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As the end of yet another year amidst a pandemic (that just won't go away) quickly approaches, we're all inclined to take pause and reflect on all that's passed-good and bad. It's been a tumultuous year full of highs and lows, but mainly a lot of gray area. In 2020, we were able to pinpoint the anomaly-the world was ravaged by a pandemic, a disastrous event unlike anything else in our lifetime. But 2021 posed a different set of challenges. We're not quite out of the pandemic yet-now with another variant of the virus looming across the globe-yet we've been met with a glimmer of hope in the form of vaccines and their subsequent booster shots.

The world got a glimpse of the proverbial "light at the end of the tunnel" as shops, pubs, gyms, theaters, and more started slowly opening up again in 2021. The vaccines gave new hope to our global community, re-energizing the world. Many photographers, who had previously lost a lot of work due to travel restrictions and social distancing mandates, found new ways to document the world and continue to capture striking images. Despite the questionable state of the world in 2021, they have managed to photograph beauty, despair, and everything in between to great effect.

There's a brilliant sense of resiliency and passion for life we've felt through these images taken over the last 12 months. More so than in years past, photographers seem to have focused on the unparalleled majesty of nature and the unwavering human spirit. The images that have stuck with us over the course of the year are varied in color, content, and composition; but they all share a sense of appreciation-appreciation for Earth, for life, for each other.

Though there isn't one defining moment to fully capture the essence of 2021, it was undeniably a year of shared challenges. Across the world, we had paralleled obstacles to face and brilliant revelations of beauty all around us. Join us as we take a look back at some of the most breathtaking, humbling, soulful, and awe-inspiring photos of 2021.

Our selection of the "best photos of the year" run the gamut in 2021-beautiful landscapes, majestic wildlife, spectacular natural phenomena, and the unwavering human spirit are all at the forefront.

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Best of 2021: Top 50 Photographs From Around the World

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This year has displayed a great deal of challenges faced by all, but photographers have yet again managed to find the beauty in the world and make it memorable. Let's take a look back at this year with the best photos of 2021.

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The photo above, entitled ' Washing water lilies' is the winner of the "World's Best Photos of Work' contest after collecting the most votes from the global users of the photography app Agora.

The winning photo, which takes the #Work2020 ' Hero' title and $1,000 cash for the photographer, was chosen along with another 50 finalists from over 9,767 images submitted by amateur and professional photographers from around the world.

The women were washing water lilies, a flower that grows in many lakes in the western rivers of Vietnam. They use boats to go everywhere to pick the flowers, then wash and sell them at the local market. This has been a traditional job performed by generations of women living in western Vietnam. The edible flower is a delicacy for locals and tourists.

All 50 winning photos can be seen here

The worker in the photo above was cleaning the streets of Saigon before the New Year's festivities. "She was surprised to see me taking so many pictures of her," explains the photographer, "because she considered that there were nicer things to shoot."

The #Work2020 contest was launched on January 17 by the mobile app, where users can vote for the World's Best Photos, in which photographers can participate in different international photo contests for a chance to win recognition and cash prizes ranging from $1,000 to $25,000.

'The sound of Bamboo brooms', A city worker sweeping the street in Ho Chi Minh city in early morning ... [+]
Photo: @tuan1368, Vietnam - Agora

The Top 50 finalists of the #Work2020 competition showcase photos of workers from around the world.

"In this competition, photographers have shared their own definition of the universal concept of work through some impactful images," said Agora's CEO & co-founder Octavi Royo. "It's fascinating to discover how people work around the world and spot the differences between cultures, contexts and countries."

Agora, @Agoraimages is a free-to-use photography app that, according to its website, creates a community of more than 3.5 million users from 193 countries.

At first glance, some people may find the photo above simply as a beautiful scene: red incense sticks and a local wearing her traditional attire, working among them. "With this photo, I want to highlight the hard work that locals have been doing," explains the photographer, "working under the blazing sun, wearing masks to protect them from the wood dust."

'Farmers grow flowers and prepare to sell them in the market' in Sa Dec, Dong Thap, Vietnam. ... [+]
Photo: @anhtrungqng, Vietnam - Agora

Sa Dec is one of the largest flower villages in the southwest region of Vietnam. To avoid flowers being damaged by floodwaters, the locals have found new ways to cultivate them on the water.

Follow me on Twitter or LinkedIn. Check out some of my other work here.

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16 Outstanding Images From The World's Best Photos Of Work 2020 Agora Contest

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Hard to imagine more beautiful photos of people at work: The winning images were chosen from more than 9,767 submissions by amateur and professional photographers from all over the world.

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Why change is so scary and how to unlock its potential

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Why change is so scary and how to unlock its potential

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Maya Shankar: Why change is so scary -- and how to unlock its potential

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Unexpected change like an accident, an illness or a relationship that suddenly ends is inevitable -- and disorienting. With a heartfelt and optimistic take on life's curveballs, cognitive scientist Maya Shankar shares how these challenging moments can inspire transformation, offering three questions to ask when facing uncertainty, so you can let go of rigidity and embrace change.

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Please watch the TEDtalk and consider the three questions she poses and how you might answer them yourselves. I'll be trying to come with additional ones.

Questions from the video:
How might a sudden and drastic change (like seen in the talk) change what you're capable of?

How might a sudden and drastic change (like seen in the talk) change what value?

How might a sudden and drastic change (like seen in the talk) change how you define yourself?

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Proficiency Testbuilder 4th edition COURSEBOOK