Each week, one of the moderators or administrators selects an image that, for whatever reason, catches their eye. Please feel free to add your comments here. Vigorous discussion of the images and techniques is welcome and encouraged. Criticism of any mod for their choice is not. Please note that this is "Picture of the Week"; do not confuse that with "best picture of the week", which is a concept of which we have no understanding.
Moderators: Greg B, Nnnnsic, Geoff, Glen, gstark, Moderators
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by gstark on Tue Jan 17, 2006 7:57 am
This year is shaping up as a bumper year for the PotW selections.
Last week our esteemed HK Connection member, Poon, posted a series of photos that he made at a WTO protest late last year. The images present a stark, searing document detailing the events that occurred at the protest; the original thread is here, but please be warned, it will take some time to fully load because of the number of images that it includes. However, it's well worth the wait.
From that thread comes this dark, brooding image, that IMHO threatens everyone who looks at it. It's a photojournalistic image of the highest order, and a tribute to the skills of Poon.
Well done, and congratulations on your Picture of the Week.

Last edited by gstark on Tue Jan 17, 2006 10:13 am, edited 1 time in total.
g. Gary Stark Nikon, Canon, Bronica .... stuff The people who want English to be the official language of the United States are uncomfortable with their leaders being fluent in it - US Pres. Bartlet
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by birddog114 on Tue Jan 17, 2006 7:59 am
Gary,
Good choice and something difference with what we used to have!
Congrats Poon!
They're my Sony friends as well! and all! 
Birddog114
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by marcotrov on Tue Jan 17, 2006 8:03 am
Missed the thread the other week but this is a terrically powerful image Poon. The soldier's expressions and the waiting throng behind make this an excellent POTW. Congratulations Poon and great choice Gary, well deserved
cheers
marco
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by paulvdb1 on Tue Jan 17, 2006 8:03 am
Great choice - that was an extremely powerful shot, as were all of Poon's shots. Genuinely newsworthy and provocative.
This is a POV that's not often captured - it looks great.
Regards, Paul Vandenberg
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by curly on Tue Jan 17, 2006 8:05 am
I thoroughly agree. The image is so threatening & menacing that I think Poon was very brave (or silly) to be in the position he must have been to take it. The other image of someone kneeling in front of an armoured vehicle is just as powerful, shades of Tienamen Square.
Congratulations Poon.
Curly
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by Geoff on Tue Jan 17, 2006 8:05 am
Excellent choice Gary and something a bit different to the 'usual' we see for a POTW of selection.
I was impressed with Poon's whole selection of images from the WTO protest and was thinking that many of them were contenders for a POTW award. It must have been a very difficult decision this week as said, there were a heap of excellent images posted from around the world.
This is a rather confronting image that evokes a number of emotions. Exceptionally well captured. Congratulations Poon!
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by Aussie Dave on Tue Jan 17, 2006 8:09 am
Truly splendid. The pano crop really makes the viewer feel like they are at the front-line, looking towards hundreds of police in riot gear.
We hear of the troubles that happen in Australia, but I think we can all feel fortunate that we are yet to see displays of this magnitude. We are living in the best country in the world (IMHO).
Thanks for posting this Poon. A highly provocative and emotional image.....and excellent choice Gary as POTW !
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by gstark on Tue Jan 17, 2006 8:09 am
curly wrote:I thoroughly agree. The image is so threatening & menacing that I think Poon was very brave (or silly) to be in the position he must have been to take it. The other image of someone kneeling in front of an armoured vehicle is just as powerful, shades of Tienamen Square.
And I can tell you that that image was my alternative choice, and choosing between these two was as tough as one could imagine.
Last week I made an observation that Doug had raised the bar with his image; Poon has raised it again, but by a whole order of magnitude.
g. Gary Stark Nikon, Canon, Bronica .... stuff The people who want English to be the official language of the United States are uncomfortable with their leaders being fluent in it - US Pres. Bartlet
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by Greg B on Tue Jan 17, 2006 8:12 am
A great shot from a great series. Congratulations Poon, excellent
photography and excellent photo journalism.
This shot takes my mind to movies such as Blade Runner in terms
of style and mood.
Fine selection Gary.
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by birddog114 on Tue Jan 17, 2006 8:13 am
Aussie Dave wrote: We hear of the troubles that happen in Australia, but I think we can all feel fortunate that we are yet to see displays of this magnitude. We are living in the best country in the world (IMHO).
Aussie Dave,
Not yet but will be soon with the new or recently introduced riot & terrosist laws in NSW and Australia.
