Aurora Photos

EDITORIAL FEATURES & STOCK
Check this page often for new editorial features from Aurora's photographers & partners

Cycle Saviors

Sao Paulo has 11 million people, seven million vehicles and high rates of roadway accidents. Because of it's congested traffic, medical responders were having difficulty getting to the scene of an accident. So the fire brigade developed a new first line of response: motorcycles fully equipped for emergency medicine.
view images | view as slide show

Skiing With God

This ski race isn't like any other in Italy. One participant is a former DJ and self-identified womanizer and another has a big, white beard and still uses wooden skis. One racer leads mass at a local church before his daily morning run. There are over seventy racers in the "May God Ski with You" competition- each of them either a priest, missionary or friar.
view images | view as slide show

Urchin Fortune

The best sea urchin, the larger Pacific Red variety, is caught in the kelp forests of California. It only takes 12 hours for the spiny creature to be harvested by hand from the ocean floor, processed, and shipped worldwide. It's most traditionally consumed in sushi, but chefs are experimenting with using the nubby orange meat in Italian dishes, lunch fare and one California restaurant is even making urchin ice cream.
view images | view as slide show

The Beach After War

The Libyan revolution sparked a year ago, and Libyans are finding ways to return to normalcy amid uncertainty and lingering instability. For several seasons, the Tripoli's wide, sandy beaches were abandoned. Today, it is possible to see entire families pic-nicking, young couples strolling, or revolutionaries relaxing in the surf.
view images | view as slide show

Racing With The Stars

Ever heard of Superstar racing? French manager Vincenzo Lamaro summarizes: “overtaking, door bashing, extreme cornering, ten cars in less than a second...close-call finishes..” Superstar racing is quickly become a popular counter-sport to France’s Formula One. By using modified showroom cars and limiting the races to only 20 minutes, French promoters have created a new and exciting take on the world of professional auto racing.
view images | view as slide show

In The Shadow of Ruins

In 1909 Hiram Bingham, the man that brought Machu Picchu to the Western world, visited the remote remnants of a grand and terraced ancient city. Two years later, he brought Machu Picchu into the spotlight while Choquequirao remained partially buried. Today, the site is a several day hike from established civilization and is partly hidden by jungle. For some hardy visitors, the trek is well worth it to see what remains of the once great and powerful culture.
view images | view as slide show

Holy Andalusia

Semana Santa is a week long tradition of penance and religious celebration taking place in Anadalusia Spain each April. Wearing penitential robes and walking through the streets barefoot, participants demonstrate their penance while still masking their identity. The series of penances and rituals have been carefully orchestrated by the local religious brotherhood and fraternal organizations for more than 800 years.
view images | view as slide show

Built To Rock

It is a simple truth in the music world -the greatest guitarists require the greatest guitars. Enter the Gibson guitar factory in Memphis, Tennessee where guitars are skillfully crafted for superstars like B.B. King, Eric Clapton, and Keith Richards. From the use of exclusive fine woods to the handcrafted finish, no detail is left un-perfected. The practices and beliefs in first-class craftsmanship established in 1936 still ring true in the factory today.
view images | view as slide show

Beach Patrol

Lucky and Ramli are sisters, born in Somalia and living in Australia. In Adelaide, where they live, there is a movement to encourage and empower Muslim girls, and through The Muslim Girls Kollective and Surf Life Australia, the sisters discovered lifeguarding. They are both training to become members of the Australian Lifeguard Service. They wear a new innovation called a burqini, a mix between a swim cap and a veil that allows them to observe the Muslim tradition of modesty while swimming and diving.
view images | view as slide show

Cassava Country

The cassava shrub is a way of life in parts of Western Kenya. Take a look at this collection of images from Aurora photographer Karl Wash who documented an organization working to produce disease-free cassava seed for nearly six million people.
view images | view as slide show

Faces of the Taliban

The United States has spent nearly $500 billion fighting these men. The Taliban is an Afghan extremist group, known for strict interpretation of Islamic laws, systemic human rights violations and opposition to capitalism and modernism. They are made up of former mujahadeen or members of the Pashtun tribe. Americans label them â€œthe enemyâ€, but who are the boys and men of the Taliban?
view images | view as slide show

The Miao Women

Miao girls begin learning their peopleâ€™s crafts around age seven, and by adolescence they are adept at embroidery, jewelry-making, weaving and fabric dying. An animist society, they incorporate the images of birds, flowers and animals into their intricate creations to honor the spirit of each living thing. One of the largest minority group in China, the Miao ethnicity includes several societal branches, such as the Hmong, and spans over six Chinese prefectures.
view images | view as slide show

