American Photography 27

The year's finest photographs are displayed in the latest volume of American Photography 27, as selected by a jury of publishing and design professionals. From over 8,000 images submitted to the annual competition, volume 27 presents 313 examples of visual excellence that exhibit photographic marksmanship and searing points of view. It includes work by many top photojournalists who bravely cover world events and who have redefined reportage, including Tim Hetherington who was killed documenting the escalating violence in Misrata, Libya in April 2011. Published in alphabetical order by photographer, American Photography 27 opens with a series of portfolios shot by Lynsey Addario in Afghanistan and Sierra Leone that focus on women's issues such as self-immolation and maternal mortality; and Benjamin Lowy covering the Gulf oil spill and the Taliban in a series shot by iPhone. The earthquake in Haiti is represented with work by Ron Haviv, James Nachtwey, Julie Plantner and Shaul Schwarz.