahoman
Mood Retro Fashion Photo by Chris Landsberger, The Oklahoman
Fort Gibson's Nana Wallace, front, celebrates with her teammates after the 52-51 overtime win over Cache during the championship game of the 4A girls state championship tournament at the Big House in the State Fair Park on Saturday, March 12, 2011, in Oklahoma City, Okla. Photo by Chris Landsberger, The Oklahoman
Cache's Katelynn Martine (21) reacts after missing two free throws in the final second of the 52-51 overtime loss to Fort Gibson's Jodi Glover (14) and the Lady Tigers during the championship game of the 4A girls state championship tournament at the Big House in the State Fair Park on Saturday, March 12, 2011, in Oklahoma City, Okla. Photo by Chris Landsberger, The Oklahoman
Corn Bible's Ellie Troyer (30) reacts after the 42-36 win over Timberlake as Lady Tiger Erin Overton (12) walks off the court during the opening round of the Oklahoma high school Class B girls state basketball tournament between the Corn Bible Academy and Timberlake High School at the Big House in State Fair Park on Thursday, March 3, 2011, in Oklahoma City, Okla. Photo by Chris Landsberger, The Oklahoman
Deer Creek Lamont fans show their school pride and cheer on the Lady Eagles during the opening round of the Oklahoma high school Class B girls state basketball tournament between Deer Creek Lamont and Erick at the Big House in State Fair Park on Thursday, March 3, 2011, in Oklahoma City, Okla. Photo by Chris Landsberger, The Oklahoman
-Chris Landsberger
Pictures I Like-The last 21 Days
Sofie watches her owner, Tim Burch, help install a new sign at the Cock O' the Walk bar, N 36th and Western, Sunday, March 20, 2011, in Oklahoma City. Photo by Sarah Phipps, The Oklahoman
If you’re new to Alternate Crop, or if you haven’t checked in for awhile, this installment of ‘Pictures I Like’ is a good look at the work we’ve been busy with in March. We’ve photographed grass fires in the state, seen a change in the weather and covered the end of high school basketball season. We’ve also gotten nice pictures from the Timed Event Championship, The Big 12 Basketball Tournament and troops returning home from service overseas.
Some of these pictures were used in the newspaper, but for a few of them, this is the first time they’ve been used. Remember that you can click on each of these pictures to see a larger version, or you can see a collection of photo galleries, by clicking here.
Jim Ross Cooper rolls over his steer while competing in Steer Wrestling during the Timed Event Championships at the Lazy E Arena, Friday, March 4, 2011. Photo by David McDaniel, The Oklahoman
Courtney Walker (23), left, and Tamara Lee (20), right, of Edmond Santa Fe kiss the gold ball trophy after the Class 6A girls basketball state championship game between Edmond Santa Fe and Midwest City at the Mabee Center in Tulsa, Okla., Saturday, March 12, 2011. Edmond Santa Fe won, 56-36. Photo by Nate Billings, The Oklahoman
William Hunter hugs his son, William Hunter, Jr., 4, as Hunter and other members of the 507th Air Refueling Wing, U.S. Air Force Reserve, return from duty overseas to Will Rogers World Airport in Oklahoma City on Wednesday, March. 9, 2011. Photo by John Clanton, The Oklahoman
A grass fire burns near a neighborhood close to South County Line Road and SW 29th, Sunday, March 20, 2011, in Mustang, Okla.. Photo by Sarah Phipps, The Oklahoman
Oklahoma State's lacrosse team hold up their sticks after getting instructions during a timeout in the Bedlam lacrosse game outside Cheyenne Middle School in Edmond, Okla., on Sunday, March. 6, 2011. Photo by John Clanton, The Oklahoman
OSU's Jean-Paul Olukemi reacts after the Cowboys' loss to Kansas in the college basketball Big 12 Championship tournament game in Kansas City, Mo., Thursday, March 10, 2011. Photo by Bryan Terry, The Oklahoman
-John Clanton
Thunder and a gallery update
Oklahoma City's Russell Westbrook missed this shot as he is pressured by Toronto's defense during their NBA basketball game at the OKC Arena in downtown Oklahoma City on Sunday, March 20, 2011. Photo by John Clanton, The Oklahoman
Last week a reader commented on this post, that I mentioned 250 images of the Devon Tower under construction but the provided gallery had only 16 pictures. With a construction site of that magnitude and several photographers getting pictures when they can, a Merlin search of the images starts to look a little redundant. I tried to find interesting pictures from different stages of the construction and from different vantage points around the city.
