NEWS RELEASE 14 Dec 2001 *** The NBCA results are embargoed for publication until 17th January 2002 *** Science Photo Library unwraps its outer layers Intriguing and unusual surface images have been brought together in the Science Photo Library's calendar for 2002, which has been highly commended in a national competition. Under the theme, Surface, the 12 distinct pictures capture detail and depth hidden from the naked eye. Braille-like embossing on each page for the year "2002" continues the theme and explanatory captions provide some absorbing facts and figures. Three examples give a flavour. February's greatly magnified picture shows how water repellent coating cleverly holds back raindrops on the surface of a fabric. For July there is a photograph of the wrinkled surface of a sucker on a medicinal leech, complete with accompanying details about how much blood it can mop up from a human wound. At first glance October's picture looks a little like whipped, mashed potato but it is in fact a view from space of Hurricane Allen, with storm clouds swirling around an area of calm in the centre. Other pictures include a shot from space of an irrigation system in Saudi Arabia, a freshly shaved chin hair and for December and the front cover, the impact made by a meteorite on the surface of Mars. The SPL calendar opens with a quote from the American 19th century writer Ralph Waldo Emerson who said: "We live amid surfaces, and the true art is to skate well on them." The calendar has been given a highly commended certificate in the National Business Calendar Awards in the Typographic/Free-standing calendars category. Photo credits: JANUARY Tongue. PROFESSOR P. MOTTA. FEBRUARY Waterproof clothing. ANDREW SYRED. MARCH Bacterial colonies. SAMUEL ASHFIELD. APRIL Rosemary leaf. ANDREW SYRED. MAY Hover fly eye. SUSUMU NISHINAGA. JUNE Passion flower pollen grain. EYE OF SCIENCE. JULY Leech sucker. EYE OF SCIENCE. AUGUST Irrigation in Saudia Arabia. NASA. SEPTEMBER Shaved hair. SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY. OCTOBER Hurricane Allen. HASLER & PIERCE, NASA GSFC. NOVEMBER Red blood cells. DR. TONY BRAIN. DECEMBER Crater on Mars. NASA. For photographs contact Maria Storey, Marketing & Communications Director, Science Photo Library, 327-329 Harrow Road, London W9 3RB Tel: 020 7432 1100 Fax: 020 7286 8668 maria.storey@sciencephoto.com back to Press Releases