August 15, 2008: Today in Pictures

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August 15, 2008: Today in Pictures

Today's best photos: around the world in pictures is a daily look at photos from Atlanta, national and world news, entertainment, sports and celebrities through the eyes of photographers from ajc.com and other sources.

Asafa Powell of Jamaica runs in the men's 100-meter heat during the athletics competitions in the National Stadium at the Beijing Olympics on Friday.

In Marietta on Friday, two-year-old Ian Maxwell throws a huge rock into the cool waters of Sope Creek with some able assistance from his dad, Andy. The payoff of throwing a rock this size in the water was the big splash it made, getting Ian happily wet on a warm summer morning.

Vacationing Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., body surfs at Sandy Beach in Honolulu, Hawaii, on Thursday.

Falcons cornerback Chevis Jackson (right) breaks up a pass to wide receiver Michael Jenkins during a play at training camp in Flowery Branch on Thursday. The team opens their home preseason schedule against Indianapolis on Saturday.

A Russian soldier climbs a tank at a Russian Army position at the entrance to the town of Gori, Georgia, on Friday. Tensions continued as Russian and Georgian forces negotiated over an end to hostilities that have gripped the country for the last week.

USA shot putter Reese Hoffa from Athens gestures after a throw on Friday in Beijing. Hoffa and teammate Adam Nelson failed to medal meaning the hopes for an American sweep ended up with Christian Cantwell's lone silver.

Romans walk along the shore of Lanark Loch to promote Scotland's National Living History Festival in Lanark, Scotland, on Friday. This weekend 500 history re-enactors from more than nine countries will converge at the festival.

An early morning rain storm moves north up the coast near Malibu, Calif., on Friday.

Child models showcase designs at the finale of the Little Ones Collection childrenswear group as part of the inaugural Rosemount Sydney Fashion Festival 2008 on Thursday.

New Zealand's Katie McVean goes over her horse Forest at the fence during a qualifying round for the Equestrian Show Jumping competition during the Beijing 2008 Olympics in Hong Kong, on Friday.

On Friday in Beijing, track competition gets underway as runners compete in a heat at the 1500-meter run, captured with a slow shutter speed.

Workers walk near wind turbine blades at the Harland & Wolff shipyard in Belfast, Northern Ireland on Thursday. Sixty wind turbines are being prepared for installation at the Robin Rigg offshore wind farm in the Solway Firth on the border of England and Scotland. They can produce enough electricity to power 117,000 homes.

Mohammad Reza Rodaki (top) battles Yury Rybak in the over-100kg judo class in Beijing on Friday.

Bulgarian Orthodox pilgrims try to touch the miraculous icon of the Virgin Mary during a procession marking Virgin Mary's Day at Troyan's monastery, east of Sofia, Bulgary, on Friday.

On Friday in Almaty, Kazakhstan, a month-old giraffe named Tviga and his mother Sulu cuddle at Almaty Zoo when the calf was allowed outdoors into the warm summer weather for the first time.

In Iskandariyah, Iraq, on Friday, Shiite pilgrims walk past a pile of shoes belonging to the victims of Thursday's suicide bombing that killed at least 18 people and wounded 75 attending the Shabaniyah festival.

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Asafa Powell of Jamaica runs in the men's 100-meter heat during the athletics competitions in the National Stadium at the Beijing Olympics on Friday.

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