The most powerful photos of the year, so far

Talia LakritzNov 19, 2020, 23:38 IST

Dolores Park in San Francisco.AP

The coronavirus pandemic, the presidential election, Black Lives Matter protests, and devastating wildfires are just a few of this year's major news stories.
More lighthearted events that happened this year include Jennifer Lopez and Shakira's Super Bowl halftime show performance and Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's last royal engagement.

2020 has been a year unlike any other, and poignant photos have preserved some of its most powerful moments.

Major events such as the coronavirus pandemic, the US presidential election, global Black Lives Matter protests, and devastating wildfires resulted in dramatic images.

Photographers also captured more lighthearted events at the beginning of the year, such as Jennifer Lopez and Shakira's Super Bowl halftime show performance and Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's last royal engagement, before the coronavirus changed everything.

Here are the most powerful photos of 2020, so far.

January 15: Australia remained ravaged by bushfires.

Burnt trees in Mallacoota, Australia. Luis Ascui/Getty Images

February 2: Shakira and Jennifer Lopez dominated the stage at the Super Bowl LIV Halftime Show.

Shakira and Jennifer Lopez perform onstage. Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic/Getty Images

February 4: Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi ripped up a copy of President Donald Trump's State of the Union address.

Nancy Pelosi rips a copy of President Donald Trump's speech. MANDEL NGAN/AFP via Getty Images

February 6: Trump held up USA Today's front page showing news of his acquittal in his impeachment trial.

President Donald Trump arrives at the National Prayer Breakfast in 2020. Leah Millis/Reuters

February 24: Michael Jordan helped Vanessa Laine Bryant offstage at the Staples Center after she spoke at a memorial for her husband, Kobe Bryant, daughter Gianna, and seven others who were killed in a helicopter crash.

Michael Jordan helps Vanessa Laine Bryant offstage at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. Lucy Nicholson/Reuters

February 24: Michael Jordan helped Vanessa Laine Bryant offstage at the Staples Center after she spoke at a memorial for her husband, Kobe Bryant, daughter Gianna, and seven others who were killed in a helicopter crash.

February 29: Trump hugged and kissed an American flag after speaking at the 2020 Conservative Political Action Conference.

President Donald Trump hugs and kisses the American flag at CPAC 2020. Jose Luis Magana/AP

March 3: Jill Biden fended off protesters at a Super Tuesday rally.

Jill Biden pushes protesters away at a rally for her husband. Associated Press

March 5: Prince Harry and Meghan Markle made their first public joint appearance since announcing their departure from royal life.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle at the Endeavour Fund Awards. Samir Hussein/WireImage/Getty Images

March 12: Chairs sat empty at the deserted Piazza Vittorio during Italy's nationwide lockdown to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.

Piazza Vittorio in Italy. Nicolò Campo/LightRocket via Getty Images

March 19: Panic-buying of toilet paper left shelves empty around the world.

A senior citizen gets the last pack of toilet paper at Sainsbury's supermarket in Northwich, United Kingdom. Christopher Furlong/Getty Images

April 15: Medical workers in New York City reacted to a city-wide round of applause as a show of gratitude for their work during the pandemic.

Medical workers outside NYU Langone Health hospital in New York City. Noam Galai/Getty Images

April 17: President Trump watched Dr. Anthony Fauci speak at a press room briefing.

President Trump listens to Dr. Anthony Fauci. Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post via Getty Images

May 21: Painted circles on the grass in San Francisco's Dolores Park helped enforce social distancing.

Dolores Park in San Francisco. AP

June 1: When George Floyd died after being pinned down by Minneapolis police officers, protesters marched for racial justice across the world.

A person holds a "Black Lives Matter" sign as a heavy cloud of tear gas and smoke rises in Seattle, Washington. Lindsey Wasson//File Photo/Reuters

July 31: Romelia Navarro was comforted by a nurse as she wept at the bedside of her husband in St. Jude Medical Center's COVID-19 unit in Fullerton, California.

Romelia Navarro, right, is comforted by nurse Michele Younkin. Jae C. Hong/AP

August 27: Usually packed with tourists, Times Square sat empty during New York City's Phase 4 reopening.

Times Square. Noam Galai/Getty Images

September 10: A student in Culver City, California, followed along with the teacher's lesson remotely from a specialized enrichment center.

A student surrounded by plastic barriers. ROBYN BECK/AFP via Getty Images

September 18: People gathered outside the Supreme Court following the death of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

The Supreme Court building. Al Drago/Reuters

October 13: Judge Amy Coney Barrett held up an empty notepad before the Senate Judiciary Committee.

Judge Amy Coney Barrett in a Supreme Court confirmation hearing on Capitol Hill. Demetrius Freeman - Pool/Getty Images

October 7: Kamala Harris listened to Mike Pence with a bemused expression at the vice presidential debate.

