Photos: Best Pictures Of The Year From Getty
December 4, 2012
Spanish fans react while watching on a giant outdoor screen on Paseo de La Castellana street the UEFA EURO 2012 semi-final match between Spain and Portugal on June 27, 2012 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Denis Doyle/Getty Images)
Actor Clint Eastwood speaks during the final day of the Republican National Convention at the Tampa Bay Times Forum on August 30, 2012 in Tampa, Florida. Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney was nominated as the Republican presidential candidate during the RNC which will conclude today. (Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images)
Ruffin Henry and Scout the dog swim in the rising water of Lake Pontchatrain as Hurricane Isaac approaches on August 28, 2012 in New Orleans, Louisiana. Hurricane Isaac is expected to make landfall later today along the Lousiana coast. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)
The iconic Princess Cottage, built in 1855, remains standing after being ravaged by flooding on November 21, 2012 in Union Beach, New Jersey. Little more than half of the home remains and more than 200 homes were destroyed by Superstorm Sandy in the town. (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images)
The ‘Tribute in Light’ and Statue of Liberty shine as One World Trade Center (L) rises under construction on the eleventh anniversary of the terrorist attacks on lower Manhattan at the World Trade Center on September 11, 2012 in New York City. New York City and the nation are commemorating the eleventh anniversary of the September 11, 2001 attacks which resulted in the deaths of nearly 3,000 people after two hijacked planes crashed into the World Trade Center, one into the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia and one crash landed in Shanksville, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images)
A young boy wears an astronaut costume in the parking lot of the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center April 17, 2012 in Chantilly, Virginia. Hundreds of people gathered at the museum early in the morning to watch the arrival of the space shuttle Discovery, teathered to the back of a modified 747 jumbo jet. The oldest and most traveled vehicle in NASA's space shuttle program, Discovery will be placed on permanent display at the museum. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
Senior military veterans, including World War II veteran Wayne Field, 86, (C), sing the national anthem before the swimming competition at the National Golden Age Games on June 4, 2012 in St Peters, Missouri. Almost 800 veterans between the ages of 55 and 101 from around the United States participated in the annual six-day event held by the Departement of Veterans Affairs this year in the St Louis area. The veterans competed in a wide range of sporting and recreational events, from swimming to dominoes, many of which were qualifying events for the 2013 National Senior Games. (Photo by John Moore/Getty Images)
Destroyed homes sit beside a home left untouched by fire in a neighborhood affected by the Waldo Canyon fire on June 30, 2012 in Colorado Springs, Colorado. The massive fire, which has eased with the help of cooler temperatures and lighter winds, has destroyed hundreds of homes and forced more than 35,000 people to flee. The fire was estimated at 17,073 acres and was 25 precent contained with some evacuees being let back into their neighborhoods. A second body has been located in a burned home while others are still reported missing. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)
Accused movie theater shooter James Holmes makes his first court appearance at the Arapahoe County on July 23, 2012 in Centennial, Colorado. According to police, Holmes killed 12 people and injured 58 others during a shooting rampage at an opening night screening of "The Dark Knight Rises" July 20, in Aurora, Colorado. (Photo by RJ Sangosti-Pool/Getty Images)
A woman holds her baby as Palestinians enjoy a day at a beach during Eid al-Fitr, which marks the end of the holy month of Ramadan on August 21, 2012 in Tel Aviv, Israel. According to the Israel's coordinator for government activities in the territories, Israel has allowed the entry of over 1 million Palestinians from the occupied West Bank since the beginning of Ramadan due to improved security. (Photo by Uriel Sinai/Getty Images)
The space shuttle Endeavour is transported to The Forum arena for a stopover and celebration on its way to the California Science Center from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) on day two on October 12, 2012 in Inglewood, California. The space shuttle Endeavour is on 12-mile journey from Los Angeles International Airport to the California Science Center to go on permanent public display. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)
Fireworks light up the London skyline and Big Ben just after midnight on January 1, 2012 in London, England. Thousands of people lined the banks of the River Thames in central London to ring in the New Year with a spectacular fireworks display. (Photo by Dan Kitwood/Getty Images)
