Every year, our photo editors sift through 365 days of images to distill the year. The result is a visual chronicle of political protests, climate catastrophes, mass shootings and poignant scenes of everyday life.
This is 2019 in pictures. nyti.ms/2PnmoEx
This is 2019 in pictures. nyti.ms/2PnmoEx
“Some stories were obvious in their photographic power,” Dean Baquet, our executive editor, writes in his introductory essay. Others in the collection are “subtle and telling images of a process often obscured by political maneuvering and stagecraft.” nyti.ms/2LIW9pV
So much of the year’s news played out in the streets. In Hong Kong, week after week, demonstrators poured into the streets — and Lam Yik Fei was there to capture it all. “They know if we are not here, it is difficult to tell the world what is happening.” nyti.ms/2LIW9pV 
For the first time, more than 100 women were sworn in to serve in the House of Representatives following the 2018 U.S. midterm elections. These portraits are a testament to what power looks like in 2019 — and what it may look like in the years to come. nyti.ms/2LIW9pV
Our photographer Tyler Hicks made his third trip to Yemen since the war began there in 2015. On this trip, he spent time in a hospital to capture the human cost of the conflict.
“Freedom to witness what’s happening on the ground is so rare,” he said. nyti.ms/2LIW9pV
“Freedom to witness what’s happening on the ground is so rare,” he said. nyti.ms/2LIW9pV
One of the most powerful people in Washington, Speaker Nancy Pelosi, got her own meme. “The clap was a fitting moment for the rest of the year,” said Doug Mills, who took the photo during President Trump’s State of the Union address in February. nyti.ms/2LIW9pV
In New Zealand, students from schools across Christchurch gathered at a memorial service for the 51 people who were killed following a terrorist attack on 2 mosques in March. “Our gun laws will change, now is the time,” Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said. nyti.ms/2LIW9pV
“With my photography, I want to raise awareness about the changes affecting the most fragile environment of our planet, which is disappearing in front of our eyes,” Esther Horvath said about photographing in the Arctic. nyti.ms/2LIW9pV
Notre-Dame remained standing in Paris after flames tore through the cathedral in April and threatened the complete destruction of one of France’s most revered monuments nyti.ms/2LIW9pV
“I wasn’t sure the image would be published, but I felt the moment was still important,” Finbarr O'Reilly, who covered the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo, said. “It's a quiet reflection of daily life amid an unfolding tragedy.” nyti.ms/2LIW9pV
“Few sports teams are asked to carry so much meaning on their shoulders, to represent so many things to so many people, as the U.S. women’s soccer team,” our correspondent wrote in July after the U.S. won its record 4th title. “It’s surreal,” said Megan Rapinoe.
Deforestation in the world’s largest rainforest has soared under President Jair Bolsonaro of Brazil. “Our intention was to show the different aspects that constitute the deforestation and to expand the coverage beyond the burning.” nyti.ms/2LIW9pV
The violence and looting are quite shocking, said Tomas Munita, who covered protests in his hometown, Santiago. “But it is important to understand that we Chileans have seen for decades the looting of our seas, forests, health, universities, indigenous lands, etc., helplessly.”
On this day in November, with impeachment hearings underway, President Trump departed from the White House, passing reporters. It was “just a wave of the hand, a slightly grimacing smile and a long, solitary walk to Marine One,” said Damon Winter. nyti.ms/2LIW9pV
See the entire special section that encapsulates 2019 in pictures as chosen by New York Times photo editors nyti.ms/2LIW9pV
Our photo editors reviewed 500,000 images to choose the 116 that represent the biggest news events and strongest photography of 2019. This is how it came together. nyti.ms/2YPhWkZ
