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 21, 2012 12:03:37 PM
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Elizabeth Tupper

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My family takes a summer trip to Avalon NJ every other year. The sky was so beautiful right before sunset that we started snapping pics. I wonder if the pier survived Sandy.

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December 21, 2012 12:03:20 PM
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Jennie Coyne

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This photo was taken at Santa Monica Beach in August 2012 during my first visit to the Pacific Ocean and my first visit to the west coast. Less than a month after that first trip, I relocated to the LA area, and now happily reside here with my girlfriend.

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December 21, 2012 12:00:40 PM
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Simon

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band member at Rodeo Bar. kickin' music.

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December 21, 2012 11:59:04 AM
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Oscar Maldonado

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December 21, 2012 11:58:48 AM
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Mollie mcQuarrie

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I took this on my birthday 12/13. It's a cake. I didn't have a cake on my birthday so my husband and I wandered over to the local bakery window to look at cakes instead. I was surprised to find a cake imitating a ham? It made me feel not so bad about missing out on the real thing. It also made me laugh and wonder: who would buy that cake? Does postmodern irony and love for kitsch really make this item worthy of window display?

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December 21, 2012 11:58:45 AM
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Nancy

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i took this photo in yangon, burma, at the shwedagon pagoda the evening of the day obama had spoken in town. monks have been central in the movement towards a more open society in burma and those i spoke with have definite opinions about that progress and the significance of obama's visit. the monks are anchored firmly in the living past and the living future of burma. for me this photo captures the emotions of that specific day in time and the timelessness of the greater culture.

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December 21, 2012 11:58:13 AM
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Anne Marie

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Summer evening at Yankees Stadium

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December 21, 2012 11:57:28 AM
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ann gleason

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Rainbow on Long Island Expressway; wider view

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December 21, 2012 11:57:10 AM
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Ken Lax

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Nov. 25th Central Park, NYC . Light and late Fall colors on the iPhone 3Gs.

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December 21, 2012 11:56:29 AM
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Adeel Usman

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I saw this same truck at the Brooklyn Art Walk in union square a week later.. the Otherside looked pretty badass

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December 21, 2012 11:55:00 AM
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Adeel Usman

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I was in Brooklyn art Walk sponsored by "Art Snapper", and there was this "Mobile Art Gallery" parked at the loading dock!

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December 21, 2012 11:54:51 AM
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Simon

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Chinatown gift shop (Doyers St.) The collection of faces is fun and bright.

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December 21, 2012 11:54:34 AM
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Diana Willis

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I spotted this hawk while at my community garden in Madison, WI. I love how peaceful it appeared as it waited to find some prey.

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December 21, 2012 11:54:09 AM
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Deanna Wallach

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This photo was taken on Delray Beach in Florida. I was spending a last vacation day with my grandmother. This is an Amish man seeing the Atlantic Ocean for the first time. He still has his shoes on! Later, his wife joined him in a full length denim gown. She waded in the shallows while he watched.

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December 21, 2012 11:53:50 AM
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Polly

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Obama supporters sold cupcakes on Central Park West in October.

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December 21, 2012 11:53:11 AM
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ann gleason

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Rainbow over the Long Island expressway

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December 21, 2012 11:52:48 AM
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Arielle DeSoucey

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This photo was taken at a local gym in Manhattan. I swim 5 times a week, but have never seen this before.
The swimmer had positioned her Kindle (in a plastic Ziploc bag) on the edge of the kick board.
Technology meets the pool...

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December 21, 2012 11:52:42 AM
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Robyn

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Hess station, Union St and 4th Ave, Brooklyn. Gas line, Nov. 2, 2012. I stumbled upon this scene -- streets blocked off, cops directing traffic. Such an event, just to get gas. This view is of people with gas cans. The line of cars entered on the other side of the station.

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December 21, 2012 11:51:19 AM
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Lissa

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The most mundane event; a father and his daughter on the street! I Love this shot! Makes me smile everytime I look at it!

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December 21, 2012 11:50:00 AM
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Ryan Waller

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