Best of 2012: Your Cell Phone Pictures

There are plenty of roundups of the year's best photography, but we want to gather 2012's best photos -- that are sitting on your cell phone. James Estrin, New York Times Lens blogger, will look at your photographs a announce his favorites on Wednesday, December 26th.

Got a favorite? Vote it up, or leave a comment!

Update: See Jim Estrin's favorite photographs here.

Note: The slideshow below only displays the most recent submissions. Look below for the full archive of photos.

Charles Maraia
Pilings in the Hudson River on the west side as the flooding from Sandy.
Brian LaRossa
Taken in Park Slope the day Sandy hit; before she had done any damage.
Irene Gallo
Times Square
Casey
Month or so ago, I was in my parents' backyard as the family cat, Bandit, napped. I placed my phone on a table and zoomed in. He woke up and crept toward me. Very friendly cat that unfortunately had a stroke, so he's much sweeter than he looks these days. I know it's a pet photo, breaks the rules, but I was just impressed that this was not touched-up, looks terrifying.
Sarah Pachelli
...because summer sunsets in NYC are pretty much the most magical thing ever. (taken on the Staten Island ferry)
Kevin Kehler
What is left of the board walk in far Rockawy
Brandon Emerick
This was indicative of what my entire 25 year record collection looked like after my apartment was submerged by Sandy.
Margaret DeVico
I took this photo on Thursday, November 1st, which was the first day I was able to leave my Hoboken apartment after Sandy. It's inside Saint Peter and Paul's Church on Hudson Street at about 9:00AM. I charged my phone and my laptop for the first time since the storm hit, and while I was there I was given hot coffee and a breakfast sandwich by a random stranger. I left around 10:00AM, and by then there was a large group of people waiting for an open outlet.
Kaylah pantaleon
Gas shortage in Yonkers, NY! 2012.
Brandon Emerick
This is what it looked like in Red Hook during the Sandy blackout snowstorm.
Michael Davidson
Took while in the PATH to Newark NJ. Love to shoot people sleeping on train. I love that this young man is dressed for success head to toe :)
martin bretzin
Taken off the coast of ft lauderdale, florida. Just graduated college and started my career in the yachting industry. Not necessarily a journalistic topic but proud to show that even in my demographic (age under 25) I can find a great job in todays economy.
Blaze Nowara
A few days after Sandy I took this photo in Long Branch, NJ (Monmouth County). I like the composition and the simplicity of the photograph regardless of the devastating story it tells.
Kevin kehler
Taking a subway ride with a Pigeon. Sometimes pigeons don't fly everywhere
Allegra
When/Where: Immediately post-Sandy on Riverside Drive. Why: Using my 11 month old puppy Tango for scale, I wanted to show my friends how Sandy impacted my neighborhood, the Upper West Side: wind more than water. I like it because the photo tells that story AND more personally, I was pretty psyched about this sit-stay - he would usually come and lick the camera. And the photo also speaks to my puppy's love of sticks, but that's not so universally newsworthy!
Dennis Lee
This photo was taken in Columbus, OH where I was visiting an old friend this summer. We spotted a praying mantis on a bush in front of his apartment and as I tried to take a picture of it, it leaped onto my iPhone. The actual photo was taken by my friend at that moment. It came out really well, I believe it didn't even need cropping. We'd joked that Apple would would buy this image. Thanks!
Jo-Ellen Trilling
This photo was taken at home of Christmas tree ornaments ( repainted) with an added caption. The monkeys were purchased at the Union Square Christmas Market. I took it because I am an editorial artist. The objects are a gift for my son-in-law Jeremiah Goulka who writes political commentary. I like it because it's funny but a necessary sentiment.
Kevin Turner
I took this photo at New York Road Runners' official kick off to the doomed 2012 ING NYC Marathon. I was registered to run the race for the first time and on that day, I remember feeling so much excitement.
Paul Brozo
