The amount of imagery that comes through these doors is incredible. And in a world run mad by social media, you’d be safe to say we’re all on imagery overload — so it takes truly breathtaking imagery to get to us. There is no social media outlet that could do the following images justice: These aren’t the kind of photos that you double tap, these are the ones that double tap you, and keep you coming back to ponder, images that haunt your day, your night, and your dreams. Begging how did they freeze that moment? How did they get there? Who’s behind the camera? Who’s in front of it? How? These are the 10 images (and three honorable mentions) that begged all these questions to us, all year.

LIFESTYLE

5. KEVIN TERPENING, JAPAN. PHOTOGRAPH BY ARTO SAARI

4. DORA YODER, HOLLYWOOD HILLS, CA. PHOTOGRAPH BY DARREN ANKENMAN

3. MIKEY WRIGHT, OREGON. PHOTOGRAPH BY MICHAEL CUKR

2. CREED MCTAGGART, INDONESIA. PHOTOGRAPH BY NATE LAWRENCE

1. KAI NEVILLE, JAY DAVIES AND DANE REYNOLDS, INDONESIA. PHOTOGRAPH BY NATE LAWRENCE

ACTION

5. MIKEY WRIGHT, P-PASS. PHOTOGRAPH BY ANDREW SHIELD

4. CRAIG ANDERSON, INDONESIA. PHOTOGRAPHED BY HAMISH HUMPHREYS

3. AARON HERRINGTON, NEW YORK. PHOTOGRAPHED BY MIKE O’MEALLY

2. RYAN BURCH, CHILE. PHOTOGRAPHED BY BRIAN BIELMANN

1. CHRIS WARD, INDONESIA. PHOTOGRAPHED BY NATE LAWRENCE

HONORABLE MENTION

WARREN G. AND CREW, LONG BEACH, CA. PHOTOGRAPHED BY QUINN MATTHEWS

JACK ROBINSON, WEST OZ. PHOTOGRAPHED BY QUINN MATTHEWS

GARY OWENS, KALE SANDRIDGE AND RUNE GLIFBERG, HAWAII. PHOTOGRAPHED BY ARTO SAARI