Republican presidential candidate and former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney (L) talks with former presidential nominee U.S. Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) on Romney's campaign bus in between events January 4, 2012 near Manchester, New Hampshire. McCain announced his endorsement of Romney the day after Romney beat former U.S. Senator Rick Santorum by only eight votes in Tuesday's "first in the nation" Iowa Caucuses. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
A man rides a horse through a bonfire on January 16, 2012 in the small village of San Bartolome de Pinares, Spain. In honor of San Anton, the patron saint of animals, horses are riden through the bonfires on the night before the official day of honoring animals in Spain. (Photo by Jasper Juinen/Getty Images)
A demonstrator wears a Guy Fawkes mask during an "Occupy Congress" rally at the West Front Lawn of the Capitol January 17, 2012 in Washington, DC. Hundreds of members of the "Occupy" movement from across the country participated in the Occupy Congress rally on Capitol Hill. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)
Cruise ship Costa Concordia lies stricken off the shore of the island of Giglio on January 18, 2012 in Giglio Porto, Italy. The official death toll is now 11, with a further 24 people still missing. The rescue operation was temporarily suspended earlier due to the ship moving as it slowly sinks further into the sea. (Photo by Tullio M. Puglia/Getty Images)
Demonstrators throw pfire bombs to riot police during violent protests in central Athens February 12, 2012. Thousands of demonstrators clashed with police as the Greek parliament prepared to vote on a new and deeply unpopular EU/IMF austerity deal, to secure a 130 billion euro bailout, aimed at saving Greece from bankruptcy and what Prime Minister Lucas Papademos warned would be "uncontrollable economic chaos". (Photo by Milos Bicanski/Getty Images)
Steve McDonald stands debris from the home of his mother-in-law, Mary Osman, who was killed after a tornado touched down February, 29, 2012 in Harrisburg, Illinois. According to reports, at least nine people have died in tornadoes across the Midwest. (Photo by Whitney Curtis/Getty Images)
A lone man scavenges for recyclable and other usable items at the Trutier dump on the outskirts of Port-au-Prince, on March 7, 2012 in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. Following the devastating earthquake two years ago that killed and estimated 316,000 people, the number of scavengers at the landfill has grown from about 200 to an estimated 2,000. Much of Haiti is still in a crisis situation with tens of thousands living in tent camps in and around Port-au-Prince. A growing concern to international donors is a flare-up between ex-members of Haiti's armed forces and the current Haitian President Michel Martelly. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)
Maj. Matt O'Donnell of Glenelg, MD shields himself from rotor wash as Ospreys carrying the delegation of U.S. Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta leaves on March 14, 2012 at Forward Operating Base Shukvani, Afghanistan. Panetta is also scheduled to meet with President Karzai during his two-day visit to Afghanistan. The trip comes as the Taliban has vowed revenge following this past weekend's killing spree by a U.S. soldier who is accused of killing 16 civilians in Afghanistan. Most of those killed were children and women. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images)
U.S. President Barack Obama (C) accidentially steps on First lady Michelle Obama's dress as they walk onto the North Portico before the arrival of British Prime Minister David Cameron and his wife Samantha Cameron the White House March 14, 2012 in Washington, DC. Cameron is on a three-day visit to the U.S. and he was expected to have talks with Obama on the situations in Afghanistan, Syria and Iran. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)
A soldier from 16 Air Assault Brigade take part in Exercise Joint Warrior at West Freugh Airfield on April 16, 2012 in Starnraer, Scotland. The operation is taking place in South West Scotland between 15-21 April and focuses on a Theatre Entry operation into a notional country. The exercise will involve more than 1600 troops, and be supported by Apache, Chinook, and Royal Navy Sea King Helicopters from the Joint Helicopter Force. RAF Fast Jets and support aircraft, as well as several US and French aircraft will also support the exercise. This year the ABTF will be joined by a number of French personnel from 11 Parachute Brigade. (Photo by Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images)
Teenagers play basketball on April 16, 2012 in Lynch, Kentucky. The historic coal mining town of Lynch in the Appalachian Mountains once boasted a population of more than 10,000 and was once the largest coal camp in the world. Following the increased mechanization of the coal mining process, the town’s population has dwindled to around 820. Two proposed strip mines in the area now potentially threaten the town’s water supply. (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images)
