Wikipedia:Picture of the day/June 2011
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Thesefeatured pictures,as scheduled below, appeared as thepicture of the day(POTD) on the English Wikipedia'sMain Pagein June 2011. Individual sections for each day on this page can be linked to with the day number as theanchorname (e.g.[[Wikipedia:Picture of the day/June 2011#1]]for June 1).
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June 1
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Helen Keller(1880–1968) was adeafblindAmerican author, political activist, and lecturer. The story of how Keller's teacher,Anne Sullivan,broke through the isolation imposed by a near complete lack of language, allowing the girl to blossom as she learned to communicate, has become widely known through the dramatic depictions of the play and filmThe Miracle Worker.A prolific author, Keller was well-traveled, and was outspoken in heropposition to war.A member of theSocialist Party of Americaand theIndustrial Workers of the World,she campaigned forwomen's suffrage,workers' rights,andsocialism,as well as many otherleftistcauses. Photo: Unknown; Restoration:Lise Broer
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June 2
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An 1880political cartoondepicts SenatorRoscoe Conklingover a "presidential puzzle" consisting of some of the potential Republican nominees as pieces of a newly inventedsliding puzzle.Conkling held significant influence over the party during the1880 Republican National Conventionand attempted to use that to nominateUlysses S. Grant,only to lose out to "dark horse"candidateJames A. Garfield. Artist: James Albert Wales; Lithography: Mayer, Merkel, & Ottmann; Restoration:Jujutacular
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June 3
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Anink-and-washillustration of astuccoreliefon a building inPalenque,aMaya cityin southernMexicothat flourished in the 7th century, but was abandoned around 800. It was first discovered by European explorers in the 16th century, but remained mostly unexplored until 1773. This particular piece was likely constructed during the long reign ofK'inich Janaab' Pakal(mid-7th century), and is thought to depict Mayan ancestral rulers or the parents thereof. The standing figure holds asceptrein the left hand, and in the right, a length of material. The seated figures adopt a posture of submission or deference, with hands placed on opposite shoulders. Artist:Ricardo Almendáriz;Restoration:Lise Broer
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June 4
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A photographer's assistant uses a portable foldingreflectorto "bounce"available sunlight onto themodel.Also known as abounce board,this type of reflector is useful when theavailable lightis insufficient for what the scene requires, and using aflashwould make thelightingtoo harsh. Here, because of the mostly overcast day, the sun is positioned in the wrong location to illuminate both the model and desired background properly, so a reflector is used to accomplish the task. Photo:Mila Zinkova
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June 5
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Ananimationshowing the unfolding of aDymaxion map,aprojectionof aworld maponto the surface of apolyhedron(in this case, anicosahedron) and then flattened to form a two-dimensional map which retains most of the relative proportional integrity of the globe map. This type of map was invented byBuckminster Fullerand is one of several of his inventions to use the nameDymaxion. Image: Chris Rywalt
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June 6
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Asynagogueon West Twenty-Third Street inNew York Cityremained open 24 hours onD-Dayfor special services and prayer.Jews in the U.S. during World War IIwere mostly unaware of the atrocities ofThe Holocaust,beyond the basic facts that Jews were beingpersecutedby theNazis.Arthur Hays Sulzberger,publisher ofThe New York Timesand a Jew himself, was anti-Zionistand downplayed much of the news. Furthermore, Jewish studio executives ofmajor film studiosdid not want to be accused of advocating Jewish propaganda by making films with overtly antifascist themes. Photo:Farm Security Administration;Restoration:Lise Broer
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June 7
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TheMeadow Argus(Junonia villida) is a species ofbutterflynative toAustralasia.Its brown wings are each covered with two distinctive black and blueeyespotsas well as white and orange marks that appear on the edge of the wings. Males and females are similar in appearance and size, with females being slightly larger. Photo:JJ Harrison
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June 8
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The sketch for thefrontispiecetoOriginal Stories from Real Life,the only complete work ofchildren's literatureby 18th-century BritishfeministMary Wollstonecraft.The book was first published byJoseph Johnsonin1788;a second, illustrated edition, with engravings byWilliam Blakebased on his own drawings, was released in 1791 and remained in print for around a quarter of a century. The book begins with aframe story,which sketches out the education of two young girls by their maternal teacher Mrs. Mason, followed by a series ofdidactictales. Wollstonecraft employed the then burgeoning genre of children's literature to promote the education of women and an emerging middle-class ideology. She argued that women would be able to become rational adults if they were educated properly as children, which was not a widely-held belief in the 18th century. Artist:William Blake;Restoration:Lise Broer
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June 9
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Old Beach,asuburbofHobart,Tasmania,Australia(left), and theMeehan Range,a prominent series of steep hills running parallel to theRiver Derwenton Hobart's eastern shore. Visible in thisstitchedpanoramicview are Mount Direction (rightmost peak) and Gunners Quoin (cliff). Photo:JJ Harrison |
