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 29, 2011 01:03:44 PM
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Patricia Portanova

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This photo was taken at the arboretum on the campus of UNC Chapel Hill while visiting colleges with my daughter last spring. As perfect as that April day was, she has decided not to apply, opting for the chillier climates of Boston and Chicago!

December 29, 2011 12:44:36 PM
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Car

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I visited the 9/11 Memorial in December. On a brisk, late autumn day, the visitors were respectfully engaged with their groups and all of us as a collective body. The reflections
from the water created a feeling of infinity in the space that enveloped us, as the movement of the water created a similar feeling internally.

December 29, 2011 12:43:45 PM
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Car

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I visited the 9/11 Memorial in December. On a brisk, late autumn day, the visitors were respectfully engaged with their groups and all of us as a collective body. The reflections
from the water created a feeling of infinity in the space that enveloped us, as the movement of the water created a similar feeling internally.

December 29, 2011 12:43:45 PM
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Car

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I visited the 9/11 Memorial in December. On a brisk, late autumn day, the visitors were respectfully engaged with their groups and all of us as a collective body. The reflections
from the water created a feeling of infinity in the space that enveloped us, as the movement of the water created a similar feeling internally.

December 29, 2011 12:16:34 PM
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Ian Lyn

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The End of Summer!

December 29, 2011 12:12:45 PM
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Ian Lyn

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Freedom Towers going up!

December 29, 2011 12:11:46 PM
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Ian Lyn

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Part II- Everytime I pass the Verrazano I wish I had my Canon, but this time I pulled over and pulled out the cellphone. Amazing

December 29, 2011 12:10:04 PM
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Ian Lyn

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Everytime I pass the Verrazano I wish I had my Canon, but this time I pulled over and pulled out the cellphone. Amazing!

December 29, 2011 12:05:50 PM
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Eric Metzger

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an August view from Brooklyn

December 29, 2011 12:05:04 PM
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Ian Lyn

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On the beach in Coney Island in January

December 29, 2011 12:04:07 PM
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Ian Lyn

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I was walking and I saw these two baseballs just sitting on a busstop pole. I pulled out my cellphone and out came this incredible pic. This was in Starett City Brooklyn. You cannot make this stuff up!

December 29, 2011 12:00:33 PM
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Ian Lyn

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More from Occupy Brooklyn

December 29, 2011 11:57:24 AM
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Ian Lyn

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No explination needed

December 29, 2011 11:55:20 AM
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Ian Lyn

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BBQ'ing at the ENY Farmers Market this summer!

December 29, 2011 11:50:18 AM
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Ian Lyn

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ENY Farmers Market in Brooklyn

December 29, 2011 11:46:53 AM
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Ian Lyn

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Geoffrey A Davis celebrating the fact that the Eye Bank of NY was honoring his brother Councilman James E Davis

December 29, 2011 11:44:58 AM
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Ian Lyn

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48 States were under snow!

December 29, 2011 11:43:54 AM
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Eric Metzger

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Taken below the williamsburg bridge in August.

December 29, 2011 11:43:18 AM
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Ian Lyn

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January Snow Storm the City was SHUT DOWN!

December 29, 2011 11:39:25 AM
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Ian Lyn

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I was at coming home from work one afternoon when I noticed that there was an Occupy Brooklyn march going on. This seemed to be the attitude of the day. We are so cool we are gonna smoke the 1% out of power! (Even though 3/4 of the protesters had no clue where in Brooklyn they were)