Protesters associated with the Occupy Wall Street briefly occupy a Vietnam Memorial park in lower Manhattan on May 1, 2012 in New York City. Occupy Wall Street has joined with unions during the May Day protests, a traditional day of global protests in sympathy with unions and leftist politics. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)
A Palestinian demonstrator throws a stone toward Israeli soldiers during clashes outside of Ofer Prison on May 15, 2012 near the West Bank city of Ramallah. Palestinians mark Israel's establishment in 1948 with "Nakba" or "catastrophe" day on May 15, to remember the thousands of Palestinians who fled or were expelled during the creation of the Jewish state and the subsequent war. (Photo by Uriel Sinai/Getty Images)
Edvard Munch's 'The Scream' is auctioned at Sotheby's May 2012 Sales of Impressionist, Modern and Contemporary Art on May 2, 2012 in New York City. The masterpiece is one of four versions created by Munch and the only one that is privately owned. The masterpiece sold for over $119 million. (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images)
Ultra-Orthodox Jews gather at Citi Field as a plane takes off overhead from LaGuradia Airport at a meeting to discuss the risks of using the Internet on May 20, 2012 in the Queens borough of New York City. More than 40,000 were expected to attend the rally at Citi Field, the home of the New York Mets, which organizers said would promote religiously responsible ways to use the Internet. (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images)
A composite of images of the first annular eclipse seen in the U.S. since 1994 shows several stages, left to right, as the eclipse passes through annularity and the sun changes color as it approaches sunset on May 20, 2012 in Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona. Differing from a total solar eclipse, the moon in an annular eclipse appears too small to cover the sun completely, leaving a ring of fire effect around the moon. The eclipse is casting a shallow path crossing the West from west Texas to Oregon then arcing across the northern Pacific Ocean to Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by David McNew/Getty Images)
A large crowd fills The Mall in front of Buckingham Palace to watch The Diamond Jubilee Concert on June 4, 2012 in London, England. For only the second time in its history the UK celebrates the Diamond Jubilee of a monarch. Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II celebrates the 60th anniversary of her ascension to the throne. Thousands of well-wishers from around the world have flocked to London to witness the spectacle of the weekend's celebrations. The Queen along with all members of the royal family will participate in a River Pageant with a flotilla of a 1,000 boats accompanying them down The Thames. (Photo by Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images)
Space Shuttle Enterprise is carried by barge underneath the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge on June 3, 2012 in New York City. Enterprise is on it's way to the Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum, where it will put on permanent display. (Photo by Michael Nagle/Getty Images)
The Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team fly in formation over Buckingham Palace as The Royal family stand on the balcony on June 5, 2012 in London, England. For only the second time in its history the UK celebrates the Diamond Jubilee of a monarch. Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II celebrates the 60th anniversary of her ascension to the throne. Thousands of wellwishers from around the world have flocked to London to witness the spectacle of the weekend's celebrations. (Photo by Peter Macdiarmid - WPA Pool /Getty Images)
The wind picks up U.S. President Barack Obama's tie as he walks back to the Oval Office after welcoming the National Football League Super Bowl champions New York Giants to the White House June 8, 2012 in Washington, DC. The Giants defeated The New England Patriots 21-17 to win Super Bowl XXXXVI. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
Aerialist Nik Wallenda tighropes over the Niagara Falls June 15, 2012 in Niagara Falls, Canada. Wallenda walked across the 1,800 foot long, 2 inch-wide wire Friday night as the first person to cross directly over the falls from the U.S. into Canada. Wallenda, 33 and a father of three, is a seventh generation member of the famed Flying Wallendas who trace their roots to 1780 Austria-Hungary, when ancestors traveled as a band of acrobats, aerialists, jugglers, animal trainers and trapeze artists. ABC televised the event and insisted the daredevil wear a teathered harness to prevent live coverage of a potentially deadly fall 190 feet into the churning torrent below. (Photo by John Moore/Getty Images)
Egyptians celebrate the election of their new president Mohamad Morsi in Tahrir Square on June 24, 2012 in Cairo, Egypt. Official election results today confirmed that Mohamed Morsi is to be the next president of Egypt. Morsi received over 13 million or 51.7% of the votes, while his main rival, former Prime Minister Ahmed Shafiq, received 48.27 percent. (Photo by Daniel Berehulak/Getty Images)
