Developing pictures in 2012

UK aid in pictures: 2012, a set by DFID – UK Department for International Development on Flickr.

So I haven’t blogged for a while again and suddenly the end of the year is almost here. It’s been another fascinating year for photography and multimedia though. From the phenomenon of Kony 2012 to the opening up of Burma, from the conflicts in Syria, Gaza and DRC to the food crises in the Horn of Africa and the Sahel, photography and technology continue to play an ever greater role in informing us about about the world.

There are numerous ‘photographs of the year’ reviews doing the rounds at the moment – such the Guardian Year in Global Development gallery - but, for what it’s worth, some of the standout photographs/multimedia pieces/photographic moments for me this year have been:

• Stephanie Sinclair’s extended photo and multimedia essay on child marriage.

• Christian Aid’s Big River Rising - an interactive web documentary on climate change and flooding in the Philippines

• Andy Hall’s audio slideshow for Oxfam on the women digging for gold in Burkina Faso

• Andrew McConnell’s Hidden Lives multimedia documentary on the untold story of urban refugees.

• Pete Souza’s Portrait of a Presidency - an incredible insight into Barack Obama’s first term in office

• Fat Rat Films’ short documentary film for campaign group Rotab (Publish what you pay), on the use – and misuse – of natural resources in Niger.

• Jeremy Selwyn’s historic photograph of the Queen and the cabinet on her visit to 10 Downing Street. A fleeting, unique moment, capturing the monarch and the government ministers of the day in a modern-day Hogarthian scene.

And finally, please do take look at my edit of DFID’s photographic review of UK aid in 2012. There are some amazing images, some of them taken by some of my colleagues, some by some of the photographers and NGO’s we’ve worked with around the world. And a few taken by me too. Most importantly, there are lots of inspiring people, a few of whom I’ve been lucky enough to meet.

I hope 2012 has been good to you, and would love to know what you’re photo highlights were too. Here’s to 2013.