The Women In Black

In New Zealnd where rubgy maintains a near hysteria for fans, everyone knows the national rugby team the All Blacks. The Black Ferns, the nationâ€™s all-womenâ€™s team, are just as highly lauded especially after becoming four-time World Cup champions. However, unlike their male counterparts, the team subsists on a tiny budget and its athletes train and compete without pay. A national symbol of womenâ€™s strength, the Black Ferns bring tenacity and determination to the field.
view images | view as slide show

The Laughter Fair

â€œBehind a good clown, there should be a good human,â€ said Yadira Lagunes Rivera in, dressed in a pink wig, pink ruffled dress and a classic red nose. The 16th International Clown Convention held in Mexico City gathered thousands for abundant silliness. Leida Jimenez added, â€œa clownâ€™s task is to make them laugh, forget about their problems for a little while.â€ And in Mexico, notorious for rising homicide and drug trade statistics, the clownâ€™s job may be even more necessary.
view images | view as slide show

Religion Land

For 30 pesos, you can see the Last Supper, pray at the Western Wall and see Jesus’ ascent into heaven. You can carry Jesus’ cross or indulge in some biblical-era snacks in the food court or swim in a Christianity-based water park. At Tierra Santos, the world’s first religious theme park just outside Buenos Aires, Argentinean families, curious visitors and devotees come to pray, take snapshots and light candles at the park’s array of faith-based attractions.
view images | view as slide show

Mountains of the Moon

Everybody knows about the snows of Kilimanjaro, but few know about the Mountains of the Moon. Uganda’s stunning Rwenzori National Park covers nearly 3,000 square miles of diverse territory. It contains several permanently snow capped peaks, Africa’s third highest peak, vast tropical rainforests and a network of rivers and waterfalls. Forest elephants,various primate species, and several hundred types of birds flourish in the Rwenzoris.
view images | view as slide show

Runners Like You

The Tarahumara have become internationally recognized for their speed and endurance as well as their indigenous lifestyle. Traditionally, the Tarahumara grew rice and beans, brewed home-made ale, hunted on foot and ran hundreds of miles between widely dispersed settlements.Today, many Tarahumara still live in relative isolation and both men and women still run for necessity and sport. However, these days they are just as likely to run long distances as a way of practical travel as they are to run a 10k race.
view images | view as slide show

Operation: Water Polo

Afghanistan dominates the headlines with stories of war, suicide bombers and casualties. Amid that hostile atmosphere, a team of unlikely athletes is hoping to win Olympic Gold. Jeremy Piasecki, an ex-U.S.Army sergeant and former professional water polo player is training the first Afghan National Water Polo team in a military base swimming pool in the middle of the desert. The team, made up of Afghan soldiers, hopes their training at this desert oasis will bring them to the next Olympic trials.
view images | view as slide show

Beira Grand Hotel

Grand Hotel Beira, built in 1952, was once the most luxurious destination in colonial Mozambique. But the elite guests never came, the fine flooring was burnt for fuel and the finery looted decades ago. During the Mozambican civil war, it was used as a refugee camp and its basement once housed political prisoners. Today, around 2,000 squatters, families and vagabonds call the skeletal building home, living without running water or electricity.
view images | view as slide show

A Taste of Ethiopian Coffee

The Kaffa region of Ethiopia is the birthplace of coffee. “Kaffa bun” which has since been anglicized to “coffee bean” grows wildly in local forests. Aurora and partner Agence VU provide an in-depth look at Ethiopia’s coffee culture.
view images | view as slide show

Updates From VU

New editorial images from Aurora partner Agence VU'!
view images | view as slide show

Snapshot of the Year

Aurora takes a look back at the images and moments that have shaped 2011 so far.
view images | view as slide show

Places Unseen

The volcanic crater of Lagoa de Fogo is one of the most preserved sites in Portugal’s Azores Islands. Lavish views are outlined by a jagged shoreline - a beautiful remnant of volcanic activity. Still, Lagoa de Fogo is just one of the breathtaking destinations captured by photographer Mauricio Abreau. Journey into Portugal’s rural carnivals, poplar forests, coastal golf courses, and bustling fish markets. Unique and varied, it’s these destinations that give Portugal its distinct character.
view images | view as slide show

Marble Men

Life in Carrara, Italy revolves around one thing - marble. Dating back to the 9th century BC, the unique white or blue-grey marble quarried in Carrara has been a highly sought after commodity. The quarry workers themselves are notorious for their radical political beliefs. The city was a popular destination for violent revolutionists who had been expelled from Belgium and Switzerland in the late 1800’s. In fact, the first official anarchist group in Italy was founded in Carrara in 1885.
view images | view as slide show

Life On The River

Murray River is Australia’s longest river, spanning 1,476 miles as it stretches from the western Australian Alps to the ocean at Lake Alexandrina. The river became a transportation hub during the 19th century, delivering wool south to Melbourne. However, the popularity of the river as a shipping route declined once the railway was expanded in the late 1800’s. Today, life on the river has become mostly recreational. These days, vacation houseboats, small vessels for water skiing, and multi-day cruise ships are all common sights on the water.
view images | view as slide show