Thousands of people continue to visit the makeshift memorial to the 12 movie theater shooting victims built across the street from the Century 16 Theater July 23, 2012 in Aurora, Colorado. Twenty-four-year-old James Holmes is suspected of killing 12 and injuring 58 others Friday during a shooting rampage at a screening of 'The Dark Knight Rises.' (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
The transfer case containing the remains of U.S. Marine Lance Cpl. Gregory T. Buckley is moved by a U.S. Marine carry team during a dignified transfer at Dover Air Force Base, on August 13, 2012 in Dover Delaware. Lance Cpl. Buckley who was from Oceanside, NY., was killed on August 10th while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan. (Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images)
Penn State students and others react to the sanctions the NCAA announced against Penn State in the HUB on the campus of Penn State on July 23, 2012 in State College, Pennsylvania. As an outcome of the university's mishandling of the allegations of child-sexual abuse by former coach Jerry Sandusky, Penn State was fined $60 million, was stripped of all its football wins from 1998 through 2011, barred from postseason games for four years, and lost 20 total scholarships annually for four seasons. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
Republican presidential candidate and former Massachusetts Govermor Mitt Romney (R) and Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI) (L) speak to an overflow crowd during a campaign rally at Randolph Macon College on August 11, 2012 in Ashland, Virginia. Mitt Romney kicked off a four day bus tour with an announcement of his running mate, Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI). (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
U.S. Marine Corps Officer Candidates School graduates bow their heads during the invocation during their commissioning ceremony at the National Museum of the Marine Corps August 10, 2012 in Triangle, Virginia. U.S. Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta administered the oath of office to 87 Marine officers who achieved the rank of second lieutenant during the ceremony. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
Rain clouds move over the remnants of parched corn stalks on August 22, 2012 near Wiley, on the plains of eastern Colorado. A summer storm came too late to help farmers whos crops were decimated in the wide zone of exceptional drought in Colorado's eastern plains. Farmer Jay Sneller said that he cut down more than 300 acres of his stunted corn crop to sell as livestock feed to recover some of his losses. Most of the high plains areas of eastern Colorado and virtually all of Nebraska and Kansas are still in extreme or exceptional drought, despite recent lower temperatures, according to the University of Nebraska's Drought Monitor. The record-breaking drought, which has affected more than half of the continental United States, is expected to drive up food prices by 2013 due to lower crop harvests and the adverse effect on the nation's cattle industry. (Photo by John Moore/Getty Images)
The Becker family, including Darren, his wife Dorothy and their children Renee 15, Katie, 17 and Charlie, 19, show off a small part of the family weapons collection (and their pet Chiguagua Mini), at the Becker farm August 24, 2012 in Logan, Kansas. During hunting season later in the year, the Beckers host guests from around to country. Like many Kansas farmers affected by the record drought, the Beckers are working hard to hang on to their farm, which has been in their family for five generations. Most of Kansas is still in extreme or exceptional drought, despite recent lower temperatures and thunderstorms, according to the University of Nebraska's Drought Monitor. The record-breaking drought, which has affected more than half of the continental United States, is expected to drive up food prices by 2013 due to lower crop harvests and the adverse effect on the nation's cattle industry. (Photo by John Moore/Getty Images)
A dead goat floats in Hurricane Isaac's flood waters on September 1, 2012 in Braithwaite, Louisiana. Louisiana residents continue to cope with the aftermath of Hurricane Isaac with ongoing flooding, destroyed property and many still without electricity. (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images)
The Williams fire continues to spread as night falls in the Angeles National Forest on September 3, 2012 north of Glendora, California. The fire began late September 2, putting an early end to Labor Day weekend camping and hiking for vacationers, who were evacuated from the area as it spread to more than 4,000 acres in size. Three hundred to 400 firefighters are on the ground, with more expected to arrive soon, and at least six air tankers and eight helicopters have been called in. (Photo by David McNew/Getty Images)(Photo by David McNew/Getty Images)
