For the past few years the hardviewing staff has noted the leading shooters in the New York Times annual The Year in Pictures review.

This year is no exception, with honors going to proud BU alum Tyler Hicks (who also prevailed in 2009).

Appropriately, Hicks got this year’s cover shot.

Caption:

Respect to Tyler Hicks, there were two very close runners-up.

First, Sergey Ponomarev, who got the center spread this year (and who got the nod two years ago).

And also Tomas Munita. Representative sample:

Caption:

BEIT LAHIYA, GAZA 8/3/2015

Concrete salvagers in a building destroyed by the 2014 war between Israel and Palestinian militant in Gaza.

Over all, 18 Times photographers were included in the year-end review, which the hardcounting staff believes is a 21st Century record, although we have absolutely no proof of that.

Regardless, check them all out.

Every picture really does tell a story.