This is a shot of Hoboken looking down from the Heights of Jersey City the morning after Hurricane Sandy hit. The water came all the way up to the hill we live on, about a mile from the Hudson's western banks. Notice the two semi trucks trying to drive through, water reaching halfway up their sides. We also found out that by zooming in, you can see a man trapped inside the black SUV. We were shocked at the depth of the water so far inland against the eerie backdrop of a dark Freedom Tower. (Pic #2 in subsequent post.)
Taylor Roig
This is a non edited picture from my terrace in east Harlem, my view from the 30th floor. I love the contrast of the snow with the sunset... I just get a feeling of warmth and comfort from the picture. I can't explain it...
Matthew Yanchuk
It's a haunting shot taken from Smith St in Brooklyn.
Rachael Zur
Homeless man in Midtown
susan w
D.C. just before the election. Commodifying man of the year!
George
This is a photo of my favorite bridge in NY and the one that has the least exposure. I guess cause its a train bridge. Its even got a great name. Hell Gate Bridge. It was taken from Astoria Park during sunset. 2 bridges, one ship one river and a sunset.
Matt L
Zucotti Park, 10/14. 'Nuff said.
Dorian
I took this in Greenwich Village, on W. 10th St., a few days after power was restored there. It with a touch of ironic humor and a (likely) knowing reference to a horror show of yore, talked of Sandy.
susan w.
Sandy, inland. Anthropomorphism among killer trees run rampant: this one just lay down for 20 winks.
Carol Davis
After losing power for 10 days after Sandy, I took this photo of my husband just seconds after the lights came on. He found a way to keep warm. Count the cats!
Kevin Turner
This is a screenshot that I took as the announcements from the Supreme Court regarding the Affordable Care Act came rolling in. There was a lot of confusion that morning as news outlets scrambled to analyze the ruling.
Gary Eckstein
My wife and I rode our bikes to Red Hook the day after Sandy. I took this shot of the still flooded Beard Street on my iPhone. The high water mark is still visible on the warehouse where receding water from inside the Fairway apparently damaged the bottom of the security gate.
Kayan Lam
We had to throw away my sister's piano had to thrown out post storm sandy.
Yolande
This is one of the window displays at the 2012 Macy's Flower Show taken from the sidewalk. All the displays were beautiful, made up of bright flowers, plants and Brazilian samba costumes. This was my first time seeing the Macy's flower showed. Loved it.
Edward E. Crouse
Monroe St between Wabash Ave and Michigan Ave, Chicago, Ill. May 21, 2012. I was marching with National Lawyers' Guild legal observers to get their view of things. The faces, however blurry, render the shapes of the municipal (and in this case international) control of protests and first amendment rights.
Paul Brozo
This is a shot of Hoboken the morning after Hurricane Sandy hit. You can see the City of Hoboken sign in the center along with other badly damaged and immersed signs. This is at the innermost edge of the city, about a mile from the Hudson. Prior to this shot being taken, a man was trapped inside the black SUV. We were shocked at the depth of the water so far inland. More pictures upon request.
Jeff Pappas
Album release " A Viberatto B ". Jimmy Goodman plays Kingston NY
Conor McDonough
Super storm Sandy overflows the Gowanus Canal at 2nd Street in Brooklyn.
Jeff Pappas
Holiday Decorations and old brick , Albany NY
Edward E. Crouse
130 E Randolph St, Chicago, Ill., September 4, 2012. Near the close of a muddled election season in which America's wars were scarcely mentioned, groups such as Veterans for Peace, the Gay Liberation Front, and Occupy Chicago reminded citizens of the stakes of drone strikes and other military actions. After a march through downtown, these coffins were left in front of the president's campaign headquarters. The crowd scattered slowly without publicly announcing that the coffins would stay until the police or building security took them away. Not nearly as packed as the NATO protests, but important nonetheless.
Emily Allen
Fort Tilden, Brooklyn.
Rachael Zur
Taken in Chennai, India from a car

