The year 2024 was a tumultuous period marked by ongoing conflict, political upheaval, and powerful displays of human resilience. Across the globe, photographers were on the front lines, capturing moments of profound despair, unexpected joy, and stunning beauty. These images tell the story of a world in flux, from the ashes of a Hong Kong housing estate to the icy waters of Antarctica.
Conflict and Human Cost
In Gaza, the devastating human toll of the ongoing war was starkly illustrated by photographer Ahmed al-Arini. He captured the image of a skeletal one-and-a-half-year-old boy, Muhammad, cradled by his desperate mother in a tent amid ruins. The child, already vulnerable due to pre-existing health conditions, was emaciated from the severe hunger crisis, a symbol of the starvation faced by countless Palestinian families.
Meanwhile, in Ukraine, Roman Pilipey documented the relentless defence against Russian drones. His photograph shows soldiers of the 59th Brigade firing an ageing Soviet anti-aircraft cannon from a sunflower field near Pavlohrad during a major night-time assault. The scene underscored the ingenuity and endurance of Ukrainian forces using outdated equipment to protect their homeland.
Syria witnessed a symbolic end to an era when rebels toppled the authoritarian regime of Bashar al-Assad. Photographer Leo Correa found the colossal, destroyed statue of former president Hafez al-Assad in Dayr Atiyah, a powerful monument to the fall of 53 years of dynastic rule and a fragile hope for peace.
Protest and Resistance
Political tensions sparked dramatic protests worldwide. In Istanbul, a unique act of defiance was captured by Chris McGrath. A protester, dressed in the traditional robes of a Sufi whirling dervish and wearing a gas mask, stood silently as police pepper-sprayed him. The image became an iconic representation of resistance against the politically charged arrest of Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu.
Kathmandu saw violent "Gen Z protests" erupt against government corruption and social media bans. Niranjan Shrestha photographed a surreal moment amid the chaos: young protesters taking a selfie in front of the burning Singha Durbar government complex, a building set alight in anger over police killings.
In the United States, immigration policies continued to tear families apart. Carol Guzy’s heartbreaking image from New York City showed a security guard breaking down in tears alongside a distraught Ecuadorian mother and her children, moments after ICE agents detained her husband. The guard’s raw empathy highlighted the profound human impact of family separation policies.
Moments of Humanity and Wonder
Amid the strife, there were flashes of glory and connection. In Twickenham, Morgan Harlow captured the unbridled joy of England’s Women’s Rugby World Cup victory. Prop Hannah Botterman’s celebratory knee-slide through champagne-soaked confetti, trophy in hand, epitomised the team’s triumphant spirit.
The natural world offered awe-inspiring scenes. In Antarctica, Roie Galitz used a drone to photograph a humpback whale surfacing amidst floating ice, the displaced fragments forming a perfect flower-like shape around its head—a testament to the recovering population of these majestic creatures.
A lighter moment emerged from Virginia, where a serial offender raccoon was found passed out in a liquor store bathroom after breaking in and consuming alcohol. The image of the intoxicated animal, captured by Samantha Martin, provided a moment of global comic relief, with many finding the situation strangely relatable.
Struggle and Survival
The perilous journey of migrants was highlighted by a remarkable rescue off Lanzarote. Salvamento Maritimo crews found a woman who had just given birth to a baby boy on a crowded boat making the deadly Atlantic crossing from Africa. The photograph of migrants surrounding the new mother spoke volumes about vulnerability and hope.
In Hong Kong, a catastrophic fire at the Wang Fuk Court housing estate in Tai Po became the city’s worst in decades. Tyrone Siu’s powerful image focused not on the flames, but on the anguish of 71-year-old Mr. Wong, screaming for help as he believed his wife was trapped inside. Days later, the photographer found Mr. Wong again, who revealed that while his home was lost, his family was together—a poignant lesson on what truly constitutes a home.
From the polar bears sheltering in an abandoned Russian research station on Kolyuchin Island to the solemn ritual baths of Hindu holy men at India’s Kumbh Mela following a deadly stampede, these photographs collectively form a mosaic of our shared global experience in 2024. They bear witness to our capacity for both destruction and profound compassion, leaving an indelible record for history.
