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Friday Inspiration: Celebrating Powerful Photography from December 2019

As the year comes to a close, we find ourselves reflecting on major events and trends from the photo industry this year. The first-ever image of a ...

As the year comes to a close, we find ourselves reflecting on major events and trends from the photo industry this year. The first-ever image of a black hole, fun and “innocent” mobile apps that went viral after asking for personal photos, and questions surrounding the ethics of photo contest winners, not to mention the memorable images themselves.

For our last Friday Inspiration post of the year, we’re celebrating the beauty of photography as a whole, consciously avoiding focusing on any particular specialty or topic.

But before we jump into some of our scroll-stopping Instagram posts of the week, we encourage everyone to head to our Instagram to check out some of our members’ most impressive photos of the year. First up was Zay Yar Lin and there’s plenty more to share before the clock strikes midnight on New Year’s Eve. 

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We’re looking back at the work of some incredible photographers and PhotoShelter members from 2019. We asked what projects you were most proud of, and what you’re looking forward to in 2020, and you delivered. . @zayyarlin84: “This shot was taken during my photo trip at Inle Lake, Shan State, Myanmar. I looked for new spots at Inle Lake to make new photos there apart from traditional shots of Intha fishermen. I saw local people drying colorful fabrics under sunlight near my friend’s home. It was so beautiful to see many colors in one place and I asked permission to take photos with my drone.” – Zay Yar Lin . We want to see your favorite photos you shot this year! Share your work using #PhotoShelter2019 for a chance to be featured.

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Matt Dirksen

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Donal James Boyd

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Happy Rio. Did you know that the Hyacinth Macaw, pictured here, can’t physically frown. It basically appears either happy, or really happy, all of the time. During the 1980s they were in such high demand that more than 10 thousand were captured in the wild for the international pet trade. Coupled with the expansion of agriculture and other human pressures this well-mannered and expressive species of parrot was near the brink of extinction prior to international protections, which limited their trade in the global market. Since then they’ve made a significant comeback in the Pantanal was specially through the dedication of organizations like the @institutoararaazuloficial. Their work at the @refugioecologicocaiman has proven invaluable in aiding to bolster the population through a research program that studies the birds populations and helps to provide artificial nests that further ensures their reprise in the region. This particular happy Macaw was captured while on assignment for @btsnature with @SOSPantanal and @Oncafari at the @refugioecologicocaiman . The male had just flown down from an artificial nest and landed on a fence post where he gave me a big ol’ grin, as if to offer his thanks to the support for helping his species. If you’re keen to learn more about the Pantanal and the species that inhabit this critically important natural ecosystem, then check out @sospantanal and @institutoararaazuloficial!

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Jassieuo

Gabriella Demczuk

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House Speaker Nancy #Pelosi and Rep. Jerry Nadler, chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, walk off the floor at the Capitol after President Donald Trump was formally impeached on Dec. 18. The fight now goes to the Senate, where a two-thirds majority is needed to remove #Trump from office, or 67 lawmakers in a chamber currently divided among 53 Republicans, 45 Democrats and two independents who caucus with the #Democrats. But, like the House, the outcome once again seems predetermined. Democrats, should they stay united, would need to peel off 20 Republicans, a nearly impossible task. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, whose mastery of the #politics and the process of the Senate is unmatched, has said for weeks that he can’t fathom this scenario. Read more at the link in bio. Photograph by @gdemczuk for TIME

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Lenny Christopher

Melissa Lyttle

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