They have done the rehearshall yesterday in Sydney
http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/loc ... 04163.html
Last edited by birddog114 on Tue Jan 17, 2006 8:19 am, edited 1 time in total.
Birddog114
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by birddog114 on Tue Jan 17, 2006 8:17 am
curly wrote:I thoroughly agree. The image is so threatening & menacing that I think Poon was very brave (or silly) to be in the position he must have been to take it. The other image of someone kneeling in front of an armoured vehicle is just as powerful, shades of Tienamen Square.
Congratulations Poon.
curly,
Wait for new series of our Aussie confronting in front of the new second hand Abrams tanks instead of the Chicom T54. 
Birddog114
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by Oneputt on Tue Jan 17, 2006 8:20 am
Another top choice. Well done Poon, I am not sure that I would have stood there. 
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by stubbsy on Tue Jan 17, 2006 8:30 am
Poon
Like others above, this image and the lone protester kneeling were the two standouts from an exceptional group of images by you. These are nothing like the photos I've seen from you before. They are stark, powerful and place the viewer immediately into the scene. There is no feeling of being on the sidelines. You are an inctredibly brave man to have gone into this place at that time and I am honoured to have had the opportunity to see this work. A very deserving POTW - congratulations.
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by Alpha_7 on Tue Jan 17, 2006 8:33 am
Nice choice Gary, and well done again Poon you certainly have raised the bar!
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by owen on Tue Jan 17, 2006 8:37 am
That's a terrific photo Poon, I never saw the original thread but will check it out!
Cheers,
Owen.
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by nito on Tue Jan 17, 2006 8:40 am
Yes this is truely an excellent pano that is different from the rest and deserves picture of the week.
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by wendellt on Tue Jan 17, 2006 8:59 am
Amazing photo poon it looks like an art dircted scene from a blockbuster movie epic, you are very brave to have been that close to that particular subject.
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by big pix on Tue Jan 17, 2006 9:01 am
A well chosen image.........very powerful.....
Cheers ....bp.... Difference between a good street photographer and a great street photographer.... Removing objects that do not belong... happy for the comments, but .....Please DO NOT edit my image..... http://bigpix.smugmug.com Forever changing
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by Alex on Tue Jan 17, 2006 9:02 am
This is an excellent photo, well done, Poon!!
Alex
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by wendellt on Tue Jan 17, 2006 9:19 am
Poon cant add a reply to the original thread keeps on crashing
but that original post is a monumentaleffort, your really in the thick of things and have capture dhte emotion and purpose of the event expertly
I am really impressed, these imaes deserve to be in Time or national Geographic, excellent work.
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by Sheila Smart on Tue Jan 17, 2006 9:26 am
Excellent piece of photojournalism. I would be proud to have this in my portfolio.
Cheers
Sheila
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by myarhidia on Tue Jan 17, 2006 9:27 am
Poon has demonstrated what the old quote "a picture tells a thousand words" represented.
Excellent photo and well deserving POW.
Does the name Pavlov ring a bell?
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by MATT on Tue Jan 17, 2006 9:30 am
Great choice of POTW. I also missed this thread, so I am thankfull that this pic was chosen.
To Poon, thankyou for the images, it seems many have taken the a stand.
The images are powerfull and POTW sums it up.
MATT
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by sirhc55 on Tue Jan 17, 2006 9:41 am
When Poon posted this series of photographs there was only one that stood out above the rest IMO - Gary saw it, Poon shot it, congratulations to both of you
Chris -------------------------------- I started my life with nothing and I’ve still got most of it left
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by Poon on Tue Jan 17, 2006 9:42 am
Dear Friends,
I am surprised that my picture to be selected as POW.
I checked our site often and saw all POW are so nice and I am shameful
of mine to be the one.
Thanks Gary to select my image and thanks for all of your good comments which I don't deserve it.
We are lucky to have photography as our career and our hobby and we enjoy more than other people of our life.
We can see the power of photography and it makes us closer.
Hope our forum will be very successful in the new year and thanks again.
-----------------
Best regards
Poon
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by avkomp on Tue Jan 17, 2006 9:46 am
I saw the original thread and thought there were some powerful images.
This is a dramatic image also.
Certainly different from the run of the usual potw images we get here.
well done poon
Steve
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by the foto fanatic on Tue Jan 17, 2006 9:54 am
A truly powerful image from a whole series of compelling pix. Excellent choice. 
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by PiroStitch on Tue Jan 17, 2006 9:56 am
Great choice and excellent photo! For some reason it reminds me of The Matrix.... 