Senator Kamala Harris looks on during the 2020 vice presidential debate. Brian Snyder/Reuters

October 10: Trump removed his mask before speaking to a crowd of supporters at the White House.

President Trump speaks from the Blue Room Balcony of the White House. Alex Brandon/AP

October 26: A firefighter in Yorba Linda, California, watched the Blue Ridge Fire burn.

A firefighter in Yorba Linda, California. Ringo Chiu/Reuters

October 27: Demonstrators clashed with riot police in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, after the death of Walter Wallace Jr., a Black man who was shot by police.

A demonstration in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Bastiaan Slabbers/Reuters

October 29: Exhausted healthcare workers rested after treating COVID-19 patients in Hospital Juarez de Mexico in Mexico City, Mexico.

Medical workers in protective suits rest after hours of treating patients. Carlos Jasso/Reuters

November 5: AP photographer Evan Vucci captured a photo of Trump speaking with an exit sign in the foreground, signaling the impending end of his presidency.

President Donald Trump speaks at the White House. Evan Vucci/AP

November 7: A patient and a doctor communicated through layers of protective gear in Rome.

A COVID-19 unit in a Rome hospital. Alessandra Tarantino/AP

November 7: President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris stood with their spouses after delivering victory speeches in Wilmington, Delaware.

President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris with spouses Jill Biden and Doug Emhoff. JIM WATSON/AFP via Getty Images

November 11: Relatives hugged through a plastic sheet at a care home in Castelfranco Veneto, Italy.

Hugging through a plastic sheet. Domenico Sartor/Handout via REUTERS

November 7: Highways sat mostly empty across England as the country went into a second lockdown.

A sparse highway in England. Chris Gorman/Getty Images

November 11: Changi Airport in Singapore also remained empty.

An airport staff walks through an empty waiting area for taxis at the arrival hall of Changi Airport. Ore Huiying/Getty Images

20 iconic photos of the early 2000s, from power couples to history-making moments

Cookies on the Business Insider India website

The most powerful photos of the year, so far

January 15: Australia remained ravaged by bushfires.

February 2: Shakira and Jennifer Lopez dominated the stage at the Super Bowl LIV Halftime Show.

February 4: Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi ripped up a copy of President Donald Trump's State of the Union address.

February 6: Trump held up USA Today's front page showing news of his acquittal in his impeachment trial.

February 24: Michael Jordan helped Vanessa Laine Bryant offstage at the Staples Center after she spoke at a memorial for her husband, Kobe Bryant, daughter Gianna, and seven others who were killed in a helicopter crash.

February 29: Trump hugged and kissed an American flag after speaking at the 2020 Conservative Political Action Conference.

March 3: Jill Biden fended off protesters at a Super Tuesday rally.

March 5: Prince Harry and Meghan Markle made their first public joint appearance since announcing their departure from royal life.

March 12: Chairs sat empty at the deserted Piazza Vittorio during Italy's nationwide lockdown to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.

March 19: Panic-buying of toilet paper left shelves empty around the world.

April 15: Medical workers in New York City reacted to a city-wide round of applause as a show of gratitude for their work during the pandemic.

April 17: President Trump watched Dr. Anthony Fauci speak at a press room briefing.

May 21: Painted circles on the grass in San Francisco's Dolores Park helped enforce social distancing.

June 1: When George Floyd died after being pinned down by Minneapolis police officers, protesters marched for racial justice across the world.

July 31: Romelia Navarro was comforted by a nurse as she wept at the bedside of her husband in St. Jude Medical Center's COVID-19 unit in Fullerton, California.

August 27: Usually packed with tourists, Times Square sat empty during New York City's Phase 4 reopening.

September 10: A student in Culver City, California, followed along with the teacher's lesson remotely from a specialized enrichment center.

September 18: People gathered outside the Supreme Court following the death of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

October 13: Judge Amy Coney Barrett held up an empty notepad before the Senate Judiciary Committee.

October 7: Kamala Harris listened to Mike Pence with a bemused expression at the vice presidential debate.

October 10: Trump removed his mask before speaking to a crowd of supporters at the White House.

October 26: A firefighter in Yorba Linda, California, watched the Blue Ridge Fire burn.

October 27: Demonstrators clashed with riot police in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, after the death of Walter Wallace Jr., a Black man who was shot by police.

October 29: Exhausted healthcare workers rested after treating COVID-19 patients in Hospital Juarez de Mexico in Mexico City, Mexico.

November 5: AP photographer Evan Vucci captured a photo of Trump speaking with an exit sign in the foreground, signaling the impending end of his presidency.

November 7: A patient and a doctor communicated through layers of protective gear in Rome.

November 7: President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris stood with their spouses after delivering victory speeches in Wilmington, Delaware.

November 11: Relatives hugged through a plastic sheet at a care home in Castelfranco Veneto, Italy.

November 7: Highways sat mostly empty across England as the country went into a second lockdown.

November 11: Changi Airport in Singapore also remained empty.