This Week In Pictures
D4vd in Court
Last September, news of the body of a teenage girl being found in a car registered to rising R&B singer David Anthony Burke - better known as “D4vd” - stunned and horrified people around the world. After a months-long investigation, he has now been arrested and charged for the murder of Celeste Rivas Hernandez. This picture, taken by Ted Soqui on April 20th, shows D4vd at his arraignment. There’s no telling what will happen next in this case for D4vd - who has entered a “not guilty” plea. But this scandal has cast his public image in a very unsettling light.
King James
Is LeBron James the greatest of all time when it comes to pro basketball players? We can’t say for certain. But we can confirm the 41-year-old Los Angeles Lakers forward is the oldest player in the league. Age is hardly a hindrance, though, given that he can score 28 points in a playoff game. He did exactly this to help bring his team to victory in game 2 over the Houston Rockets on April 21st. Keith Birmingham’s photo shows James exhaling after completing a slam dunk. It’s an expression of someone whose devotion to their passion helped to make them a truly generational legend.
The Queen of Pop
Speaking of legends! During her headlining performance for the second weekend of Coachella on April 17th, Sabrina Carpenter brought out Madonna, who'd been releasing timeless smashes since long before Carpenter and much of the festival crowd were even born. Classic tunes like "Vogue" and "Like a Prayer" were performed, along with an unreleased collab between her and Carpenter. Kevin Mazur’s photo of the two demonstrates the innate star power quality of the most captivating pop stars.
Pope Leo XIV in Africa
On April 13th, Pope Leo XIV embarked on an 11-day trip to four African countries. This was the Catholic Church leader's first visit to the continent since his election last year. This photo, taken by Simone Risoluti on April 22nd, shows the Pope bowing to clergy at the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception in Mongomo, Equatorial Guinea. No matter what faith beliefs you may hold, it’s hard not to be moved by this image and the humility expressed by one of the most recognizable people in the world.
“Devil” May Care
On the less “holy” side of things… Roughly two decades after “The Devil Wears Prada” was released to critical and commercial success, a sequel is finally coming out. And “The Devil Wears Prada 2” is bringing back the best parts of the beloved original, namely the core cast of Anne Hathaway, Emily Blunt, Stanley Tucci and, of course, Meryl Streep. Grant Buchanan and Dave Benett’s photo of the four outside The National Gallery in London on April 22nd, looking just as beautiful as they did 20 years ago, has us even more excited about this follow-up than we already were.
Tsunami Alert
On April 20th, a 7.5 magnitude earthquake struck Japan’s northeastern coast, injuring six people and damaging at least 39 buildings. This also prompted concerns of a potential tsunami, with multiple preparedness measures taking place as citizens stayed on alert. In this photo from JIJI Press, taken in the city of Sendai, an electronic bulletin board warns of the possibility of waves up to three meters (or approximately 10 feet) high. While the tsunami warning was downgraded and eventually lifted, broadcasting messages like these in times of potential emergency is nevertheless imperative.
Jackson Family Reunion
The arrival of Michael Jackson biopic “Michael,” has sparked plenty of discussion. This entry however, is about other members of Jackson’s creatively driven family. This photo from the Hollywood premiere on April 20th, taken by Axelle from Bauer-Griffin, shows multiple Jacksons together. This includes Michael’s nephew, Jaafar Jackson, who plays him in the movie, as well as multiple siblings, like Jermaine and La Toya. Talk about a true musical dynasty.
Standing by the Water
Amidst ongoing tensions and uncertainty regarding the United States, Iran and control of the Strait of Hormuz, moving images like this can be found. In this picture, taken on April 22nd, by an anonymous photographer in the Iranian port city of Bandar Abbas, a man and a woman look out at the water where numerous ships are anchored. We can’t see their faces or tell what they may be thinking. But the intimacy in juxtaposition to the tumultuous timeline surrounding them speaks for itself.
Samsung Workers Rally
There is power in a union! On April 23rd, tens of thousands of Samsung Electronics Co. employees took part in a demonstration against the corporate giant in Pyeongtaek, South Korea in protest of inadequate compensation. Chung Sung-Jun’s photo might show just a segment of the immense number of workers who came out, but the volume and message is felt all the same. It now remains to be seen if worker demands will be met, or if a strike will be staged from May 21st to June 7th.
Our Precious Planet
April 22nd marked “Earth Day,” a day meant for recognizing the incredible significance and importance of the planet we call home. This photo, taken by Sunil Ghosh on that day this past week, shows the Yamuna River in New Delhi, India. The beauty and wonder of this body of water is unfortunately diminished by the visible white foam as a result of a variety of environmental factors. Like countless other images, it reflects an objective, unpolitical truth: Earth must be taken care of.
What photo from this week left you speechless? Let us know in the comments
