Summer’s here, and perhaps you’ve been contemplating taking a jaunt in the family automobile, or maybe even that long hoped for cruise or transatlantic flight. Then reality sinks in, and you’re reminded of the sky-high gas prices, or that gauntlet of TSA screeners eagerly groping you in hopes of finding a ‘loaded’ Depends. Despair not! We’re going to take you on a little trek right in front of your own computer.
Every year Wikimedia Commons, the file repository serving Wikipedia and other projects, has over ten million files freely available for everyone. Every year they hold a vote to select their picture of the year. Below are the top ten photos chosen for 2010.
# 1 – 241 votes in Final;
In mid-August 2010 ESO Photo Ambassador Yuri Beletsky snapped this amazing photo at ESO’s Paranal Observatory. A group of astronomers were observing the centre of the Milky Way using the laser guide star facility at Yepun, one of the four Unit Telescopes of the Very Large Telescope (VLT). Credit: Yuri Beletsky (ESO).
# 2 – 180 votes in Final; Stari Most, the “Old Bridge”, which connects the two banks of river Neretva, has been a symbol of Mostar for centuries. This view from north shows Helebija tower to the left and Tara tower to the right. It was made from the minaret of Koski Mehmed Pasha Mosque. Credit: Own work by Ramirez.
# 3 – 170 votes in Final; Sarychev Peak Volcano erupts June 12, 2009, on Matua Island (North Kuril Islands) Credit: Original photo by NASA, uploaded on flickr by user John, derivative work by The High Fin Sperm Whale.
# 4 – 161 votes in Final; Southern Elephant Seal (Mirounga leonina) (young) in South Georgia Credit: Own work by Serge Ouachee (user Butterfly voyages).
# 5 – 145 votes in Final; The Lichtenstein Castle, near Lichtenstein, in Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany. Credit: Own work by -donald-.
# 6 – 140 votes in Final; A lonely house. An image made using Blender 3D. Credit: Own work by Michael Otto.
# 7 – 120 votes in Final; Lake Vuoksa, at the Karelian Isthmus, which separates Russia and Finland. Credit: Own work by Dmitry A. Mottl.
# 8 – 116 votes in Final; Tabletop photography by “Studiocommunity e.V.” (incorporated association). No photomontage was used. All objects were fastened on the board, which was pushed from the side, whereby the wine spilled out of the glass. The carafe is filled with wine coloured gelatine. Credit: Own work by Stefan Krause, from Germany.
# 9 – 91 votes in Final; Red-eyed Tree Frog (Agalychnis callidryas), photographed near Playa Jaco in Costa Rica. Credit: Own work by Carey James Balboa.
# 10 – 88 votes in Final; Male Agama sinaita, Jordan. This species is common in deserts around the shores of the Red Sea. While in heat, the male turns striking blue to attract females. Credit: Own work by Ester Inbar (User ST).
The rest of the finalists and previous years’ winners can be found here.