June 10
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Aportolan chartfrom 1492, the oldest known signed and dated chart ofPortugueseorigin.Cartographytechnologies greatly advanced during theAge of Discovery.Iberian mapmakersin particular focused on practical charts to use asnavigationalaids. UnlikeSpanishmaps which were regarded asstate secrets,Portuguese ones were used by other countries, and Portuguese cartographers drew upon the skill and knowledge of other cultures as well. Map: Jorge de Aguiar
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June 11
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A portrait of Edward M. Thomas, one of theTuskegee Airmen,the firstAfrican Americanpilots inUnited States military history.DuringWorld War II,theU.S. militarywas stillracially segregated.In 1941, theArmy Air Corpsformed the99th Pursuit Squadron.Their first combat assignment was to attack the island ofPantelleriain preparation for theAllied invasion of Sicily.OnJune 11,1943, the island surrendered; it was the first time in history an enemy's military resistance had been overcome solely by air power. Photo:Toni Frissell;Restoration:Lise Broer |
June 12
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Across-sectional viewof somegrapes,showing the main physical structures of the grape and the components extracted during eachpressingto makewine.Grapes are cultivated for bothwinemakingandeating.They were originallydomesticatedinCentral Asiain theNeolithicperiod, and the oldest evidence of winemaking dates to around 8,000 years ago. Image:Mariana Ruiz Villarreal
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June 13
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Along-exposureseascapephotograph of rocks atClifton Beach,Tasmania.Inphotography,exposure is the total amount oflightallowed to fall on the photographic medium (filmorsensor): the longer theshutter speed,the more light is let in. This can be done for technical reasons, such as in low-light conditions, or to create an artistic effect as shown here, when theocean wavesappear to befog. Photo:JJ Harrison
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June 14
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Adugouthome, a building based in a hole or depression dug into the ground, nearPie Town,New Mexico,US,in 1940. These structures are one of the most ancient types of human housing known toarchaeologists.Dugouts can be fully recessed into the earth, with a flat roof covered by ground, or dug into a hillside. They can also be semi-recessed, with a constructed wood orsodroof. Photo:Russell Lee;Restoration:Lise Broer
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June 15
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TheRoadside Hawk(Buteo magnirostris) is a relatively smallbird of prey.Specimens normally range from 31 to 41 centimetres (12 to 16 in) in length and weigh 250–300 grams (8.8–10.6 oz). The Roadside Hawk is common throughout its range: fromMexicothroughCentral Americato most ofSouth Americaeast of theAndes.It is well adapted to mostecosystemsin its range, and can also be found inurban areas.Its diet consists mainly ofinsects,squamates,and smallmammals,such as youngcommon marmosetsand similarly sizedmonkeys. Photo: Wagner Machado Carlos Lemes
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June 16
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A view ofDunrobin Castle,Sutherland,Highland,Scotland,from the castle's gardens. A castle was first built on the site in 1401, but most of the current building was designed in 1845 bySir Charles Barry.Barry, also responsible for thePalace of Westminster,turned the castle into aScots Baronial-style home. Photo: Jack Spellingbacon
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June 17
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Amosquito(Ochlerotatus notoscriptusshown) feeding on a human arm. Mosquitoes havemouthpartsthat areadaptedfor piercing the skin of plants and animals. While males typically feed onnectarand plant juices, the female needs to obtain nutrients from a "bloodmeal "before she can produceeggs.In some of the 3,500 species of mosquito, the females feed on humans, and are thereforevectorsfor a number ofinfectious diseases. Photo:JJ Harrison
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June 18
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Machu Picchu,with the peakHuayna Picchubehind it. Perhaps the most famousIncasite, Machu Picchu is situated on a mountain ridge above theUrubamba ValleyinPeru.It was probably built as an estate for the Inca emperorPachacutiin the 15th century, but abandoned soon after during theSpanish conquest of the Inca Empire.Although known locally, it was unknown to the outside world before being brought to international attention in 1911 by the American historianHiram Bingham,and it is now an importanttourist attraction. Photo:Martin St-Amant
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June 19
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Anisothermalmap of the world, based on the research ofAlexander von Humboldt,a Germannaturalistwhose work laid the foundation for the sciences ofphysical geographyandmeteorology,among other things. By delineating "isothermal lines", he simultaneously suggested the idea and devised the means of comparing theclimaticconditions of various countries. Map:William C. Woodbridge;Restoration:JujutacularandLise Broer
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June 20
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Thisstudydrawing byKenyon Coxshows the allegorical figure ofRomancenude, bending her head to read a book on her lap. Romance is one figure in a painting,The Arts,in the north-endlunetteof the Southwest Gallery in theLibrary of Congress' Jefferson Building. Cox was an advocate offigurative art—art that is clearly sourced from real objects—and is therefore by definitionrepresentationalrather thanabstract art. Restoration:Lise Broer
