As we near the end of 2022, we’re reflecting on the hundreds of articles published on Colossal this year. Today, we’re taking a look at the photographs and series readers loved most. These 12 articles capture a breadth of subject matter across continents, from uncanny doppelgängers and self-portraits in disguise to dramatic winter waves and ancient trees.
For more of 2022’s highlights, check out similar lists in art, craft, design, and our favorite books of the year.
Image © Dmitry Kokh
Arresting Photos Document the Polar Bears Occupying an Abandoned Weather Station in Russia
Set against a backdrop of dried grass, rusted tanks, and debris, a photo series by Dmitry Kokh centers on a small group of polar bears that took over an abandoned meteorological station.
Image © François Brunelle
In I’m Not a Look-Alike, Montréal-based photographer François Brunelle brings together two unrelated people who resemble each other so much that they could be twins.
Image © Sriram Murali
Billions of Fireflies Light Up an Indian Wildlife Reserve in Rare Footage Captured by Sriram Murali
Sriram Murali captured a rare gathering of billions of these insects at the Anamalai Tiger Reserve in western Tamil Nadu, India.
Image © Joshua Nowicki
Strong Winds Sculpt Frozen Sand into Otherworldly Pillars on a Lake Michigan Beach
Photographer Joshua Nowicki captured dozens ice-laden pillars, created by powerful winds eroding frozen sand and carving dozens of towering shapes haphazardly placed along the shore.
Image © Bernhard Lang
Aerial Photos by Bernhard Lang Capture the Largest Aircraft Boneyard in the World
Housing the largest aircraft and missile facility around the globe, the Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Tucson is a trove of aviation history, and photographer Bernhard Lang visited the site to document the aircraft from above.
Carina Nebula
NASA’s Webb Space Telescope Reveals Astounding, Unprecedented Views of the Universe
Back in July, NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope unveiled its first-ever collection of high-resolution color images capturing an exceptional amount of detail about the universe.
Image © Trevor Pottelberg
Forceful Waves Rip Across Lake Erie in Tempestuous Photos by Trevor Pottelberg
When fall and winter storms send turbulent waves across Lake Erie, Canadian photographer Trevor Pottelberg documents the volatile eruptions that burst from the water’s surface.
Image © Thandiwe Muriu
From chunky hair beads and rollers to sink strainers and brake pedals, Nairobi-based photographer Thandiwe Muriu finds fashionable use for ordinary objects.
Image © Beth Moon
Majestic Photos Capture the Dwindling Population of Madagascar’s Ancient Baobab Trees
Bay Area photographer Beth Moon has been documenting baobabs since 2006, capturing the magnificent trees throughout Madagascar, Senegal, and South Africa.
Image © Dhritiman Mukherjee
Over 100 Young Crocodiles Find Refuge on Their Father’s Back in India’s Chambal River
Photographer and conservationist Dhritiman Mukherjee visited the National Chambal Sanctuary southeast of New Dehli where he captured striking images of a father swimming through the murky river with more than 100 young clinging to his back.
Image © Stéphan Gladieu
Photographer Stéphan Gladieu Documents the Congolese Street Children Turning Waste into Wonder
In the face of this ecological disaster, the young people of Kinshasa began to repurpose waste into traditional religious costumes, which artist Stéphan Gladieu documents in the Homo Détritus series.
Image © Neil Burnell
Moss Drapes from Trees in Ethereal Photographs of England’s Forests by Neil Burnell
The remarkable atmosphere of Dartmoor’s forests are captured by Devon-based photographer Neil Burnell, who focuses on the mystical, otherworldly environments through all four seasons.
Do stories and artists like this matter to you? Become a Colossal Member today and support independent arts publishing for as little as $5 per month. The article The Photography Stories Colossal Readers Loved Most in 2022 appeared first on Colossal.