David Schonauer –Annual World Tour 2

Lt. John Pike, a member of the campus police of the University of California, Davis, became an Internet meme, and the first true icon of the u201cOccupyu201d protest movement, when he was photographed casually pepper-spraying students at a peaceful rally on November 18.rnPhoto by Louise MacabitasrnInternational Business Times

Concern over growing income inequality, financial chicanery, and political corruption gave birth to the u201cOccupy Wall Streetu201d movement in New York, which struck a populist chord and rapidly spread to other cities. Not everyone was pleased by the sight of the demonstrators' encampments, of course. Here, a businessman expresses himself as he walks past the Occupy London Stock Exchange encampment nears St. Paul Cathedral on October 17.rnPhoto by Matt Dunham/APrnu201cFramework,u201d Los Angeles Times

With debt-ridden Greece perched on the edge of default, the country's government imposed austerity measures, which didn't go over well. Greece's largest labor union responded with a strike and violent street demonstrations became common. This banner read, u201cYes to the Society, No to the Power.u201drnPhoto by Nikolas Giakoumidis/APrnu201cBig Picture,u201d Boston Globe

The debt crisis, which eventually led to the downfall of the Greek government, spread to other economies as well, including that of Italy. The government of Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconiu2014a survivor of many a sex scandalu2014at last also succumbed. Here he is seen ushering his successor, Mario Monte, onto center stage at the Palazzo Chigi in Rome. Who looks happier? Photo by Gabriel Bouys/AFP/Getty Images u201cLens,u201d New York Times

Ivory Coast President Laurent Gbagbo lost an election but refused to give up poweru2014a perfect recipe for bloody civil war. Months of violence came to an end with Gbagbo's capture at his residence in April. Seen here with his wife, Gbagbo's appearance confounded expectationsu2014we finally saw not the cruel warlord in chains, but a vulnerable old man sitting on the foot of his bed, unmasked.rnPhoto from AFP/Getty Imagesrnu201cLens,u201d New York Times

The sports picture of the year? Well, it was an action shot, but not the kind of action one usually sees in sports pictures. Rich Lam's shot of lovers embracing in the midst of angry Canadian hockey fans became an instant classic the moment it went viral. After the Vancouver Canucks lost the decisive Game 7 of a thrilling Stanley Cup championship series, the team's fans went from avid to rabid, taking to Vancouver's streets to loot stores and set cars afire. The anonymous couple inadvertently captured by freelancer Lam didn't remain anonymous for long: They were soon identified by relatives and within days Scott Jones and Alex Thomas were being interview of morning television news shows.rnPhoto by Rich Lam/Getty ImagesrnWashington Post

Sports Illustrated described the magnitude of the Penn State Universtiy football scandal in no uncertain terms. The story, said the magazine, was the u201cmost explosiveu2026in the history of college sports.u201d The scandal claimed the career of legendary football coach Joe Paterno, and SI's cover image, a file photo, aptly showed the iconic figure bowed and walking out of the frame. Not mentioned on the cover was the name of the man at the center of the storyu2014former defensive coordinator Jerry Sandusky, who stands accursed of molesting a number of young boys. The nature of the crime that shattered the college was perhaps too unthinkable to put into words.rnPhoto by Heinz KluetmeirerrnSports Illustrated

This astonishing photograph is indeed a photograph. Frans Lanting shot it at Namibia's Namib-Naukluft National Parku2014the painterly effect, he said, came from the lighting conditions at dawn: u201cThe warm light of the morning sun was illuminating a huge red sand dune dotted with white grasses while the floor of the clay pan was still in shade. It only looks blue because it reflects the color of the sky above.rnPhoto by Frans LantingrnNational Geographic

At an air show in Reno, Nevada, a vintage World War II fighter plane crashed during a race, killing the 74-year-old pilot and 10 spectators. This was the moment of impact.Photo by Ward Howes/APrnu201cFramework,u201d Los Angeles Times

In July, forest guards confronted a leopard that had wandered into a village near Silugara, India. This was the outcome. The leopard, which had mauled several villagers, suffered injuries during the attack and later died. The man being attack in the photo survived.rnPhoto from APrnu201cIn Focus,u201d The Atlantic

Photographer Brian Prahl snapped the celebrity photo of the year (in my humble opinion). Kim Kardashian (are there any other celebrities beside her anymore?) was vacationing in Mexicao with her boyfriend, pro basketball player Kris Humphries, when Prahl got this shot. The images rapidly spread across the Internet, prompting In Touch magazine to report rumors that Kim's u201clarger-than-ever-backsideu201d was the result of a u201csuper-sized butt implant.u201d Kardashian later debunked the claim by having here rear-end X-rayed on her television show.rnPhoto by Brian Prahl/Splash NewsrnIn Touch

As for Humphries, he ended up marrying Kardashian in the year's second-biggest wedding. People magazine paid $1.5 million for the exclusive rights to the wedding photos. The marriage lasted 72 days. You do the math.rnWedding Photos by Michael Simon; Albert Ferreira/Startracks; Nick SaglimbenirnPeople Weekly

The biggest wedding of the year was the royal one, of course, uniting Britain's Prince of Wales with Kate Middleton, now the Duchess of Cambridge. The best picture of the wedding was this one, in which Prince William's three-year-old goddaughter, Grace van Cutsem, reacts to the noise of the crowd at Buckingham Palace.rnPhoto from AP

The computer company that Steve Jobs started in a garage would one day have more cash reserves than the United States government. After Jobs's death, Bloomberg Businessweek underscored his aura as a business guru with a cover image whose impact derives from its spare beauty. Jobs the design genius would probably approve.rnPhoto from Getty ImagesrnBloomberg Businessweek

The sexiest woman of the year would beu2026pop star Rihana, according to Esquire magazine. Photographer Russell James proved it by wrapping the singer in nothing but bits of seaweed.rnPhotos by Russell JamesrnEsquire