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June 21
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A World War IOttomansignaling crew inHuj(1917) with aheliograph(far left), a wireless solartelegraphthat signals usingMorse codeflashes ofsunlightreflected by amirror.The flashes were generated by tilting the mirror with a lever mounted behind it. The heliograph is a simple but highly effective instrument for instantaneousoptical communicationover long distances. The record is 183 mi (295 km), using a 8 "x8" mirror. The depicted device has a 5 "diameter mirror, rated for 30 mile range. Photo:American Colony;Restoration:Lise Broer
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June 22
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South Cape Bay, located on the south-western shore ofTasmania,withinSouthwest National Park.The park is Tasmania's largest and forms part of theTasmanian WildernessWorld Heritage Area.The park is well-known for its pristine wilderness and remoteness. The southern and western reaches of the park are far removed from vehicular access, with access only by foot, boat, or light aircraft. Photo:JJ Harrison
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June 23
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Mudcracksinsludge,the remains of asewage treatmentplant inKos,Greece. Mudcracks naturally form when wet, muddysedimentdesiccates,causing contraction through a decrease intensile strength.Individual cracks join up, forming apolygonal,interconnected network. These cracks may later be filled with new sediment, formingcastson the base of the overlying bed. Photo:Hannes Grobe
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June 24
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Trails ofMartiandust devils,which appear as dark streaks on the light surface, as seen byMars Reconnaissance Orbiter.Dust devils are strong, well-formed, and relatively long-livedwhirlwindsthat can form when hot air near the surface rises quickly through a small pocket of cooler,low-pressureair above it. On Mars, dust devils have unexpectedly cleaned thesolar panelsof theMars rovers. Photo:NASA/JPL/University of Arizona
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June 25
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A westward view of theRiver Thamespassing between the London boroughs ofLambethandCity of Westminster,with theLondon Eyeferris wheel on the left and thePalace of Westminsterin the centre. The Thames is thesecond-longestriver in England and has a special significance in flowing through London, although this is only a short part of its course. Its strategic position has made it a physical and political boundary, as well as the centre of many events in British history. Photo:David Iliff
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June 26
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TheGreat Coat of Arms of the Russian Empire,as presented to EmperorPaul Iin October 1800. The use of thedouble-headed eaglein the coat of arms (seen in multiple locations here) goes back to the 15th century. With thefall of Constantinopleand the end of theByzantine Empirein 1453, theGrand Dukes of Moscowcame to see themselves as the successors of the Byzantine heritage, a notion reinforced by the marriage ofIvan IIItoSophia Paleologue.Ivan adopted the golden Byzantine double-headed eagle in his seal, first documented in 1472, marking his direct claim to the Roman imperial heritage and his assertion as sovereign equal and rival to theHoly Roman Empire.
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June 27
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A sketch of the action during theBattle of Kennesaw Mountain,fought onJune 27,1864, duringWilliam T. Sherman'sAtlanta Campaignof theAmerican Civil War.Sherman, aMajor Generalin theUnion Army,had used a series of flanking maneuvers againstConfederateGen.Joseph E. Johnston,each compelling the Confederates to withdraw with minimal casualties on either side. After two months and 70 miles (110 km) of such maneuvering, Sherman ordered a large-scale frontal assault, which was easily repulsed. However, a demonstration by Major GeneralJohn M. Schofieldthreatened the Confederate army's left flank, prompting yet another withdrawal towardAtlantaand the removal of Johnston from command. Artist:Alfred Waud;Restoration:Lise Broer |
June 28
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TheCape Barren Goose(Cereopsis novaehollandiae) is a large goose native to southern Australia. It is 75–100 cm (30–40 in) long, weighs 3.1–6.8 kg (7–15 lb) and has a 150–190 cm (59–75 in) wingspan, with males slightly larger than females. Its plumage is almost uniformly grey, bearing rounded black spots. Photo:JJ Harrison |
June 29
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The body of aCanon EOS 400D(calledDigital Rebel XTiinNorth AmericaandEOS Kiss Digital XinJapan)digital single-lens reflex camerawithout the lens attached, so that thelens mountis visible. It went on sale inAugust 2006,succeeding the popularEOS 350D,and was itself replaced by the450DinApril 2008.TheCanon EOSline was introduced in 1987 and is named after theTitangoddess of the dawnEos.It competes primarily with theNikon Fseries and its successors, and with autofocus SLR systems from other manufacturers. Photo:Thomas Wolf |
June 30
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An AmericanWorld War Ipropaganda poster in theYiddish language.It reads, "Food will win the war! You came here seeking freedom; now you must help to preserve it. Wheat is needed for the Allies. Waste nothing." Yiddish is aHigh German languageofAshkenazi Jewishorigin, spoken throughout the world and written in theHebrew alphabet.It combines German dialects withHebrew,Aramaic,Slavic languagesand traces ofRomance languages.In the early 20th century, it became the primary language of a large Jewish community in Eastern Europe that rejectedZionismand sought Jewish cultural autonomy in Europe. Poster: Charles Edward Chambers; Restoration:Lise Broer
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