Former U.S. President Bill Clinton greets Democratic presidential candidate, U.S. President Barack Obama (L) on stage during day two of the Democratic National Convention at Time Warner Cable Arena on September 5, 2012 in Charlotte, North Carolina. The DNC that will run through September 7, will nominate U.S. President Barack Obama as the Democratic presidential candidate. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
The ‘Tribute in Light’ shines as One World Trade Center (R) rises under construction on the eleventh anniversary of the terrorist attacks on lower Manhattan at the World Trade Center on September 11, 2012 in New York City. New York City and the nation are commemorating the eleventh anniversary of the September 11, 2001 attacks which resulted in the deaths of nearly 3,000 people after two hijacked planes crashed into the World Trade Center, one into the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia and one crash landed in Shanksville, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images)
Republican presidential candidate, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney looks at a large banner during a campaign rally at Worthington Industries on October 25, 2012 in Cincinnati, Ohio. Mitt Romney is campaigning in Ohio with less than two weeks to go before the election. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
Rising water, caused by Hurricane Sandy, rushes into a subterranian parking garage on October 29, 2012, in the Financial District of New York, United States. Hurricane Sandy, which threatens 50 million people in the eastern third of the U.S., is expected to bring days of rain, high winds and possibly heavy snow. New York Governor Andrew Cuomo announced the closure of all New York City will bus, subway and commuter rail service as of Sunday evening (Photo by Andrew Burton/Getty Images)
Resident Kim Johnson inspects the area around her apartment building (L) which flooded and destroyed large sections of an old boardwalk, on October 30, 2012 in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Johnson fled the area when the water began to rise yesterday. The storm has claimed at least 16 lives in the United States, and has caused massive flooding accross much of the Atlantic seaboard. US President Barack Obama has declared the situation a 'major disaster' for large areas of the US East Coast including New York City. (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images)
Heavy surf caused by Hurricane Sandy buckles Ocean Ave on October 30, 2012 in Avalon, New Jersey. The storm has claimed at least 16 lives in the United States, and has caused massive flooding across much of the Atlantic seaboard. US President Barack Obama has declared the situation a 'major disaster' for large areas of the US East Coast including New York City, with wide spread power outages and significant flooding in parts of the city. (Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images)
Damaged rides and debris are strewn across the Keansburg Amusement Park after Superstorm Sandy swept across the region, on November 1, 2012 in Keansburg, New Jersey. Superstorm Sandy, which has left millions without power or water, continues to effect business and daily life throughout much of the eastern seaboard. (Photo by Andrew Burton/Getty Images)
A woman walks along the beach in the heavily damaged Rockaway neighborhood, in Queens where a large section of the iconic boardwalk was washed away on November 2, 2012 in New York, United States. Limited public transit has returned to New York and most major bridges have reopened but will require three occupants in the vehicle to pass. With the death toll currently over 70 and millions of homes and businesses without power, the US east coast is attempting to recover from the effects of floods, fires and power outages brought on by superstorm Sandy. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)
U.S. President Barack Obama stands on stage with first lady Michelle Obama, U.S. Vice President Joe Biden and Dr. Jill Biden after his victory speech on election night at McCormick Place November 6, 2012 in Chicago, Illinois. Obama won reelection against Republican candidate, former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
A scientist delegate yawns at stage during the closing session of the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) inside the Great Hall of the People on November 14, 2012 in Beijing, China. Members of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the new CPC Central Committee will meet with journalists on November 15, 2012. (Photo by Feng Li/Getty Images)
A living room is filled with sand washed in by Superstorm Sandy on November 14, 2012 in Point Pleasant Beach, New Jersey. Many residents of the hard hit seaside town remain without power following Superstorm Sandy. (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images)
A roller coaster sits in the ocean after the Casino Pier collapsed when Superstorm Sandy hit, on November 25, 2012 in Seaside Heights, New Jersey. Mayor Bill Akers has asked the Coast Guard to find out whether the coaster is structurally stable, adding that it would make a great tourist attraction. (Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images)
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