The Top 50 ‘Pictures of the Day’ for 2012
After the positive reception from last year’s “Top 50 ‘Pictures of the Day’ for 2011“, we promised to highlight the top 25 ‘Pictures of the Day’ at the end of every quarter, eventually culminating in an epic Top 100 for 2012.
It’s hard to believe we’re at the halfway point for 2012. With that, here are the Sifter’s Top 50 ‘Pictures of the Day‘ for this year. If any image really intrigues you, be sure to click the title link or picture itself. That will take you to the individual post page where you can find out more information.
Please note the photographs themselves were not necessarily taken in 2012, they just happened to be featured as a ‘Picture of the Day’ this year
Enjoy! And stay Sifty my friends!
*Update Oct 17, 2012: There is now an updated post that includes the top pictures from Q3 of 2012! Click Here to See the Top 75 ‘Pictures of the Day’ for 2012!
![seahorse checking out divers watch and own reflection underwater seahorse checks out divers watch and own reflection underwater](http://twistedsifter.sifter.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/seahorse-checking-out-divers-watch-and-own-reflection-underwater.jpg)
Photograph by Don McLeish
49. AN ILLUMINATED SNOW TUNNEL IN RUSSIA
![snow tunnel near mutnovsky kamchatka russia picture at the start of a 1km long snow tunnel with person facing camera lighting up the tunnel with a fire torch](http://twistedsifter.sifter.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/snow-tunnel-near-mutnovsky-kamchatka-russia.jpg)
Photograph by Michael Zelensky
![honeybee death final sting abdominal tissue trail stinger left in art honey bee stinging human arm with stinger left in arm flying away with trail of abdominal tissue captured](http://twistedsifter.sifter.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/honeybee-death-final-sting-abdominal-tissue-trail-stinger-left-in-art.jpg)
Photograph by Kathy Keatley Garvey
![Kung Fu Performance In Zhengzhou thousands of kung fu fighters arranged in concentric circles for heritage day demonstration](http://twistedsifter.sifter.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/lots-of-kung-fu-fighters-in-concentric-circles-china-heritage-day-2.jpg)
Photograph by China Foto Press
![street-art-graffiti-by-Sainer-Etam-Crew-Lodz-Poland-mural](http://twistedsifter.sifter.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/street-art-graffiti-by-Sainer-Etam-Crew-Lodz-Poland-mural.jpg)
Photograph via Fundacja Urban Forms on Facebook
![mount rainier casting long shadow upwards on clouds](http://twistedsifter.sifter.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/mount-rainier-casting-long-shadow-upwards-on-clouds.jpg)
Photograph by Nick Lippert (via Komo News)
![First Contact](http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7095/7264003050_4025904f4f_c.jpg)
Photograph by CMGW Photography on Flickr
![james turrell irish sky garden crater](http://twistedsifter.sifter.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/james-turrell-irish-sky-garden-crater.jpg)
Photograph by Liss Ard Estate
![???](http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7180/6773928908_f19fb2b8d2_b.jpg)
Photograph by bbe022001 on Flickr
![flight of the devil rays huge school group aerial from above](http://twistedsifter.sifter.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/flight-of-the-devil-rays-huge-school-group-aerial-from-above.jpg)
Photograph by FLORIAN SCHULTZ
For more info, click any title or image to see the original post
![Gásadalur](http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3559/3762232783_629f1ffbab_b.jpg)
Photograph by GARETH CODD PHOTOGRAPHY on Flickr
![edge of the world beach head chalk cliff southern england](http://twistedsifter.sifter.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/edge-of-the-world-beach-head-chalk-cliff-southern-england.jpg)
Photograph by RHYS DAVIES
![Capilano Suspension Bridge in Vancouver](http://twistedsifter.sifter.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/Capilano-Suspension-Bridge-in-Vancouver.jpg)
Photograph by MICHELLE LEE
![baja-california-desert-dried out rivers salt flats mexico lichtenstein](http://twistedsifter.sifter.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/baja-california-desert-dried-out-rivers-salt-flats-mexico-lichtenstein.jpg)
Photograph by ADRIANA FRANCO for National Geographic
![Buddhist monks chant at Pongour Falls, the largest waterfall in Dalat, Vietnam.](http://twistedsifter.sifter.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/mediating-monks-on-pongour-falls-vietnam.jpg)
Photograph by DANG NGO – Prints Available
![hanging out on brooklyn bridge cables black and white old vintage](http://twistedsifter.sifter.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/hanging-out-on-brooklyn-bridge-cables-black-and-white-old-vintage.jpg)
Photograph by Eugene de Salignac/Courtesy NYC Municipal Archives
![partial solar eclipse at sunset](http://twistedsifter.sifter.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/partial-solar-eclipse-at-sunset.jpg)
Photograph by GIL NARTEA
![satellite aerial bora bora from space pleiades france](http://twistedsifter.sifter.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/satellite-aerial-bora-bora-from-space-pleiades-france.jpg)
Photograph by PLEIADES-HR SATELLITE
![one square mile of hope 1902 kayaks and canoes aerial from above inlet new york guiness world record](http://twistedsifter.sifter.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/one-square-mile-of-hope-1902-kayaks-and-canoes-aerial-from-above-inlet-new-york-guiness-world-record.jpg)
Photograph by NANCIE BATTAGLIA for National Geographic
![Pavement - Form Follows Groove](http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7153/6530942539_fb46437b6e_b.jpg)