Exploring Africa

Benedict Allen believes that a true explorer’s expedition shouldn’t include film crews, satellite phones, GPS units, or any other “backup.” In Allen’s latest adventure, he journeys along Namibia’s “skeleton coast” with a team of camels, modest supplies, and a paper map. Allen comes across many items of note during his trip including abandoned diamond mines, members of the Himba tribe struggling with alcoholism, bushmen carvings, and dunes full of skeletons for which the region is named.
view images | view as slide show

Space Tourists

Have you ever wanted to take a quick trip into space? For a mere $200,000 you can climb aboard one of the Virgin Galactic’s tourist space flights.The program started accepting reservations in 2005 and has already lined up over 430 astronauts who will be taking part in the first round of flights. The Galactic is stationed in California’s Mojave desert and is currently making weekly test flights. Situated next to the military’s Missile Test Center, the Virgin “Spaceport” is presently under construction.
view images | view as slide show

Shooting Blind

Capturing an amazing moment through the lens of a camera can be a challenge for anyone. Throw in the confounding variable of not being able to see, and you have a seemingly insurmountable task. Taking this challenge head on, the organizers of "Sight of Emotion" have been teaching blind and visually impaired people around the world the skills needed to take great photos. The group seeks to change “people’s thinking with respect to human potential; regardless of physical or mental differences.”
view images | view as slide show

Game of the Mayans

Ulama is one of the oldest sports played in the world. A popular sport in ancient Mexico, archeologists have found rubber balls (ulli) dating back to at least 1600 BC. The object of the game is to keep a rubber ball from leaving the bounds of the court. Ulama games can be infamously long - it is rumored that one game lasted for more than 8 days! Current games are typically stopped after two hours, much to the liking of modern players...
view images | view as slide show

Devil Dancers

The Poro are a magical West African secret society that help young people grow into adulthood. Students enrolled at special Poro-bush schools are given lessons about marriage, sex, health, and martial arts. A special dance with a wooden mask is one of the most important rituals of the society members. However, outsiders beware - non-members will become blind or die if they witness the masked devil dancing!
view images | view as slide show

Prestige In Paris

The Paris Opera Ballet is the oldest national ballet company in existence. The company boasts some of the most famous choreographers and dancers ever to grace the stage. Accordingly, the Paris Opera Ballet School is one of the most rigorous dance programs in the world. Every year 300 students apply for 30 spots, with an average of 10 returning for year two, and only several that will ultimately graduate. Girls start at the school between ages 8 and 10, and are groomed to one day perform in the Paris Opera Ballet.
view images | view as slide show

The Chaccu

The Chaccu is a tradition that has existed in Peru since the days of the Inca. Crowds gather to watch as flocks of vicuña, small deer-like creatures, are carefully sheered. Each vicuña has about 200 grams of a very valuable fiber. After decades of poaching, the Chaccu provides a culturally based mechanism for responsibly harvesting vicuña fiber. In fact, Vicuña populations have grown from 5,000 to 130,000 in the past 33 years due to careful supervision.
view images | view as slide show

Legends of The Surf

Torquay, Australia is one of the premier surfing destinations in the world. Just a short ride away from the beach, the Surf World Museum paints an interactive picture of the early stages of Australian surfing. The Board Room, details the history of the surfboard, the Hall of Fame pays tribute to surfing heroes from the past, and the Live Surf Board shaping exhibit allows attendees to go hands-on with the tools of the trade.
view images | view as slide show

Cattle Village

Life for the Mundari people in South Sudan is a snapshot of centuries of culture and tradition. The Mundari are composed primarily of cattle-herders, and like other nilotic tribes in Sudan,use cattle as a form of food, currency, and status. Marriages are even arranged based on the groom’s ability to provide cattle to the bride’s family - a husband may take as many wives as he can support with cattle. During the dry season cattle raiding is common with the Bor Dinka tribe, making for turbulent and dangerous regional interactions.
view images | view as slide show

New 9/11 Images from Klaus Reisinger

On the morning of September 11th, 2001, Klaus Reisinger was in Brooklyn, NY signing a contract for a documentary film. After hearing the first plane strike the World Trade Center, Klaus borrowed a friend's camera and quickly headed toward Manhattan. After battling crowds and sneaking past police on the Brooklyn bridge, Klaus found himself in the middle of a defining moment of the 21st century.
view images | view as slide show

Homeless in Seattle

In a compelling set of images taken in Seattle, WA photographer Mike Kane captures the daily lives of the young adults who have become the new face of homelessness Studies show it's a group driven by two large converging forces: an economy that has been especially brutal on young people, and the large number of kids currently exiting foster care. Today 1000 young adults are homeless each night.
view images | view as slide show