December 20, 2012 11:55:46 AM
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Duncan Rogers

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A day or two after Sandy hit and we were one of a VERY few homes that didn't lose power. So we ran an extension cord to the street so people could get a charge for their devices. We looked out the window that morning only to see a neighbor, complete with brush and dryer, styling her hair for the day. Not the use we expected but demonstrates the resilience of some good people.

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December 20, 2012 11:53:31 AM
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Herman Humphrey

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This is my phone wallpaper it was taken over the summer on Fire Island, I a very lucky man tohav esuch great kids!

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December 20, 2012 11:52:03 AM
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Annette Bernhardt

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"Garbage cans huddling in phone booths"

;)

I took this photo in the hours before Sandy hit NYC. I spent hours walking the streets -- totally deserted -- and began to take pictures of all the objects that were being tied down. These garbage cans were chained inside phone booths, at 106th and Broadway.

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December 20, 2012 11:50:25 AM
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ALISON KELLY

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Where: Nha Trang, Chinatown, Manhattan

One afternoon shortly after Sandy, my husband and I stopped in to eat Pho at Nha Trang. An employee was filling containers for one week's supply of Sriracha, which equals 700 containers.

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December 20, 2012 11:45:29 AM
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Eduardo Cristoforis

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This is a panorama shot of the Hammerstein Ballroom's stage during the Justice Show. Something curious happened that night, a person felt from the third floor balcony on the left side and survived. Actually he left the show on its own feet.

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December 20, 2012 11:45:04 AM
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Don Scott

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Cockatoos mate for life. Chloe is unable to have any babies and therefore I have allowed her to have a mate. This is a good picture of what our true relationship is. Chloe and snowball.

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December 20, 2012 11:45:03 AM
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Julia

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Thanksgiving Day 2012. I helped occupy Sandy deliver 1200 meals to sandy victims in Coney Island. This is a picture of my van/art project (colorwheelz.org) getting packed with hot food.

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December 20, 2012 11:45:02 AM
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denise maffitt

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I liked the shadows and I thought it was fun. It's one of the many little tableaus I have on my bookshelf.

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December 20, 2012 11:44:27 AM
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Susan Benard-Handler

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A church standing alone in the wilds of Iceland. Love the landscape and the solitude.

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December 20, 2012 11:43:36 AM
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Amy Stein

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Taken at MSKCC during one of my daughter's chemo sessions.

Once we received the diagnosis (DIPG - pediatric brain tumor with 0% survival rate) we took as many pictures as possible...mostly with our phones.

I like that it reminds me of our daughter's insistence that she wear a bathing suit to her treatments. It also reminds of the painful journey, one that families embark upon every day. Our daughter died. All we have left are pictures.

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December 20, 2012 11:43:28 AM
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Gigi Stoll

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Inner Pagoda - Bagan, Myanmar - Nov 2012 (iPhone 5)

Bagan has over 3000 pagodas spread over the land. It's impossible to see them all in a week but my goal was to wander through as many as possible. The temples are magical places full of history. All visitors are barefoot. Cool stone beneath your feet. All is quiet except for soft prayers.

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December 20, 2012 11:42:46 AM
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Susan Benard-Handler

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this is a picture of La Sagrada Familla in Barcelona, Spain. The organic nature of the church was appealing to me and this shot reflects that quality.

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December 20, 2012 11:42:38 AM
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Belinda

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Taken in November on Mariepskop in South Africa.

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December 20, 2012 11:42:12 AM
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Louis

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Living in Western New York at the moment, which (like NYC) has been unseasonably mild this autumn...at least until winter's storm this coming weekend. Waiting to see who's going to prevail between the "-Meisters" this season.
Found the "subjects" among holiday decor as a holiday party.

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December 20, 2012 11:41:52 AM
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Jeanne Burris

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This was taken at a covered market in Paris this past year. I think it's an amazing example of the "gift" of 21st century technology. One snapshot can become an inspirational art piece.

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December 20, 2012 11:41:45 AM
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Tom Gray

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My girlfriend took this, she took it because she likes me and it really captures a great weekend trip out of the city.

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December 20, 2012 11:40:52 AM
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World Famous *BOB*

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This photo stars Drag Performance Artist Sequinette (left) and myself - World Famous *BOB* (right). This past summer in the Coney Island Sideshow backstage area. I produce a drag show every summer at the Burlesque at The Beach performance series which is one of many events made possible by Coney Island USA - the non profit that brings us all the Mermaid Parade every year! The dressing room was destroyed by Hurricane Sandy and I like to focus on all of the magical performances that I have been a part of there. We are, like everyone else rebuilding and look forward to another great summer.

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December 20, 2012 11:39:55 AM
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Bob Stryker

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Taken during a misty night walk down the Mississippi River Road in Saint Paul, Minnesota.

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December 20, 2012 11:39:51 AM
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Clay Enos

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Looking uptown from the darkness of downtown during the first night of the post-Sandy blackout.

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December 20, 2012 11:38:47 AM
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Velour

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This is a photo of the inside of a contractor's toolbox on the sidewalk on 6th Avenue near 23rd Street. It shows headlines from recent years. I asked permission from the owner to take the photo.

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