Aleppo, Syria Ammar Abdullah/Reuters
Men drive a motorcycle near a damaged aid truck after an airstrike
There's a reason the best photojournalists have somewhat of a reputation for detachment or coldness, and also for risking their lives for ambiguous reasons. They are simultaneously looking to document the news, sometimes in highly dangerous environments, and also to capture beautiful and memorable images that stand on their own. This photo by Ammar Abdullah, shot in the world's most famous war zone of the moment -- Aleppo, Syria -- is a perfect example. It illustrates an urgent story of global importance, and is as beautifully composed as an Old Master painting, with a genuine memento mori, or reminder of universal mortality, in the skeleton of an aid truck in the background.
–Andrew O'Hehir, senior editor
London, England Daniel Leal-Olivas/Getty
A gallery assistant poses in front of Mark Rothko paintings
This gallery assistant analyzes both painting’s brush strokes, proportions, and color; while simultaneously embodying Cameron Frye’s existential crisis in a profound way.
–Jillian Kestenbaum, office manager
Rostock, Germany Bernd Wustneck/Getty
Galapagos tortoise "Isabela Frieda" sits on the scale
Even the dumbest humans like to consider themselves superior to the most intelligent animals, and I think THAT is dumb. Just look at Isabela, this glorious tortoise. She's almost 200 pounds and could easily crush a tiny human just by sitting down. She's also super smart and adorable — imagine her in tiny tortoise glasses!
–Tatiana Baez, social media coordinator
Chicago, Illinois Tae-Gyun Kim/AP
Dressed as Batman and Iron Man, two members of a window washing crew interact with an 8-year-old patient in a hospital in Chicago.
Tyler Levin, 8, quickly confirms the sighting: Yes, indeed the superheroes have arrived — just in the nick of time. Batman and Iron Man, often disguised as window washers Gesus Lamadrid and Orlando Gonzales, have landed in Chicago to rescue Tyler from the infinite boredom of a hospital stay.
–Marjorie Backman, copy editor
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