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The Stories Behind: Why Are These Images In Top 100 Photos Of The Year?

As we step into the next year, let's take into account some powerful image-based stories which inspired us, made us furious, gave us hope, and helped pave way for transformation that will reflect in years to come.

Bhana Bisht

31 Dec 2022 00:00 IST

Updated On 31 Dec 2022 08:37 IST

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We're all prepping for New Year's Eve, discussing how time flies, but if we really look back at 2022, it was a pretty long year; at least for millions of people worldwide. On one hand, when several people's lives came crashing down, several others broke norms and owned their freedom like never before.

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It's unfortunate that it took unaccounted tragedies and years of oppression for people to come together and fight for their freedom, and while it's a fight we take on to the next year, there's hope that the change will soon come. As we step into the next year, let's take into account some powerful image-based stories which inspired us, made us furious, gave us hope, and helped pave way for transformation that will reflect in years to come.

Apart from reflecting good and evil, these photos also surface the youth-led transformation worldwide - a fight that will go on for years to come against oppression and societal norms that ruled people for decades. TIME magazine released its top hundred photos of the year and, although, all of the imagery tells a strong account, here's looking at five which speak to us the most.

2022 Photos Of The Year

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If we put this year's sentiment in one word, it would be 'bittersweet' for the majority. From the explosion of unexpected events to the landing of powerful stories, this year's top photos bring forward narratives from several corners of the world which we had not heard before; which we often overlooked.

Iran

The tragic death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini at the hands of Iran's morality police changed the course of the country in unimaginable ways. The decades-old practised regime of overpowering women and controlling their right to choice and freedom came down on its knees as young women came out on the streets in solidarity to protest against the authoritarian government. Not just women, men, too, took to the streets and protested against morality police and forces which, till today, choose to overlook the damage they caused to the women of the nation.

From chopping their hair to removing their hijabs to fighting till their last breath, countless women were photographed during the protest which can be termed the largest movement of the year. One picture that represented a strong narrative was that of an unveiled woman (as shown in the picture above) who stood on top of a vehicle while thousands of people walked towards the Aichi cemetery in Saqez, a town where Mahsa Amini lived, as a mark of respect. This photo was taken on the day people, marked their respects to Amini 40 days after she had died as they moved passed the security, defied the forces and paved the way for a movement that will be remembered throughout history.

Team USA swimming incident

In June 2022, a member of the USA's swimming team Anita Alvarez fainted at the end of the team routine at the bottom of the pool. It was what happened after that changed not just Alvarez's fate but gave us hope in the power of humanity and team spirit. At women's solo free artistic swimming finals during the 2022 World Aquatics Championships in Budapest, Alvarez lost consciousness while at the bottom of the pool when the team's head coach head Andrea Fuentes jumped in to rescue her.

Fuentes, who realised it would take the lifeguard more tie to reach Alvarez than her, jumped quickly and revived her. Alvarez gained consciousness and recovered her normal oxygen level but wasn't allowed to a few days later. "I knew something wrong was happening before it actually happened and I had to do something about it," Fuentes told USA Sports.

Ketanji Brown Jackson

On June 30, 2022, Ketanji Brown Jackson was sworn in as the United States Supreme Court Justice. This story is noteworthy because she became the first Black woman Supreme Court justice in the US. "I am the dream and the hope of a slave," Jackson quoted writer and poet Maya Angelou after she achieved the historic feat. her remarks. She was flanked by President Joe Biden and Kamala Harris, the nation’s first Black woman to serve as vice president.

In photos selected as top hundred, Jackson attending her confirmation hearing in the presence of her spouse, Patrick Jackson, and daughter, Leila Jackson, makes it one of history's most significant images of all times.

publive-image Patrick Jackson, left, spouse Ketanji Brown Jackson, centre, and daughter Leila Jackson, right, look on during confirmation hearings in Washington, in March 2022.

War

The Russo-Ukrainian war, which began in 2024, escalated on February 2022 when Russia attacked and invaded Ukraine, a dreadful move that destroyed the whole of the latter country and affected left millions displaced and suffering. The photo below showcases the plight of the vulnerable amidst one of the most horrendous events of the year.

The March 2022 image shows how emergency volunteers in Ukraine carry a pregnant woman from a maternity hospital damaged by shelling in Mariupol. It was reported that the baby was born dead and, about half an hour later, the mother passed away too.

publive-image Photo credit: Evgeniy Maloletka—AP

Abortion

On June, 24, The US Supreme Court overturned the landmark judgment 1973 judgement of Roe v. Wade by a 6-3 majority. The judgement which had earlier entitled abortion to be a constitutional right was now dismissed by the US Apex court. The judgment was followed by mass protests across the United States, especially in States where abortion was now termed illegal.

Among several photos that emerged from nationwide protests led by young women fighting for the basic right to choose what to do with their bodies, a certain image of a 19-year-old girl stood apart. In September 2022, standing silently in passing traffic, Cullen Savory held a sign that read, 'If you're against abortion, don't have one' at International Safe Abortion Day in Texas.

publive-image Photo credit: Sara Diggins, USA TODAY/Reuters

Serena Williams

In September 2022, Serena Williams stepped away from the game she ruled for the entire decade. Williams, one of the greatest athletes across competitive sports, bid adieu to the world of tennis at the US Open 2022. The athlete defied not one but a plethora of stereotypes, social norms and colleges that came her way, and registered in history as the female athlete who paved way for change.

In this photo selected in the top hundred, Williams is paid tribute through a video minor in the second round match at the Grand Slam Championship on August 31, 2022.

publive-image Photo credit: Shannon Stapleton, Reuters.

Cool Off

This photo isn't from a specific event or movement, it's just a representation of why we need this so much; why we need to take it slow and easy and feel things instead of rushing ahead without holding a grip on the present.

The image from July 2022, shows two women dipping their heads into a fountain to simply cool off. The image was taken at Trafalgar Square in London City.

publive-image Photo credit: Dan Kitwood, Getty Images.

There are a lot of photos that either inspire us or trigger us or, sometimes, both. However, some photos unite us in more ways than one. When NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope released its first image of the stars - the galaxy cluster SMACS 0723 - it united the world like no other. We all witnessed the glorified universe; the one universe we're all a part of and the wonder that life is.

iran protests Top Photos of 2022

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