Photo by Jemma Payne.
For about two years now I’ve been following the Best Pictures of the Week section on the TIME website. It’s an Internet gem so rich in genuinely valuable content, I’m always amazed and grateful that it’s not behind a paywall.
This smorgasbord of images not only functions as a news round-up, it brings life and empathy to barely-reported stories, often those affecting the world’s poorest nations. For example, did you know that 30 people died in a pipeline explosion in Nigeria last week? Neither did I, until I saw Akintunde Akinleye’s picture in TIME. Regular images of Syria remind us of the continuing suffering in conflicts that have slipped off the front pages.
Another interesting focus of this compilation is the variety of religious and cultural events around the world, as well as everyday, human life in areas that are usually viewed in political and military terms. Also in the mix are prominent, quirky and ironic takes on major events, such as the activities of Obama. Indeed, given the international scope of the collection as a whole, on the political side it’s surprisingly Washington-centric – we rarely see non-American politicians unless they’re posing with Obama.
Averaging about 60 photos, the TIME Best Pictures of the Week lets you forget political scandals and engage with the stories that received all of two column inches in your local paper. Bringing life and empathy to issues normally reported from the outside, there’s no better way to round up your weekly news reading.
To find the latest Best Pictures of the Week, look around on the TIME Lightbox page. If you’re anything like me, you’ll end up spending hours exploring their other fantastic photo collections, which often give more insight, or an introduction, to a particular photographer, place or event.
