In the past 12 months, any sense of normalcy has disappeared in a year dominated by uproar and uncertainty. The year began with bushfires ravaging Australia and theories of a third World War emerging. However, what few saw coming, was the spreading virus, a silent clock ticking off the days until March 11, when it was officially declared a pandemic, bringing the entire world to its knees.
COVID-19 touched each aspect of everyday life, leaving an emptiness in its wake as people shuttered themselves away and social distancing became enforced. This year, Americans also experienced unexpected losses, including Kobe and Gianna Bryant, Chadwick Boseman, and Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg; unparalleled events, such as an outbreak of murder hornets and several devastating natural disasters; and global protests serving as catalysts for police reform and racial justice. Overall, 2020 resulted in indelible photographs from beginning to end.