The Western Kingdom

Morocco presents an amazing snapshot of life from another era due to the variety of cultures that have inhabited the region over the past several centuries - Wander into a traditional Moroccan market to witness sights and sounds that could have been experienced centuries ago: a women covered in henna tattoos, men donning traditional African garb, camels carrying travelers and equipment, and ancient mosques silhouetted in the distance.
view images | view as slide show

Geoduck Harvest

The Geoduck - a species of very large clam - has seen a boom due to high demand in Asian countries where the clam is seen as a delicacy. In Pudget Sound, Washington, the Suquamish Native American Tribe has capitalized on the area's rich supply of Geoduck, establishing the Suquamish Seafood Corporation. The business provides great employment opportunities for tribal members as well as an increase in the region’s commerce with international buyers.
view images | view as slide show

Flight For Survival

An estimated 1,400 whooping cranes existed in the United States in 1860. Due to hunting and habitat loss, the whooping cranes' total population dropped to just 15 by 1941. Soon after, groups around the country began to work together to preserve the bird. Since 2001, Operation Migration has worked to re-introduce endangered whooping cranes into eastern North America. Using ultralight aircrafts, the staff of Operation Migration teach the birds new migration paths, ultimately settling in safe and sustainable areas.
view images | view as slide show

Two Wheeled Rescue

When an accident happens in Sao Paulo, Brazil, emergency teams must fight the city's overwhelming traffic congestion. Quick response time plays a vital role in a positive outcome during emergency situations. After battling the issue with traditional ambulances, the Sao Paulo fire brigade found an ingenious solution - the Mobile Accident Unit Service. The MAUS transforms motorbikes into mini-ambulances, reaching emergency sites within ten minutes to perform vital first responder measures.
view images | view as slide show

The Final Walk To Freedom

On July 9th, 2011 the Republic of Southern Sudan will be born. This comes after centuries of oppression and war, culminating in a January 2011 referendum to secede from Sudan. Despite tension with the North and pressure from Ugandan rebels that threatens to destabilize the region, the people of Southern Sudan are determined to make their “final walk to freedom.”
view images | view as slide show

Fighting For True Love in India

Even in today's India, marrying outside your caste or religion can mean a life of hiding or a threat of death. Thanks to a dedicated group who call themselves the "Love Commandos" the path of true love can come with an escape route, legal advice, and police protection.
view images | view as slide show

Lady Law

A shining beacon for the progress of women's rights in the Middle East, the Yemeni Women's Police Force has grown from its first member in the early 1980's to over 1,500 members to date. At Sana'a, the nation's top female police academy, cadets go through rigorous training with a focus on fighting terror in Yemen. Once in the field, the female police officers work alongside their male counterparts while also managing several departments dealing with specific women’s issues in Yemen.
view images | view as slide show

Call of the Wild

A hotel closing for the off-season is a common occurrence. A hotel melting for the off-season is not quite so common. Québec's Ice Hotel is just one of the things that makes the region a unique winter adventure destination. Just a short ride away from the Québec municipal area, adventurers can find the sort of outdoor experiences that would make even the most seasoned winter enthusiast jealous. From snowshoeing near Lac La Mot to dog sledding in St. David de Falardou, there is sure to be plenty of wonder in this winter wonderland.
view images | view as slide show

Fortitude of a Culture

No group of Afghani people suffered more during the reign of the Taliban than the Hazara. After surviving centuries of persecution, the Hazara have found relative calm in post-Taliban Afghanistan. However, the continual threat of a Taliban resurgence and harsh living conditions make daily life a struggle for the Hazara. Still, the Hazara people continue to do what they have done best over the past several centuries - survive.
view images | view as slide show

Train of Desire

The Eritrean railway was completed by Italy in the 1930's as a means to expand the Italian empire throughout Africa. The years that followed saw the rails ravaged by war and eventually abandoned. Since 1993, the Eritrean government has been rebuilding the rail, using vintage equipment and no foreign aid. The railway symbolizes Eritrean national unity and independence, and provides valuable transportation between the country's two main cities.
view images | view as slide show

The World Trade Center Remembered

A set of images taken by Aurora photographers during the September 11th attacks on the World Trade Center in New York City.
view images | view as slide show

Singapore Don't Move

When Singapore gained independence in 1965, the ruling family who came to power decided to end racist fights within the city by creating a racially integrated Housing Development Board (HBD). The board constructs uniform buildings and fills them using a quota system that allots a certain number of Chinese, India and Malayan people to each building. This type of government control is the norm in Singaporean society, but most of the citizens accept it and believe the rest of the world is dangerous; for them there is no reason to ever move.
view images | view as slide show

Surf Milan

Is it possible to surf a stone's throw away from Milan? It is in Turbigo. In this town 2 hours away from the ocean, the Naviglio Grande canal and the thermal power station create a practically perfect wave. The “Turbigo wave” is generated by the strong jet of water which spurts from the dam and which over the past few years has attracted many sports fanatics, canoeists and local surfers.
view images | view as slide show

