Photography captures a moment in time, and with the power of the internet a single image can spread around the world in minutes, defining certain events. Buzzfeed’s wonderful article “The 45 Most Powerful Images of 2012” highlights some of the best examples of this from around the world. We’ve complied a few from that article below. You can see all 45 here.
Unidentified people beat Svyatoslav Sheremet, head of Gay-Forum of Ukraine, in May. Sheremet was attacked after meeting with members of the media to inform them that a scheduled gay parade was canceled due to threats of violence from neo-Nazis and other hate groups. The attackers ran off when they realized members of the media were documenting the attack.
Image by Anatolii Stepanov / Reuters
Relatives of people who died during Egypt’s revolution react after a court sentenced President Hosni Mubarak to life in prison in June.
Fashionistas pose for photographs in front of a homeless man outside Moynihan Station following a New York Fashion Week show in September.
A police officer uses his baton against an activist during a protest against the government in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Demonstrators demanded that the government withdraw a power-tariff hike marched toward the energy ministry.
A Syrian refugee boy points a plastic toy pistol at a man in a Mickey Mouse costume on the first day of Eid al-Adha at a park in Beirut.
A police officer stands in front of a wall of flames during a protest in Athens. Violent clashes erupted as tens of thousands of demonstrators marched in opposition to a fresh round of budget cuts that the Greek government is expected to announce.
A boy cries as he holds his sister in his lap after a confrontation with squatters and police personnel in Kathmandu, Nepal.
Mohammad Rafique, a Rohingya Muslim from Myanmar, begs a Bangladeshi coast guard official not to send his family back to Myanmar.
A Tibetan exile runs through a street during a protest against the upcoming visit of Chinese President Hu Jintao.
A man looks outside his flooded house in the Netherlands.
Protesters (and dogs) shield themselves from a police water canon after a student protest ended in clashes with authorities in Santiago, Chile.
Felix Baumgartner became the first man to free-fall 24 miles from space. Incredibly, he landed on his feet!
Vincenzo Scibetta is consoled by his father, Charles Scibetta, as his mother’s name, Adrian Victoria, is read during ceremonies marking the 11th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center. This year, the new World Trade Center reclaimed the New York skyline, becoming the tallest building in New York.
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