That Look

Commended by the judge in the "That Look" competition on Photocrowd.com.

The tree of life

A Western Bristlecone Pine stands out against the sky, defiant of the centuries gone by. The oldest individual ever recorded was 4,862 years old when it was felled in 1964. (Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest, California, U.S.)

Despite having been just been 'done up', the new pedestrian area around Manchester Central Library is dominated by the grey of the concrete. A few remaining trees, together with the iconic red phonebox and a brightly clothed passerby, are the only hint of colour (Manchester, U.K.)

Biologist Filippo Marolla looks up with wonder at the crown of an impressive Kapok Tree in the forests of Príncipe. The southern half of the island is still blanketed with primary rain forest, due to its difficult access.(Príncipe, São Tomé and Príncipe).

Every dog has its day

A pariah dog poses proudly as it gazes over the Ganges and ghats, crowded with pilgrims and shrines. Dogs here are treated with religious respect and is not unusual to see people sharing their food with them. (Varanasi, India) 

 stray trots into the distance, on the edges of the Sahara Desert. (Merzouga, Morocco)

In Príncipe, stray dogs lead a life of hardship and abuse. Hope lies in the younger generation, like this boy who exuberantly shows his affection to an as yet unconvinced dog. (Santo Antonio, Príncipe, São Tomé and Príncipe)