Opulence in Dubai

The city of Dubai is in deep financial crisis, but it certainly doesn’t look that way from the outside looking in. Walking around Dubai city you will see one amazing building after the other. The neighborhoods within the city are all built like small theme parks, filled with shopping malls that boast luxuries such as indoor ski resorts. Everywhere is air conditioned, and even the bus stops have exotic fish tanks. Dubai is like a playground for the rich, for as long as it holds.
view images | view as slide show

Recycling Wizards

In the capital of Mali there is a place where hundreds of people are busy in a sort of percussion concert; the district of blacksmiths. African blacksmiths are a scorned caste, yet feared at the same time. Viewed as magicians who are able to tame fire to make utensils such as ploughs, stoves, trunks and pails out of car wrecks, old oil drums and food cans. In the Western world, where recycling is a relatively new trend, we don't realize that in nations such as Africa, people do it everyday out of necessity.
view images | view as slide show

White Desert and Whales Valley

The White Desert of Egypt is named for its color, which comes from the massive chalk formations created during sandstorms. "Whales Valley", a paleontological site southwest of Cairo, containing hundreds of fossils of the earliest forms of whales, is an ancient seabed, now desert. Photographer Alessandro Gandolfi captures the mystical beauty of these two unique natural formations.
view images | view as slide show

Libya Revolt March 2011

Several Aurora Photos affiliated photographers have been documenting the Libyan revolt over the past weeks. Here's an overview of what they have been seeing and recording.
view images | view as slide show

Women of Saudi Arabia

For the past 5 years small reforms have been seen in Saudi Arabian society; a mixed university opened in 2010, and women have access to more professional sectors. However these changes remain limited; women still don't have the right to drive, walk alone in the streets, or talk to a man in public. Photographer Isabelle Eshraghi met with women who are doctors, students, artists, and whose enthusiasm gives evidence towards a slow but positive evolution of society.
view images | view as slide show

China's Rising Middle Class

While many countries are still reeling from the global financial crisis, China is witnessing a frenzy of consumer spending. With the help of its 200 million strong middle class, eager to part with their disposable income, China has become the world's second-biggest consumer of luxury goods. This rampant consumerism can be seen in part, in the booming wedding industry and packed malls and department stores.
view images | view as slide show

Birth of the Beatles

Every year at the end of August, tribute bands copying those four famous lads assemble in their home town of Liverpool. In the city's many clubs, including the renowned Cavern Club, which was the stage for the Beatles first performances, numerous Johns, Pauls, Georges and Ringos come together to repeat their idols' repertoire. Fans come from as far as Japan, and parents break into frenzied crowds, all to relive the Beatles era.
view images | view as slide show

Albania: Revenge

The Kanun is a set of traditional laws used to rule the public and private lives of Albanians. Article 125 says, “All the male members of the murderer's family may be targeted by the revenge. If a member of one's family has been murdered, it is necessary to take revenge on the murderer or on the male members of his family.” Today, more than 300 families are affected by the Kanun, and they all have only one way to survive: remain at home for the rest of their lives.
view images | view as slide show

Maine Farmlands

Photographer Bridget Besaw spent over a year photographing Maine farms for the book "From the Land". Published by the Maine Farmland Trust, the book showcases seven farms that take different approaches to farmland preservation. Besaw's images capture the vibrancy and exciting future of Maine's Farms.
view images | view as slide show

Fishing Messolonghi Lagoon

Photographer Gavalas went to the Messolonghi lagoon, the most famous fish production place in Greece where fish is farmed and still caught traditionally. Gavalas captured the lives of the fisherman who live there from October to March working at the fish farms. The work is hard and the quality of life is not very good. The state-owned housing is in poor condition, and the rules are strict. The law prohibits catching small fishes, so the fisherman throw them back into the lagoon and millions of them float, dead, at the surface.
view images | view as slide show

Ivory Coast Crisis

In November the former prime minister, Alassane Quattara defeated the then president Laurent Gbagbo to be elected as the current president of the Ivory Coast. However, outgoing president Gbagbo refused to admit defeat, and kept power, causing fears of civil war to rise. Photographer Michael Zumstein captured the current state of this political emergency, as Quattara took refuge in the Golf Hotel and the international community sent envoys to put an end to this crisis.
view images | view as slide show

Beer, Bait and Ammo

Photographer Michael Loyd Young documents the hunting and fishing culture along the coastline from Southern Texas to the Outer Banks of North Carolina. Highlighting the south's rich tradition of fishing and hunting excursions, Young takes us out into the woods, marshes and lakes to find the catch.
view images | view as slide show

