As the year nears the finish line, the web is overflowing with top 10 lists dedicated to the widest range of topics. With that said, the dawn of a new year is always the best time for reflecting on all the things the latest 365-day ride has provided us with, and striking photography is one of them. Only naturally, there were a lot of excellent snaps taken, some of which you’ve probably already seen. However, to jump on the bandwagon, My-Picture.co.uk needs a list of its own. Therefore, we collected some of the most poignant, goosebumps-inducing, breathtaking, and otherwise thrilling photos we saw this year.

Interesting Moment (Yulius Y.)

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Now, has there ever been a photo that better depicts how strange our centuries-old fascination with paintings is? We only need someone to look back, and the picture instantly becomes revealing… and to a quite hilarious effect at that. View it as you prefer, whether as the past looking at the future or another photo commentary dwelling on our social consciousness. Either way, it’s one flawless, perfectly timed capture!

The Man’s Stare (Min Ahmed)

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A true fine art painting-worthy capture, this photo has everything- a spontaneous yet perfect composition, an exotic setting, and an aura of mystery not to be unfolded anytime soon. Although there is a certain amount of surprise once you find out what exactly makes it so great, the photo seems to be meant to happen. A pit stop in Gazipur and a tourist standing right next to the train… seems that every great photo has a chain of perfectly random circumstances behind it.

A Man Peeking Through a Fence Along the U.S.-Mexico border (Daniel Acker)

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In light of the recent political schisms around the world (truth be told, they’ve been taking place for the past two years or so), this picture really says more than a thousand words. The image is of a man peeking through the border fence between Mexico and the U.S. as if to see what the fuss is all about. Taken by Daniel Acker, it’s an image of desolation and distinction, things that should be artifacts of the past when it comes to international relations in 2017. Well, we have the whole of 2018 to make things better.

Catalan March (Angel Garcia)

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Another politically inclined snap, this photo by Angel Garcia captures the Catalan demonstrators on their march against Spanish police violence in light of the Catalan independence referendum on October the 3rd. The kid standing on the shoulders of the man is the pinnacle of the image’s symbolic power.

Wild West in Turkey (Oktay Subasi)

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Without any advertorial overtones, no other image in recent memory has revived the “Marlboro Man” myth quite as powerfully as this shot by the Turkish photographer Oktay Subasi. Hard at work saddling the mighty stallions, the cowboy is sieged by thick layers of dust and the heavy clop from the animals around him. This is an amazing, powerful shot with a beautifully brown palette!

Lithuania (Tadas Kazakevicius)

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A good sign of a truly great photo is its capability to resonate on a deeply emotional level. This photo, taken by Tadas Kazakevicius, with three siblings and a pup somewhere in the Lithuanian countryside manages to do exactly that. While the image seems to have captured the essence of childhood innocence, there’s also something unbearably sad about the way it has captured its passing. The image itself seems to have no time frame. This might as well have been taken during the 1950’s with its universal sentiment.

Academy Awards Mixup (Christopher Polk)

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There are many great photos that have encapsulated an absurd amount of emotions within a single frame, and 2017 has one of its own. Taken during the 89th Academy Awards, it’s the controversial mix-up during the announcement of the Best Picture honor. What initially went to La La Land was quickly claimed by Moonlight, causing the widest range of emotions within a single photo. Although the moment must have provided a fair share of confusion, the contrast is undeniably hilarious.

Designed by Rei Kawakubo (Erik Magdigan Heck)

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To stray away from reality for a bit and prove that avant-garde is always new, we have selected a highly futuristic fashion photo by Erik Madigan. Featuring a costume designed by the 74-year-old Avant-garde pioneer Rei Kawakubo, it’s a token of a sharp-as-ever eye for the future and an undying craftsmanship. The owner and inventor of the avant-garde couture line Comme des Garçons has brought yet another piece of beautiful other-worldliness.

Crisis in Myanmar (Adam Dean)

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Inevitably, some of the best photos of 2017 are also the most politically charged ones. With that said, it’s only natural as photos like this one are the true face of consequences- one man’s office actions instigate pain and suffering most of us would find hard to fathom. The refugees, fresh off their fishing boat, are fleeing Myanmar as a result of the massive persecution of the Rohingya minority. The events taking place in the neighboring country of Myanmar (Burma) are the latest in a line of shameful exoduses happening as a result of military action against innocent civilians. This particular photo by Adam Dean poses a simple question. Can’t we really change this for the better?

Despite the vast majority of photos dealing with grim subject matters, 2017 also brought us a lot of beauty, creativity, and hope. With that said, it’s also worth noting that through the lenses of these talented photographers and their captivating imagery the world sees all the pain and unfairness so that we may combat and finally get rid of these problems. May 2018 comes with the strength to help us do the right thing!

Der Beitrag Some of the Best Photos We Saw this Year erschien zuerst auf My-Picture.co.uk blog.