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1. Music Man of Jaipur by Sam Stearman »
![12 best photos of the year - EarthShots.org [pics]](http://www.earthshots.org/photos/23.jpg "12 best photos of the year - EarthShots.org [pics]")
Will: This was one of the first images to be shown on Earth Shots. For me it epitomises a great travel photo; it’s exotic, vibrant and full of character.
Haje: I love the colours in this shot - there’s something incredibly passionate about it. Gritty, well-composed, and genuine. Oh, and did I mention the colours?
2. Rainier Fall by Dean Zulich »
![12 best photos of the year - EarthShots.org [pics]](http://www.earthshots.org/photos/26.jpg "12 best photos of the year - EarthShots.org [pics]")
Will: This was the most viewed photo of the year on EarthShots.org (mainly thanks to StumbleUpon). It is technically excellent and has been processed to perfection; it is razor-sharp, vivid and well composed - a textbook landscape image.
Haje: I can’t fault Will on this one - it’s a positively stunning photograph. There are so much potential for screwing this one up, but the composition is flawless, and yet again, the colours are wildly attractive.
3. A Potter Wasp by Poras Chaudhary »
![12 best photos of the year - EarthShots.org [pics]](http://www.earthshots.org/photos/48.jpg "12 best photos of the year - EarthShots.org [pics]")
Will: This is a wonderful macro shot that has been perfectly set up and executed by the photographer. The lighting, composition and timing are all top-notch.
Haje: As some of you will have noticed, I know a thing or two about macro photography, and this photo embodies everything I love about the genre. I wish the background was slightly differently coloured to make the foreground stand out better, but that’s nitpickery - a masterpiece!
4. Eagle Snatch by Mart Smit »
![12 best photos of the year - EarthShots.org [pics]](http://www.earthshots.org/photos/52.jpg "12 best photos of the year - EarthShots.org [pics]")
Will: This is a spectacular photo which illustrates both the power and grace of nature. Another well-timed and technically excellent shot - it takes a skilful photographer to keep a fast flying bird in the centre of the frame with a telephoto lens and to snap such a sharp image!
Haje: There is nothing shy about catching this photo - it must have taken the photographer days of patience and scores of attempts. Boy, did it pay off: I’d be very surprised if they didn’t make a small fortune of it as a stock photo.
5. Tse Bighanilini by Hans van de Vorst »
![12 best photos of the year - EarthShots.org [pics]](http://www.earthshots.org/photos/62.jpg "12 best photos of the year - EarthShots.org [pics]")
Will: There is a strong sense of both art and earth in this image… it is the perfect expression of Earth Shots.
Haje: I’m a sucker for unique textures, crazy colours, and inventive lighting, and this photo really ticks all the boxes. It captures the true beauty of the earth, ironically, by making it look like what I imagine a martian landscape would look like.
6. McNaught’s Comet by John White »
![12 best photos of the year - EarthShots.org [pics]](http://www.earthshots.org/photos/115.jpg "12 best photos of the year - EarthShots.org [pics]")
Will: This photo adds an extra-terrestrial dimension to Earth Shots. It is a reminder that our Earth is just a small part of an infinitely large and wonderful universe that lies out beyond our reach.
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