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by moggy on Tue Jan 17, 2006 9:59 am
Well done Poon, both the mentioned pics were stand out. If there was a second place POTW you would have got that as well!
 Bob.
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by johndec on Tue Jan 17, 2006 10:05 am
Congratulations Poon and well picked Gary. I did say it would be a tough choice this week 
If I'm alone in a forest and my wife is not around to hear what I say, am I still wrong ??
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by MCWB on Tue Jan 17, 2006 10:21 am
I thought the PoTW would come from your thread Mr Poon, but choosing just one from that thread... my goodness! As a series, they have an impact the likes of which I have not seen before on this forum. Awesome stuff!
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by radar on Tue Jan 17, 2006 10:44 am
Great choice Gary,
It is an amazing photo Poon, took a lot of guts to be in the middle of it all.
Thanks for sharing,
André
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by rokkstar on Tue Jan 17, 2006 11:51 am
Famtastic shot. Dark, foreboding, chilling. Wonderful atmosphere created by it. Congratulations Poon.
Matt
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by Onyx on Tue Jan 17, 2006 12:11 pm
A very powerful image, along with all the other images in the original thread.
Congrats Mr Poon on picture of the week. It shows that you not only sell camera gear but know how to make the best use of it too. 
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by Glen on Tue Jan 17, 2006 12:16 pm
Poon, glad you won POTW, a great image about an important subject.
Great choice Gary
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by MHD on Tue Jan 17, 2006 12:32 pm
Sensational picture! I cant believe I missed the original post (will have to be on my feet when it comes around to my turn)
Great choice Gary... there are so many things I like about this pic!
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by Nnnnsic on Tue Jan 17, 2006 1:20 pm
Great choice, Dad, and very bold shot, Poon.
Great work! 
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by Collingwood on Tue Jan 17, 2006 5:15 pm
Excellent choice!
Powerful shot, congratulations Poon, very deserving!
Mark
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by Matt. K on Tue Jan 17, 2006 5:23 pm
Well done Poon! A powerful, well contructed image. I can just imagine a large print of this image hanging on a gallery wall. Supurb!
Regards
Matt. K
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by LostDingo on Tue Jan 17, 2006 5:31 pm
Congrats Poon  But even more so I appreciate you sharing the story in pictures, the images you have taken speak for themself.
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by pippin88 on Tue Jan 17, 2006 9:42 pm
Excellent choice Gary.
Terrific photo Poon.
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by Big Red on Tue Jan 17, 2006 10:07 pm
when i started to view Poons posted pics i couldn't believe how good the quality of "all" the pics were and the amount of emotion portrayed.
The POTW pic is well deserved.
congratulations.
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by Slider on Tue Jan 17, 2006 10:34 pm
Congratulations Poon. Excellent choice for POTW. Amazing image under extreme conditions.
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by mic on Wed Jan 18, 2006 11:26 am
One of the most powerfull images I have seen.
Excellent Poon, Excellent.
You have a lot of guts to stand in front of people like that in that situation.
Mic. 
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by Link on Wed Jan 18, 2006 4:04 pm
Congratulation Poon, I think it's the strongest PJ shot I've seen here! The light and colours couldn't have been better and the expression on the face of the riot police on the left is very telling. It's a powerful image in the way it makes the viewer feels the tension of a quiet break before the confrontation.
Poon, if you can bring a similar image from neighbouring Guangdong province (where many villages have had trouble recently), I'll bet you'd get some prize at the next World Press Photo!
Link.
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by kipper on Wed Jan 18, 2006 5:06 pm
Well I'd have to say this is the best POTW that I've looked at in a long time. Top work Poon.
Darryl (aka Kipper) Nikon D200
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by Poon on Wed Jan 18, 2006 5:27 pm
Link,
Good idea. Problem is that I am a one day photojournalist and may not have time to walk around in Guangdong province.
I will spend Chinese New Year there end of this month and see if I have that luck.
If I get the price I will share with you.
Kipper,
Thanks for good comment.
Protesters can do any thing including committ suicide.
I still remember the smell of salt water and pepper spray.
My D70 and 24-120mm vr lens did not disappointed me in the severe situation.
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Regards
Poon
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by avkomp on Wed Jan 18, 2006 5:42 pm
would have just about needed a nikonos or a housing with all that water around
Steve
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by Poon on Wed Jan 18, 2006 5:53 pm
Steve
Seems all of us there were stupid and forgot about nikonos or a housing.
Otherwise we could go closer.
I even forgot to put a UV filter on to the lens.
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Regards
Poon
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