Over the last year, we’ve shared some of the best photos from all across the world. As 2016 winds down, we’re compelled to take a look back at the past 12 months and revisit the best of the best. With countless photographers constantly documenting every corner of the world, we’ve had a great year for a wide variety of stunning images. That includes everything from breathtaking landscapes and poetic portraits to heartwarming scenes and unforgettable moments.
It’s been difficult to choose, but we’ve compiled a list of 50 breathtaking examples. Each one caught our attention and earned a spot in remembering 2016 for what it was. It may have been a year filled with political discourse, laced with issues concerning social and cultural equality, but photography can help us unlock the many layers that define a year. Looking back at the past 12 months, we’ve had a wonderful abundance of celebration, heartwarming encounters, natural awe, and delightful moments of happenstance.
Photo credit: Nicholas Steinberg
Photo credit: Darian Volkova
Photo credit: Anthony Lau
Photo credit: Laura Zalenga
Photo credit: Hiroki Inoue
Photo credit: Alexandra Bochkareva
Photo credit: Anne Geier
Photo credit: Jess Findlay
Photo credit: Alex Bolen
Photo credit: Casey Christopher
Photo credit: Charlie Hamilton James
Photo credit: Audun Rikardsen
Photo credit: Danny Yen Sin Wong
Photo credit: Mike Mezeul II
Photo credit: Lorenz Holder
Photo credit: Francesco Cattuto
Photo credit: Sergey Polyushko
Photo credit: Vadim Stein
Photo credit: Pete Souza
Photo credit: Janet Wheeland Photography
Photo credit: Kacper Kowalski
Photo credit: Mike Kelley
Photo credit: Peter Adams Shawn
Photo credit: Elia Locardi
Photo credit: Brandon Li
Photo credit: NYC Dance Project
Photo credit: Anup Shah
Photo credit: Christian Vieler
Photo credit: Gabriel Scanu
Photo credit: Takeshi Marumoto
Photo credit: Sergey Ponomarev / New York Times
Photo credit: John J. Kim / Chicago Tribune
Photo credit: Rania Mater
Photo credit: Ben Youssef
Photo credit: Omar Robles
Photo credit: Mark Cowan
Photo credit: Tamara Lischka
Photo credit: Greg Lecoeur
Photo credit: Santiago Borja
Photo credit: Pieter Henket
Photo credit: Gerardo Garmendia Photography
Photo credit: Samira Qadir
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Photo credit: Giuseppe Mario Famiani
Photo credit: Jacob Ehrbahn
Photo credit: Antonius Andre Tjiu
Photo credit: Laura Barnett
Photo credit: Erica Wu
Photo credit: Amin Abedini
Photo credit: Kristina Makeeva