Captivating materials, color, and light. The relaxed pose made me imagine that beneath the helmet, this astronaut’s eyes are closed. I’m reminded of science fiction writing that removes real-world constraints while offering an opportunity for human reflection. A delight.

This photo immediately caught my eyes, among the ones that were selected. I really like the obvious Wes Anderson vibe, but I also have so many questions: is this building real? Where is it located? Is this a hotel, a British pub, or an apartment building? I love how the background makes it stand out even more. I think that this is how an architecture picture is supposed to make you feel: it makes you question reality, and I love it!

This is a beautifully composed photo, with the lines and textures of the shoes and stairs pointing directly to the subject, a person whose emotion emanates from the frame. It makes me want to learn more about the scene, their feelings, and the stories of all the children those pairs of shoes and stuffed animals represent.

The category was incredibly strong, but Georgi’s photograph stood out immediately. I love the weird, unsettling nature of the image – a seemingly normal, gloomy scene that’s punctuated by this glowing, portal-like membrane. And are those hands or claws? It has echoes of some late-night sci-fi B-movie, and I immediately want to know more.

There’s something very arresting about this image, it feels very raw and emotional, and you can really see the story through the picture. The composition has a sense of juxtaposing feelings, the softness of the flowers with the strongness of the face. Within that, the colours, light and dark, are beautifully combined to create what is overall a very striking photograph.

The image is pretty timeless, reminiscent of those great B&W shots from 50s & 60s, of candid moments on empty NY streets. It draws the viewer in and you start wondering what’s the story. The grain, the softer focus all adds to the narrative in a way that’s hard to recreate in digital.

I chose this as the winning image because of the photographer’s whimsical approach to the subject matter. And because the visual reveals both the literal beauty of this iconic ring-shaped treat and also manages to evoke the donut’s essence: the pillowy texture and airiness indicated by the way they float across the frame. The powdered sugar, captured in granular detail, only adds to the overall lightness of the image, while dynamic lighting brings a touch of drama. A really fun food image.

Health and Wellness is actually a multifaceted category. I decided on this photo leaning in on the wellness aspect. The person is embracing herself, the environment and the moment. I see this as peak wellness when you can throw your hands in the air and embrace who you are and where you are.

The bald eagle caught mid-flight is a wonderful moment in time captured by Philipp Pilz. The gradient from light to dark creates a nice gradient background, centering the viewers eye on the subject. The rain throughout the image really ties it all together, separating this image from the rest.

A great photo tells a story or makes you curious enough to want to know the story behind the subject. This photo is incredibly cinematic and pulls you right in. In Gene’s photos, there is a pattern of having the light hit at just the right spots, creating an air of mystery and allowing the photo to be simultaneously crowded yet minimal. Love the framing and depth of the photograph.

I love how the photographer juxtaposed this bright, sharp and bold world with a dark, soft and painted one. All together, it works so well, and makes me wonder if this person is about to walk into a painted dimension.

We asked the community to vote for the most impactful image of 2021. The votes are in — congratulations to Cameron Venti whose long exposure meets astrophotography image is this year’s Photo of the Year.