The New York Times’ Year in Pictures

As has become a yearly tradition, the photo editors at The New York Times compiled a hundred of their favorite images snapped by a variety of worldwide contributors in order to assemble their Year in Pictures. As they explain, “How close are you willing to get? That’s the question posed by the most potent photographs of 2014: How close? We founder in the shallows amid the constant nano-buzz of a modern culture. But with just one powerful still photograph — emphasis on still — you need to stop, stare, then drown in the image, tumble into its pure moment.” From moments like the Ebola outbreak to the clash in Ferguson, Missouri, the images further illustrate a delicate human balance where words simply won’t work. While a select few appear above, head here to see all 100 images.