I’ll admit though, that 16 images is a very tight edit. Too tight probably. So, I went back through Merlin and grabbed a few more. Here’s a gallery that features 41 images from the construction of the Devon Tower. You can also click here to see all the images I tuned in from tonight’s Thunder game against the Toronto Raptors.
-John Clanton
Burlesque dancers
Tierney James (center), who performs as Eva Aphrodisia, gets into her costume with other dancers before a recent show at the Prohibition Room in Oklahoma City on Sunday, Feb. 6, 2011. James is a member of the 7 Deadly Sins Burlesque Revue in Oklahoma City. Photo by John Clanton, The Oklahoman
In a hallway south of the Prohibition Room, Merry Ann Moan opens a suitcase packed with handmade pasties, sparkling, sequined bras and high heels as she gets dressed for a show. For Merry, who’s real name is Merry McGinnis, an interest in burlesque dancing evolved from the belly dancing she’d done as a kid. Moving back to Oklahoma after college in California, she joined the now-defunct group Dust Bowl Dolls before helping to start 7 Deadly Sins Burlesque Revue in Oklahoma City. “I like the idea that I can re-define my own sexuality,” says McGinnis, a former auto mechanic who once made a bra out of a pair of working headlights. “I like having something different, where people learn to see women as more than just objects.”
Tierney James, who dances under the stage name Eva Aphrodisia, sits on the floor next to her black, ostrich feather fans, cutting pieces of tape that will keep her pasties in place during the show. She talks about the misconceptions people have of the dancers—they’re not intelligent, they need money, or they need male approval. “We don’t really make any money, we do it solely because we want to be doing it, and all that we’re putting out there (on stage) is what we want to put out there and there’s no other pressures to influence what we do.”
Merry McGinnis, who dances as Merry Ann Moan, performs with 7 Deadly Sins Burlesque Revue at the Prohibition Room in Oklahoma City on Sunday, Feb. 6, 2011. Photo by John Clanton, The Oklahoman
Tierney James, who performs as Eva Aphrodisia gets dressed before a recent show at the Prohibition Room in Oklahoma City on Sunday, Feb. 6, 2011. James is a member of the 7 Deadly Sins Burlesque Revue in Oklahoma City. Photo by John Clanton, The Oklahoman
Tyler Rush, who performs as Panhandle Perle, performs during a show at the Prohibition Room in Oklahoma City on Sunday, Feb. 6, 2011. Photo by John Clanton, The Oklahoman
Merry Ann Moan, Eva Aphrodisia and Panhandle Perle talk more about burlesque dancing in Oklahoma City in this audio slideshow. They will also be featured in Look at OKC, which is available for free at restaurants and bars in the Metro area starting on Wednesday, March 16, 2011.
-John Clanton
Oklahoma March Madness
Stetson Clawson poses for a portrait Saturday, March, 12, 2011, at the State Fair Arena. Photo by Sarah Phipps, The Oklahoman
The high school basketball season came to end this weekend with the state basketball championships at the State Fair Arena and the Mabee Center in Tulsa. Oklahoma photographers Sarah Phipps and Chris Landsberger covered classes 2A, 3A, 4A at the arena while photographer Nate Billings covered classes 4A, 5A in Tulsa.
While at the Big House, Sarah and Chris explored the culture of fans by shooting portraits and collecting audio. See the photos and stories they discovered here.
Snyder basketball fan Tyler Roberts during the championship games of the Oklahoma state championship tournament at the Big House in the State Fair Park on Saturday, March 12, 2011, in Oklahoma City, Okla. Photo by Chris Landsberger, The Oklahoman
See all the high school basketball championships galleries by clicking here:
Ft. Gibson reacts to their win over Cache as Cache's Katelynn Martine (21) reacts in the 3A girls championship game, Saturday, March, 12, 2011, at the the State Fair Arena. Okla. Photo by Sarah Phipps, The Oklahoman.
