Best of 2011: Your Cell Phone Pictures

This year cell phone pictures brought us news stories, from protests in Tahrir Square to the impact of Hurricane Irene. For our one and only best-of 2011 project, we want to collect the year's best pictures -- that are sitting on your cell phone.

Brian Lehrer
Superman's last refuge. Basement of the NY Public Library main branch.
Jody Avirgan, BL Show
A decidedly unbothered woman walking her dog the morning that Hurricane Irene was set to hit Lower Manhattan.
Brandon Emerick
A foggy morning dog walk in Red Hook.
Steven Seighman
A shot of a stormy day in NYC, snapped from my desk in the Flatiron building.
Christopher Ramsden
I took this picture with my phone the morning after Hurricane Irene in Astoria Park.
Mary Salig (MarySalig@gmail.com)
I work in the Arsenal building in Central Park. Everyday I walk to my office on Wein Walk, which enters the park around 60th Street and ends at a gathering of buildings just before the zoo. Caricaturists line the walk with tourists making up the vast majority of their business. I don't know if this gentleman was a tourist or not, but know for sure that there is some sort of a story here. I just wish I knew it.
christine giglio
This was taken in the rest stop near exit 7 on the NJ turnpike. The label is on the stalls in the ladies room. I think this Hiny Hiders is the best and most appropriate name for a company that makes bathroom stalls. It makes me smile.
Jason Winfield
This summer squall came out of nowhere, and I managed to capture this eerie shot of the Hudson as it roiled beneath the storm. I was trapped on a trashy party boat at Chelsea Piers. This storm bought me the time I needed to disembark before I could be trapped on the boat for the evening.
Geoffry Gertz
Steve Jobs Street Memorial
Geoffry Gertz
Flash march around Washington park taking over the city inspired by Occupy Wall St.
Nat
Mural on Houston
Rayna Hickman-Winfield
While working as a Perfomer on the Disney Cruise Line we stopped on the Island of Madeira in the Atlantic on our way back from the Mediterranean. We were hiking along their ancient aquaducts and came upon a herd of cows. This one stepped to the side and posed so perfectly. It was slightly misty and I just can't believe a cellphone caught this beauty.
Geoffry Gertz
Brooklynites cheer with affirmations NYC Marathon runners on 4th Ave leaving Park Slope.
Freda Moon
In place of a parking permit, a hand-written sign on the window reads: "This car belongs to Josian Lopez, an MTA employee."
Geoffry Gertz
Occupy Wall Street Rally, October 5, 2011.
Geoffry Gertz
Occupy Wall Street Rally, October 5, 2011
Geoffry Gertz
Steve Jobs memorial in front of the Prince Street Apple store.
Geoffry Gertz
Steve Jobs memorial in front of the Prince Street Apple store.
NATHALIA CHALMERS
I went with a friend of mine from England, in early autumn to South Hampton for the first time, after living in NY for 14 years. Driving around in the rain on our last day I was struck by how safely the affluent can hide in these exclusive communities of private roads, illegal immigrant gardeners, perfect vistas. The OWS protests were just kicking off - and the image of the 1% hiding from the rest of the world, selectively seeing only what they wish to see was in my mind on this trip.
Betty Ann
Saw this gem at the 114th Precinct in Astoria, Queens.
Harry Yudenfriend
Patrick Martin (my step son) is in his senior year and plays water polo for Dartmouth. I finally got a good picture!
Barbara L. Hanson
This was taken as my friend Irma and I, who had stayed a wee bit too long in Chadwick Beach in order to enjoy one more night of grilling, fled the eerily quiet Jersey Shore before the onslaught of Irene.
Kristina Williamson
I was in the middle of the Brooklyn Bridge shooting wedding photographs of a Bride and Groom and some of their closest friends who had traveled from Germany to marry in New York City. Just as we were finishing up, a group of NYPD police officers approached us saying "You guys better get out of here NOW. The Occupy Wall Street protesters are coming up here to march and it ain't gonna be pretty". They suggested, instead of turning around to head back towards Manhattan where our limousine awaited, that we continue all the way over to the Brooklyn side of the bridge to avoid any conflict. I said, "That's ridiculous. We are not the 1%. I'm sure we'll be fine." And with a wink and a smile, we headed back towards Manhattan. Then they arrived. A sea of protesters spread wide across the Brooklyn Bridge footpath for as far as one could see. They were shouting, holding up signs and coming right at us. But as we got closer, the shouts of protest began to change to "Congratulations!" The protesters gave us a warm welcome as we passed by, offering their well-wishes, exchanging hand shakes and hi-fives, even stopping for pictures. It was a beautiful reception.
Barbara Alvarez
These are the 20 or so turkeys that live on my property here in Jackson, NJ.
Barbara Alvarez
The begining of the end of summer when the sunflowers bloom. It's so bittersweet!
Nicholas F.S.
A dumpster used for clearing out the new Brooks Brothers store in Westport, CT. A photo which could be interpreted in many ways.
Greetings, I own a small limousine company, Island Bound Limo.com and have taken dozens of pictures of the Empire State Building from various angles and distances over the past five years. This one was taken from downtown and captures Empire’s night time sister building, Chrysler. Thanks! -Michael F. Engelhart
Anna B
January 27, 2011 Snow Day. Man made ski jump just south of the Bethesda Fountain in Central Park
Anna B
January 27, 2011 Snow Day, near 79th and 5th Avenue
Anna B
August 27, 2011 Fairway shuts it doors around 11:00am after selling out of its stock pre-Irene.
Anna B
June 21, 2011 Summer Solstice yoga session in times square
Anna B
September 18th, 2011, A look at the WTC Memorial from the 47th floor of 7 World Trade.
Marissa Gonzalez
Dumbo Arts Festival 9/24/11 Free rides at the Dumbo Carousel and here are young-at-heart men enjoying a ride. Look at this pic and try to tell me New Yorkers are mean - maybe we just don't smile every moment, even when we're having fun!
Pete Santorella
This picture shows both snow and autumn leaves from our October storm that took our power out for six days.
Pete from Closter, NJ
This picture shows both snow and autumn leaves from our October storm that took our power out for six days.
Joe
On West Houston Street
Joe
Snowman in October: White Plains, NY
Joe
Occupy Wall Street protest near Union Square
Linda Darling
This photo was taken outside of a bus repair garage in Gowanus. The owner had planted a small christmas tree in a large crack in the sidewalk and decorated. It was just a fluke he happened to park one of his buses with a large decal of the earth plastered on the side. Joy to the World!
Brian Lehrer
Occupy Giant, Zuccotti Park

