As they do each year, TIME magazine just selected the best photographs for 2015 in mid-December. The selection process culls the best of the best from the thousands of photos the magazine (and its online edition) have published throughout the year. The magazine also selected its top 100 photos earlier this month. That’s a pretty tall order, considering that approximately 10% of all photos ever taken were shot in the past 12 months alone.

This year’s best photos have been selected from the works of photographers all over the globe and include shots from countries such as Macedonia, Nepal, Nigeria, Turkey, Eastern Ukraine, and even right here the United States.

Although one picture — the photo NASA’s New Horizons mission took of Pluto — was cause for celebration, others represent grief, loss, and strife throughout the world. One photo depicts two refugee children crying after being separated from family at the Macedonian border. Another shows the chaos after the terrorist attacks in Paris on Nov. 15. Yet perhaps the most disturbing of the bunch is the picture taken in Bodrum, Turkey, which shows the body of a young refugee boy washed up on the shore of the beach.

These slices of life primarily show us in times of struggle, and although they may be graphic or not quite aesthetically pleasing to some, they are an honest portrayal of humanity in a year of both momentous and devastating occasions. “The great photojournalists of our days continue to make exceptional pictures that hold infinite power,” Kira Pollack writes in TIME, “while citizen journalists are also adding to the repertoire as ‘witnesses,’ making pictures that provide evidence.”

Ending up on the list of the year’s best photos is a dream for any photographer, and for many, it all starts with having the right equipment. Today, buying a digital Camera is a must for those who want to take expert photographs. Around 610 million people throughout the world own a digital camera, and 72% of them use one as their primary camera. These photographers, both amateurs and professionals, take an average of 375 pictures per year — and that’s not even close to including the number of photos taken with smartphone cameras, tablets, and other devices.

Finding the right camera can take some time, and it’s important for budding photographers to read up on information on digital camera vs DSLR (digital single-lens reflex) cameras, so they’re aware of what they’re getting. Visiting camera stores and reading digital camera reviews are two of the best ways to put one on the path to taking great photos.

If you have questions about how to begin taking the best pictures, make sure to stop in and see us or contact us online. We’re here to help you take your photography skills to the next level.

The post What We Can Learn from TIME’s Best Photos for 2015 appeared first on 42nd Street Photo Blog.