Afist pump over a bloodied ear, abridge demolished by a ship, villages torn apart by nature, and a win sealed with an off-field kiss are just a few examples of how the correct frame can capture a moment in time and give the people meaning.
From a very contentious presidential election to hurricanes and fires that devastated towns to college demonstrations against Israel and Hamas in Gaza, photographers throughout the United States documented human moments in 2024.
A new chapter in political history is depicted in the Associated Press gallery, which includes the assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump, the announcement by President Joe Biden that he would not run again, the campaign sprint by Vice President Kamala Harris in Biden’s place, and the unfiltered emotions of voters during a difficult race that Trump ultimately won.
From Florida to Appalachia, hurricanes ravaged the nation, leaving a trail of destruction and fatalities in their wake. Following Hurricane Helene, a startling image of Lake Lurein, North Carolina, revealed the water’s surface obscured by shards of debris. The Tampa Bay Rays of Major League Baseball play their home games at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida, whose roof was torn apart by Hurricane Milton.
It was difficult to describe and possibly even more difficult to comprehend the extent of the devastation that occurred in some regions of the nation in 2024. This occurred in Baltimore when a container ship struck the Francis Scott Key Bridge, causing it to collapse and crumple around the ship, killing bridge construction workers.
Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump is surrounded by U.S. Secret Service agents at a campaign rally, Saturday, July 13, 2024, in Butler, Pa. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
Image: Evan Vucci/Associated Press
Another photo showed firefighters and sheriff’s deputies moving a vintage automobile away from a burning house as flames engulfed California.One image from California is filled with vivid orange flames, punctuated only by the faint outline of an animal scuttling across them.
But despite the destruction, hope also endured. As Dustin Holmes and his girlfriend, Hailey Morgan, sloshed through floodwaters with her 4- and 7-year-old children to return to their flooded house, this image from Crystal River, Florida, captured the aftermath of Hurricane Helene. And as a family walked to check on their Milton-damaged home in Manasota Key, Florida, they were illuminated by headlights.
Other 2024 images, such as a rocket liftoff and a complete solar eclipse, similarly used the shadows and darkness to highlight the brightness. Indeed, eclipse glasses were once again popular for a group skygazing session.
From a crew of laborers plunging into the rich red of a Massachusettscranberry bog to the spectrum of the northern lights over a Maine sky, numerous additional images provided a burst of color.
Even though she was among the crowd, Taylor Swift once again captivated the nation’s attention. After the Chiefs won the AFC Championship on their way to another Super Bowl victory, she hurried down from the stands to give her boyfriend, tight end Travis Kelce, a kiss.
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The Associated Press, 2024. All rights reserved. All rights reserved. It is prohibited to publish, broadcast, rewrite, or redistribute this content without authorization.