December 21, 2012 12:20:35 PM
:

Bubbette McLeod

:
:

Double rainbow on the Orkney Islands, off Northern Scotland, in September. It frequently rains, then stops on these windswept northern isles

January 28, 2012 01:16:01 AM
:

Kim Fitzharris

:
:

Chinese New Year

January 28, 2012 01:14:01 AM
:

Kim Fitzharris

:
:

Coney Island Jazz Parade

January 28, 2012 01:10:50 AM
:

Kim Fitzharris

:
:

Chinese New Year 2011
Coney Island Jazz Parade

January 23, 2012 09:19:17 PM
:

Yury Rud

:
:

This a picture of the Brighton Beach boardwalk at night after the snow felt down.

January 20, 2012 03:42:43 PM
:

Alex Hobson

:
:

I work for a marine contractor so I'm on the waterfront everyday. This one morning a fog rolled in encompassing Brooklyn, so looking out from Pier 15 it seemed as though the BK Bridge led only to the abyss.

January 19, 2012 01:30:17 PM
:

josh levine

:
:

Remember Irene, the hurricane that shut down NY's airports in September, 2011? The day our rescheduled flight (back home after a two week vacation in eastern Washington) from Seattle to NYC was due to fly, the baggage handlers decided not to show up (according to their supervisor later that day). Therefore even those with tickets (and bags) could not fly -- and no other flights were available for two weeks. 5,000 people, stuck at the airport. The result for our family was a totally unplanned cross country trip! We got to visit spectacular, if a bit off the beaten trail, friends and places we hadn't been to in years... (more from this trip -- all shot on the iPhone --

@ thankscontinental.tumblr.com

This photo is of an unforgettable visit with the Ibolds, our friends who breed exotic Turkmenistani Akhal Teke horses on their farm on San Juan island. The weather in the islands just a few hours from Seattle was sublime!