Abu Dhabi Arabian Miracle

Before the discovery of oil in the Seventies, Abu Dhabi was a modest fishing village surrounded by desert dunes. In just over forty years, the Emirate boasts one of the most modern cities on the Arabian peninsula, however this was all obtained thanks to the desalination of large quantities of seawater and the slave labor of thousands of immigrants.
view images | view as slide show

Lake Tanganyika, Tanzania

ParalleloZero photographer Bruno Zanzottera traveled to Lake Tanganyika in Tanzania, Africa to shoot the breathtaking scenery and The MV Liemba. The ship was originally built in Germany in 1913, transported by rail and then reassembled on the lake. She is currently the only means of transportation for people and goods on the lake, and is probably the oldest boat still in service in the world.
view images | view as slide show

India and Italy Parmesan

Multiculturalism, dialogue and reception are slowly becoming the norm in the Italian province of Parma as immigration, particularly Indian, becomes more prevalent. Indian immigrants are being incorporated into the growth, trade and wealth of the area, engaging in agriculture and dairy production and over time sharing in the important tradition of the Parma area; Parmigiano Reggiano cheese.
view images | view as slide show

Saudi Arabia

A look at the Saudi Arabia of the future. Photographer Gandolfi tries to imagine it in this set of images capturing the capital; Riyadh, the desert in the north, and finally Jeddah; one of the most cosmopolitan cities on Earth. Here, a different Arabia is being formed, more tolerant and less attached to the oil economy, recognizing that the future of the country relies on tourism.
view images | view as slide show

Is Chad Forgotten?

After years of civil wars, the most neglected French colony in Africa is seeking a way to start again. It’s not easy: Chad is stricken by drought and desertification and is invaded by hundreds of thousands of refugees from Central Africa and Sudan. The international community whose primary focus is on nearby Darfur seems to have forgotten Chad, and to make matters worse, in 2011 the UN military forces are going to abandon the country.
view images | view as slide show

Hurt Locker

They are the few extraordinarily well trained who risk their lives. Their code name is IEDD, an acronym that stands for “improvised explosive device disposal”: they are the bomb specialists of the Italian Army, based all over Western Afghanistan. Considered among the world’s best, they use the most advanced technologies, which they are forced to update almost daily to protect against an insurgency.
view images | view as slide show

Obesity Rehab

Two teenagers decide to work hard and choose a healthier lifestyle. This is an intimate photographic exploration of their transformation. It begins with abysmal diets and low self esteem, and follows their journey creating new habits, exercising and redefining their self worth. Audio available for multimedia presentation.
view images | view as slide show

A Whimsical Look at Vinyl Pop

David Sauveur splits his time between his desire to witness the chaos of our world and his more artistic projects. In this case we move to artistic whim as he explores the pop phenomena of past vinyl album jackets and his own sense of humor.
view images | view as slide show

Great White Expedition

Last July off the coast of Mexico an international expedition of scientists and volunteers caught and tagged 7 great white sharks. The crew took measurements, gathered DNA samples, and fastened real-time satellite tags to the sharks to study migratory patterns over a 5-year period.
view images | view as slide show

Afghanistan SkateRunner

A group of children wait for “Mister Olly”. When his van arrives, they greet him joyfully; their daily skateboard lesson is about to begin. Mister Olly, real name, Oliver Percovich, born in Australia and here in Afghanistan by chance, unloads a dozen skateboards which the children eagerly grab. Astonished passers-by stop to watch this sport, totally unknown to them.
view images | view as slide show

Swordfishing in Italy

ParalleloZero photographer Sergio Ramazzotti shot the now-dying historical profession, which uses techniques developed 2,200 years ago. Using special boats called "passerelle", which are equipped with a 20 meter high viewpoint and a 40 meter long gangway, expert throwers harpoon and capture the fish. These rich, moving images offer a glimpse at a hard, traditional lifestyle.
view images | view as slide show

Walking a Frozen River

The Zanskar river runs through a remote valley in northern India. In winter, the villages in the valley would be totally isolated from the rest of the world if not for the river, which freezes over and permits the inhabitants to walk on it, and use it as a means to transport butter to the market. Photographer Bruno Zanzottera captured the fascinating journey which winds amongst 70 km of gorges, and at night reaches temperatures as low as -30°, forcing people to seek shelter inside caves created by the erosion of the soft sandstone.
view images | view as slide show

New York Land

A collection of images that contrasts iconic New York City sights with aspects of the daily grind. Photographer Allesandro Gandolfi captures the both the grandiose and the forgotten details of this city as it continuously buzzes with life.
view images | view as slide show

Editorial: Our Year in Images 2010

Look back on the year and check out our favorite images from 2010!
view images | view as slide show

The Model Village

The Vauban district in Freiberg, Germany was specifically designed by its inhabitants to meet their ecological, social, economic and cultural requirements. They utilized new concepts in energy, traffic, building and social interaction to create a sustainable, flourishing neighborhood.
view images | view as slide show