Photograph by HORST KIECHLE
For more info, click any title or image to see the original post
![hamilton pool nature preserve austin texas](http://twistedsifter.sifter.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/hamilton-pool-nature-preserve-austin-texas.jpg)
Photograph by DAVE WILSON PHOTOGRAPHY
![old growth redwood above younger growth redwoods above the canopy](http://twistedsifter.sifter.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/old-growth-redwood-above-younger-growth-redwoods-above-the-canopy.jpg)
![two rivers colliding geneva switzerland rhone and arve rivers_2](http://twistedsifter.sifter.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/two-rivers-colliding-geneva-switzerland-rhone-and-arve-rivers_2.jpg)
Photograph via I_let_my_dog_lick_my on Reddit
![green vine snake](http://twistedsifter.sifter.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/green-vine-snake1.jpg)
Photograph by SUHAAS PREMKUMAR for National Geographic
![aurora australis soutern lights from spacc ISS](http://twistedsifter.sifter.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/aurora-australis-soutern-lights-from-spacc-ISS.jpg)
Photograph by André Kuipers / ESA / NASA
![](http://twistedsifter.sifter.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/mount-kilimanjaro-aerial-from-above.jpg)
Photograph by KYLE MIJLOF @ kylemijlof.blogspot.co.uk
![strength of an ant](http://twistedsifter.sifter.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/ant-biting-branch-and-holding-onto-lifting-rock.jpg)
Photograph by Yu Wu for National Geographic – Your Shot
![tarn bombing](http://twistedsifter.sifter.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/bus-yarn-bombing.jpg)
Artwork by Magda Sayeg (Photograph by Cesar Ortega)
![felix baumgartner](http://twistedsifter.sifter.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/felix-baumgartner-jumps-71580-ft-red-bull-stratos-1.jpg)
![aurora](http://twistedsifter.sifter.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/northern-lights-aurora-borealis-in-iceland.jpg)
Photograph courtesy of Jónína Óskarsdóttir for NASA
For more info, click any title or image to see the original post
![waterfall island](http://twistedsifter.sifter.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/iguazu-falls-waterfall-island.jpg)
Photograph by Andrew Murray on Flickr
![The wish for a clear day](http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4105/4947149269_27c97269c4_b.jpg)
Photograph by T.-C on Flickr
![sleeping whales](http://twistedsifter.sifter.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/pod-of-sperm-whales-sleeping.jpg)
![seven hours one shot](http://twistedsifter.sifter.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/7-hours-in-one-shot.jpg)
Photograph by Isil Karanfil (isilkrnfl on deviantART)
![pixel people](http://twistedsifter.sifter.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/audrey-hepburn-people-pixel-portrait-from-above.jpg)
![](http://twistedsifter.sifter.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/milk-way-galactic-moonsoon-thunderstorm.jpg)
Photograph by BRET WEBSTER
![striking artistry](http://twistedsifter.sifter.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/multiple-exposure-airplane-take-off-hannover-airport-ho-yeol-ryu.jpg)
Photograph by HO-YEOL RYU
![like a boss](http://twistedsifter.sifter.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/keel-walk-hugo-boss-suit-boat-sailing-standing-on-rutter.jpg)
Photograph by ALEX THOMSON RACING
![](http://twistedsifter.sifter.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/purple-flowers-field-badlands-of-utah.jpg)
Photograph by GUY TAL PHOTOGRAPHY | Print Available for Sale
![size of a whale](http://twistedsifter.sifter.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/kite-surfing-with-whale-below-aerial-shot-from-above.jpg)
Photograph via timz45 on Reddit
For more info, click any title or image to see the original post
![switzerland](http://twistedsifter.sifter.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/frozen-ice-car-geneva-switzerland.jpg)
Photograph by Reuters/Denis Balibouse
![one boat 145 skiers](http://twistedsifter.sifter.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/most-waterskiers-ever-pulled-behind-a-single-boat.jpg)
Photograph by MARK SEATON PHOTOGRAPHY
![salar de uyuni](http://twistedsifter.sifter.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/salar-de-uyuni-after-some-rain-bolivia-salt-flats.jpg)
Photograph via Paean on Reddit
![outdoor jacuzzi](http://twistedsifter.sifter.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/outdoor-hottub-jacuzzi-in-the-matterhorn-mountains.jpg)
Photograph via Iglu-Dorf.com
![blue marble](http://twistedsifter.sifter.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/biggest-image-of-earth-ever.jpg)
Photograph by NASA/NOAA/GSFC/Suomi NPP/VIIRS/Norman Kuring
![maelstrom](http://twistedsifter.sifter.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/maelstrom-kauai-hawaii-2.jpg)
Photograph by PATRICK SMITH PHOTOGRAPHY
![costa concordia](http://twistedsifter.sifter.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/capsized-cruise-ship-costa-concordia-from-space.jpg)
Photograph by DIGITALGLOBE.COM
![serenity now](http://twistedsifter.sifter.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/rainbow-surf-shot.jpg)
Photograph by ZAK NOYLE for SURFER MAGAZINE
![bern from above](http://twistedsifter.sifter.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/bern-switzerland-aerial-from-above.jpg)
Photograph via loki010 on Reddit
![Picture of the Day: First Rising Sun of 2012](http://twistedsifter.sifter.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/first-rising-sun-of-2012-above-mt-fuji.jpg)
Photograph by JIJI Press/AFP/Getty Images