January 11, 2012 02:15:35 PM
:

Gretchen Grace

:
:

Occupy Wall Street, NYC, October 4, 2011

January 05, 2012 07:17:14 PM
:

John L. Barone

:
:

In the paddock with Stay Thirsty. The horse impressed on New York's biggest stages in 2011 winning both the Jim Dandy and Travers Stakes at Saratoga, as well as finishing runner-up in the Belmont Stakes.

January 05, 2012 07:09:49 PM
:

John L. Barone

:
:

Metallica in Yankee Stadium.

January 05, 2012 06:57:03 PM
:

John L. Barone

:
:

On Labor Day weekend, the aftermath of Hurricane Irene in Schoharie, New York.

January 05, 2012 06:46:41 PM
:

John L. Barone

:
:

I took this photo of a sunflower field in the Schoharie Valley in August. A few weeks later I could only assume that this field was gone as I assisted Hurricane Irene victims in the devastated valley of New York's Catskill Region.

January 04, 2012 09:47:24 AM
:

Renee

:
:

This is taken from the bow of retired FDNY Fireboat John J. Harvey as we headed down river to the WTC site to observe the 10th anniversary. Along with hundreds of other vessels, Harvey helped in the rescue efforts on 9/11. In the distance is the USS New York, the battleship constructed with metal from the WTC in its bow.

January 04, 2012 01:31:05 AM
:

Mary Parker (Clove Spice)

:
:

Music Appreciation under the Arch in Washington Square Park 4/28/11

January 04, 2012 01:22:19 AM
:

Mary Parker (Clove Spice)

:
:

Snow Man 1/1/11 in Washington Square Park

January 04, 2012 12:57:08 AM
:

Mary Parker (Clove Spice)

:
:

Archie Joyner (standing) and Joe Dellutri (sitting) 5/5/2011 playing and singing unharassed by PEP (Park Enforcement Police) in Washington Square Park.

Since "Occupy Wall Street" has been over, performing within 50 feet of a monument or 5 feet from the benches has become a ticketable offense. Thousands of dollars worth of tickets have been issued to Colin Huggins for playing the grand piano he laboriously hauls into WSP on the days he plays. A similar number have been given to Joe Mangrum, a sand artist whose intricate and colorful creations are offered to the park-going public behind the WSP Arch on good days. Other park performers have been issued summonses, but not to the same extent.

Community Board 2 held a hearing on the subject on Dec. 19, 2011 in the Kimmel Student Center of NYU on Washington Square South. For an audio of the meeting: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dWe623Sax9A&feature=share

Manhattan Borough Commissioner for New York City Parks, William Castro was the first official speaker, explaining the Parks Department side of things. The remainder of the meeting was made up of speakers - performers, local residents, regular park goers - who uniformly opposed the new enforcement of supposedly old rules.

January 03, 2012 10:30:58 PM
:

Marty Stanton

:
:

This visit to the 9/11 Memorial was on 12/21, and by the time we arrived the rain had subsided, with a mistline hovering just above the top of the partially completed Freedom Tower. After looking at this picture again, I saw the reflection of the tower highlighting the rose in the midst of a speckling of rain drops - and a symbolic see of tears.

January 03, 2012 10:15:38 PM
:

Marty Stanton

:
:

This is a pair of the "Trident Forks" that were saved and are part of the yet-to-open museum at the 9/11 Memorial. What was the state of mind of the worker who spray-painted "SAVE" on that piece of metal in 2001? I hope they see their effort and realize that what might have been a spontaneous, bold or uncertain act will make a lot of hearbeats skip when they see it, grounding emotion to the raw metal that survived. (See http://www.wtc.com/news/historic-twin-tower-tridents-installed-into-9-11-memorial-museum for details.)

January 03, 2012 08:21:44 AM
:

JJ Garfinkel

:
:

I took this shot after the snow storm in October while walking around in Bushwick, Brooklyn. The water is pouring off a warehouse roof which is right across the street from my studio. I ended up incorporating this shot in a new painting currently in process.

January 02, 2012 11:34:19 PM
:

Jaime Martorano

:
:

View from Liberty State Park. Sept. 11, 2011

1 2 3 4 5 ... 9 Next »