Majorca

Learn some history and partake in the Fiesta of the Christians and the Moors; a festival in Majorca where the local people reenact the fight between these two ancestral groups who determined the formation and culture of their country; Spain. Majorca, part of the Balearic Islands, is located in the Mediterranean Sea off of the east coast of Spain. Local festivals aren't all the island has to offer, photographer Rainer Drexel's images of underwater caves, an impressive aquarium and impressive architecture all pack a punch.
view images | view as slide show

North Korea Utopia

ParelleloZero Photographer Ramazzotti brings us an exceptional reportage from the heart of the impenetrable kingdom of Kim Jong Il, the absolute dictator of North Korea. Completely isolated from the rest of the world, the people try to survive the scorching summers, freezing winters, and ongoing hunger without neglecting their duty as good citizens: to honor the sacred name of their great leader every day of the year.
view images | view as slide show

Ghana: The Ritual of the Glass Beads

Photographer Zanzottera traveled to Ghana to capture the preparation and many stages of the four-day long Dipo festival. An initiation ceremony which marks the passage from children into marriageable women. On the final day of the ceremony each girl dresses in their best clothes and their bodies are decorated with beads made of crushed glass bottles, which are kiln fired and hand painted. Adorned in strands and strands of necklaces with their heads freshly shaven the girls go through the rite of the sacred stone which reveals their purity and completes the ritual.
view images | view as slide show

Brazil: Forgotten Sertao

The Sertao, an often forgotten corner of Brazil is part sea, part desert and part steppe and home to half of South America's poorest inhabitants. Every year two natural phenomena hit the land, first a drought, and then a deluge of rain comes, causing strife and poverty to continue decade after decade. ParalleloZero photographer Gandolfi captures the spirit of the people who live here who beguilingly, continue to have hope as they work and play, embracing their unforgiving land.
view images | view as slide show

Saudi Arabia: Wind of Change

Signs of change are becoming evident in Saudi Arabia as it slowly becomes a more modern state, modeling itself after the United Arab Emirates. Even the princes are investing in non-oil arenas, such as the city centers and flourishing tourist industry. At the same time, a few unique reforms are taking shape, like the appointment of the first female minister. Photographer Bruno Zanzottera illustrates the modernization of this traditionalist oil empire.
view images | view as slide show

Bolivia

Often associated with the bright, saturated colors of the Incan tradition, portraits of Bolivia are many times reduced to kitschy images appealing to the tourism industry. In the wake of that comes this refreshing collection of subtle images that captures the dichotomy between the traditional and contemporary evident in the country's people and its geography.
view images | view as slide show

Found Beach Objects

Australian photographer Narelle Autio's image set turns to the ocean in a documentation of what is left behind on the beach  through nature and by man. Each object is taken out of its sandy context and shot against a pure white background, treating each as a meaningful specimen, captured with an extreme attention to detail. In 2002 Autio became the fist ever Australian to win the prestigious Leica Oskar Barnack Award.
view images | view as slide show

Giambattista Valli

Photographer Michael Zumstein offers a behind the scenes look into Giambattista Valli's elegant atelier in Paris. An Italian fashion designer from Rome, Italy, Giambattista Valli boasts glamorous clients such as Penelope Cruz and Victoria Beckham, however his shop, captured in this dark, moody lighting feels much more classic and romantic.
view images | view as slide show

Madrid 2010

Photographer Jose Manuel Navia went to Madrid to blend in with the locals. The images he shot are of real people, engaged in the routine activities of their daily lives. Find out what its like living in Madrid in 2010 with Navia's local point of view. Step into the bustling reality of Spain's biggest city and capital.
view images | view as slide show

Gone Fishing

Marine photographer Chris Ross takes us out on the boat for all of the excitement of the big catch. His images skillfully capture the art of fishing; from serene shots of the early dawn waiting game, to the focused, high energy fight between the fisherman and his prey. This set artfully illustrates the relationship between man, fish and their environment.
view images | view as slide show

A look at Mexico

Unusual, fleeting moments in time. A man lies forgotten in front of a church, a vanquished bullfighter walks out of the spotlight, hundreds of cowboy hats wait on shelves to find their home. People places and things, all slices of life capturing the character and mood of an instant in cities and towns throughout Mexico.
view images | view as slide show

Women Are Heroes

JR, an anonymous, innovative, humanitarian artist has been named the recipient of the 2011 TED Prize. Working with volunteers in urban environments around the world, he mounts enormous black-and-white photo canvases of women whose stories have inspired him. These images become part of the local landscape, challenging pedestrians in their daily routines and capturing people's attention and imagination around the world.
view images | view as slide show