Edmond Memorial's Jared Jobe (5) celebrates as James Woodard (3), right, and Obi Emegano (15) hug at the end of the Class 6A boys basketball state championship game between Midwest City and Edmond Memorial at the Mabee Center in Tulsa, Okla., Saturday, March 12, 2011. Edmond Memorial won, 53-43. Photo by Nate Billings, The Oklahoman
- Sarah Phipps
Tragedy and conflict overseas
Cargo containers are strewn about in Sendai, northern Japan, Saturday, March 12, 2011. Japan launched a massive military rescue operation Saturday after a giant, earthquake-fed tsunami killed hundreds of people and turned the northeastern coast into a swampy wasteland, while authorities braced for a possible meltdown at a nuclear reactor. (AP Photo/Itsuo Inouye)
A woman searches through the rubble of her home destroyed in Friday's powerful earthquake-triggered tsunami in Ofunato, Iwate prefecture, northern Japan, Sunday, March 13, 2011. (AP Photo/Kyodo News)
The devastation and heartbreak in Japan, following the earthquake and tsunami last week, are difficult to imagine. Images on Friday showed the power of the floods and the earthquake and the initial damage they caused. Newer images coming in from Japan show people being rescued, collecting their belongings and trying to deal with the tragedy.
Meanwhile, clashes continue between rebel fighters and troops loyal to Moammar Gadhafi in Libya. Weeks ago I wrote about how images were not coming out of Libya and the importance of photojournalism. Since then, foreign media have gotten into Libya to report on the conflict and the people involved in the bloodshed.
Mourners react next to the coffin during the funeral for a rebel fighter who was killed fighting forces loyal to Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi near the town of Bin Jawwad, during his funeral in Benghazi, eastern Libya, Wednesday, March 9, 2011. (AP Photo/Kevin Frayer)
A Libyan volunteer carries ammunition on the outskirts of the eastern town of Ras Lanouf, Libya, Thursday, March 10, 2011. Government forces drove hundreds of rebels from a strategic oil port with rockets and tank shells on Thursday, significantly expanding Moammar Gadhafi's control of Libya. (AP Photo/Tara Todras-Whitehill)
Anti-Libyan Leader Moammar Gadhafi rebel, helps his colleague who was wounded during the fighting against pro-Gadhafi fighters, at a hospital in the town of Ras Lanouf, eastern Libya, Wednesday, March 9, 2011.A high-ranking member of the Libyan military flew to Cairo on Wednesday with a message for Egyptian army officials from Moammar Gadhafi, whose troops pounded opposition forces w ith artillery barrages and gunfire in at least two major cities.(AP Photo/Hussein Malla)
-John Clanton
Wildfires in Oklahoma
A firefighter extinguishes a blaze just feet from an automobile on Western Avenue as a large grass fire rages on Friday, March 11, 2011, in Goldsby, Okla. Photo by Steve Sisney, The Oklahoman
News Photographers from The Oklahoman photographed fires last week in Goldsby and Harrah, Oklahoma. You can see more images from the grass fires by clicking here or read more about the damage caused during the fires by clicking here.
Darrell David (right) and jason Pitts survey damage to their grandfather Gene McPherson's hay barn on Saturday, March 12, 2011, in Goldsby, Okla. in the aftermath of Friday's grass fire. Hay in the barn caught fire and deformed the structure. Photo by Steve Sisney, The Oklahoman
Smoldering remains of a home on Dobbs Road south of NE 23 Street destroyed in the fire Friday, March 11, 2011. Photo by Jim Beckel, The Oklahoman
-John Clanton
Basketball in Kansas City
Oklahoma State's Reger Dowell (5) tries to get past Nebraska's Jorge Brian Diaz during the college basketball Big 12 Championship tournament game between Oklahoma State and Nebraska in Kansas City, Mo., Wednesday, March 9, 2011. Photo by Bryan Terry, The Oklahoman
Oklahoma, Oklahoma State and the other teams in the Big 12 Conference are in Kansas City this week to compete in the Big 12 tournament. Staff Photographer Bryan Terry has been covering the games, transmitting pictures and making online galleries. Take a look at more pictures from the tournament games by clicking here.
OU's Cade Davis reacts next to Baylor's Quincy Acy during the college basketball Big 12 Championship tournament game between the University of Oklahoma and Baylor in Kansas City, Mo., Wednesday, March 9, 2011. Photo by Bryan Terry, The Oklahoman
