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 22, 2012 07:33:06 PM
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Jill G

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This photo of me was taken at the London Olympics. There were many somber events in 2012, this picture captures one of the celebratory times. I was doing my best to be an enthusiastic (obnoxious?) Team USA supporter!

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December 22, 2012 07:07:44 PM
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Craig Shayowitz

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I took this photo at a ska punk show at Mr. Beery's in Bethpage. There were no horn parts in one song, so John Ryan just stood there, in a mask, still for the whole song. I like this photo because it is horrifying.

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December 22, 2012 07:05:15 PM
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Jason DeCesare

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There are a lot of TV shows filming in New York City this season. A mid-season replacement show, Zero Hour, was filming a scene set in Istanbul when FDNY Engine 69 went through their set at Edgecome Avenue and 150th Street in Hamilton Heights. It is an interesting intersection of fiction and reality.

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December 22, 2012 06:59:28 PM
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Craig Shayowitz

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I took this photo down by Canal Street in Manhattan. I thought the wording of the sign was firm to the point of being silly, and had my friend Annette pose next to it.

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December 22, 2012 06:56:11 PM
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Marian

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We were staying in London and I loved the storm that Churchill was walking into from this angle. He looks so determined to reach Big Ben.

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December 22, 2012 06:53:21 PM
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Theresa

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I took this photo on Webster Avenue in New Rochelle at the entry to the Nature Study Woods. To me it epitomizes everything that is wrong with county government. Our County Executive thinks it's important to cut welfare, while he makes sure his name is hung from the signs of county parks.

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December 22, 2012 06:50:54 PM
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Lauren Leonardi

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Verona St. in Red Hook, Brooklyn during Hurricane Sandy. It's the exact moment that the east side power station blew up. It illuminated the sky so profoundly, it looked like midday for a moment.

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December 22, 2012 06:50:16 PM
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Josh Ward

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My blind 14 year old dog, Ginger, and my foster dog, Chase, at Fort Greene Park. Looks like they are kissing but Ginger doesn't like Chase's presence.

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December 22, 2012 06:24:07 PM
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Konstantin Sergeyev

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Came across a gang of turkeys while driving around Staten Island. The wall with the American flag seemed like a perfect background, and even though it was a depressingly overcast day, the sun came out just for a few moments while I took this shot, giving the image these great colors.

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December 22, 2012 06:01:24 PM
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Ellie

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More time travel at the F train 2nd ave station 12/16/12

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December 22, 2012 05:59:30 PM
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Ellie

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Time travel at the 2nd Ave F train station on 12/16/12

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December 22, 2012 03:40:16 PM
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jason brougham

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a dead thresher shark on the beach at Robert Moses State Park. Blurriness due to salt spray.

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December 22, 2012 03:05:18 PM
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kim Gardner

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I love this photo because it captures the magically wide eye wonder of children during the Holidays.

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December 22, 2012 02:31:00 PM
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Joan Unice

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While visiting Monument Valley,Utah we encountered this Porta- John in the middle of nowhere. Thought the contrast of the barren background and this rest stop would made a interesting,amusing picture.

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December 22, 2012 02:28:21 PM
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Don Roane

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The morning after hurricane Sandy I was on my way to clear trees from a friends driveway with my chain saw when I drove past this scene. I was at the intersection of Douglas rd. and Hardscrabble rd. in Chappaqua. I thought this picture was striking because the trees (there are 4 side by side) were so huge and the car passing underneath seemed so small. This picture came to be representative of most of the destruction in my town, huge evergreens 150+ feet tall, that were toppled by the wind

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December 22, 2012 01:57:20 PM
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Patricia Foxx

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The Big M

Taken a few days after Sandy in Warwick, NY. I like the M for Monster Storm.

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December 22, 2012 01:44:21 PM
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Sarah Wagner

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Photo taken on a boat in Southeast Alaska sailing towards Tracy Arm. I woke that morning, looked out of my cabin window and found us sailing through what felt like a sea of clouds. I love New York, but Alaska is without a doubt one of the most stunning places I have ever experienced.

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December 22, 2012 01:26:34 PM
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Sarah Wagner

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Photo taken on stairwell of 1/2/3 Train entrance at 12th street & 7th ave, NYC. While climbing the stairs I was struck by the color and the message, wondering who it was for and wondering if there was anyone that I owed such a bold message. Was tough to get a good shot with people passing up & down the stairs so I grabbed this one quickly.

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December 22, 2012 01:21:31 PM
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Peter D'Amato

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I took this photo at the intersection of Avenue C and 8th Street the night Sandy flooded Alphabet City. I took it to try and communicate the effect of the storm on the city, the surreal feeling on the nearly black, abandoned streets that night. I like the eerie effect that the light from (I believe) a police floodlight.

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December 22, 2012 01:16:37 PM
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Peter D'Amato

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As Sandy was approaching, high winds in Williamsburg knocked a 'one way' sign off the post. This cyclist retrieved it and began carrying it off, presumably home. I love the chaotic absurdity of the image.

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