Art with Strings and Wood

Photographer Serge Picard traveled to Cremone, Italy, a city in northern Italy famous for its musical history and traditions to document the art of building a violin. He visited several workshops and captured the beautiful materials, tools and precise detail that a master craftsman uses to create each instrument. Picard's images illustrate the stages of the making of a violin, from a clean piece of wood being hand-planed, to the finished instrument ready for a concert.
view images | view as slide show

On Food: Clay McLachlan

Food stock or assignment photography, Aurora's Clay McLachlan is on it. He has decades of experience ranging from wine and vineyards to shoots of full scale restaurants such as the shoot he did for Press St. Helena. Clay’s work reflects the essence of the place and his images capture food as the purest expression of the finest ingredients.
view images | view as slide show

Horse Therapy in Mexico

A stroke left Guadalupe Pena Villareal with facial paralysis and half of her body paralyzed. All of her life she rode horses and her intuition told her that trying riding again could help her. She got up on the horse once, and then a thousand more times, each day trying movements, which at that time she couldn't do. She was ultimately able to recuperate movement, and now she uses horseback riding to help others get well.
view images | view as slide show

Greenland: Geography

Greenland's geography is most identified by the ironic nature of its name, for this country is in actuality a large sheet of ice, and rarely green at all. However, global warming is visibly leaving its mark, will the continued rise in temperatures soon change this?
view images | view as slide show

Greenland: Present Day

Photographer Peter Essick's images tell the story of how the rise in temperatures have affected the land and lifestyles of the people living in Greenland. The warmer temperatures have opened up new opportunities for agriculture, commercial fishing, mining, and oil exploration.
view images | view as slide show

Greenland: Traditions

Climate change is leaving its mark on the giant sheet of ice known as Greenland. Many aspects of their traditional lifestyle, like hunting off of sea ice for marine mammals, are in danger and the native Inuit people are having to adapt and find new ways to work with their land.
view images | view as slide show

Voodoo Slaves

Every year in Nigeria at least 50,000 girls are convinced to travel to Europe for better job opportunities by a voodoo priest working with a trafficker. When they arrive however, their papers are stolen and they are sent to the streets to work as prostitutes. This terrible reality was captured by photographer Sergio Ramazzotti in heartbreaking, vivid detail.
view images | view as slide show

Israel Today

Five million Jews and a million and a half Arabs Muslims water the plants, bring up their children, and dream of buying a new car or house. Photographer Gandolfi’s images illustrate the activities of daily life in contemporary Israel. In spite of the tensions and the wars, and the media’s constant attention to conflict, everyday life goes on.
view images | view as slide show

Acting Viking

Every other summer for one week at Borrekaupangen in Scandinavia hundreds of Viking enthusiasts meet to keep their ancient culture alive. Sleeping in tents and dressing in authentic outfits people leave all technology at home and live like the Vikings did thousands of years ago; making handcrafts to sell at the market, having sword fights and holding archery competitions. A thousand years later, the long lost culture of the Scandinavian Vikings still fascinates.
view images | view as slide show

Back to work in the Gulf?

While some areas have recently opened to fishing, change for many comes slowly. Photographer Alessandro Gandolfi explores the aftermath of the BP oil spill along the Gulf of Mexico.
view images | view as slide show

The Red Hatters

The Red Hat Society aims to ignore growing old, embrace silliness, and just have fun. These images capture the character and spirit of this international movement that has inspired women over 50 to create thousands of chapters all over the world.
view images | view as slide show

Tobacco

When photographer Rocco Rorandelli's father was dying of lung cancer and refused to stop smoking cigarettes, Rorandelli decided he needed to learn more about the industry. He visited China and India, the first and second largest producers of tobacco in the world. These photos explore the extreme differences he found between the two country's views on tobacco; in China the industry is synonymous with prosperity and is a symbol of suburbia, while in India tobacco is equated with poverty and hardship.
view images | view as slide show

Aurora Photos' commitment to visual storytelling runs deep. Thousands of features reside on our web site with more coming on a daily basis. We recognize the need to tell the stories of the cultures and traditions of our planet, as well as the geo-political topics of the day. Whether your need is a two-photo feature or an in-depth view of a country, Aurora has something for you.

Call or email us with any questions or requests

Aurora Select: Assignments
Aurora Novus: Multimedia Storytelling & Video Production

Browse our features by themes.

CATEGORIES:
Adventure & Exploration
Animals & Wildlife
Concepts
Culture & Traditions
Destinations
Health & Science
Industry & Manufacturing
Nature & Environment
New Arrivals
News & Events
People
Politics
Social Issues
Sports & Recreation

For a complete listing of all Aurora Features:
click here

Many of our editorial features come from Partner Agencies, some of the best in the world for editorial, documentary, and visual story telling.

Visit our Partners Page to see a complete list of our Partner Agencies.

Our newest partner:
Invision from Athens, Greece
Invision on Aurora Photos

Aurora News

The latest news, awards, killer clips from Aurora: