Here’s your last edition of Friday Links for 2015. At Exposed DC, we’ve spent a wonderful year enjoying the images from so many talented photographers living in the D.C. area. We threw a big party at the new Capital Fringe headquarters last March for our 9th annual Exposed DC Photography Show, met up to watch the once-in-a-lifetime flyover of World War II aircraft, worked with some generous volunteer teachers who taught many of you some new skills at our Knowledge Commons DC photography class series, and have gotten to know tons of you through our monthly happy hours. We look forward to 2016 and celebrating our 10th anniversary exhibit with you all — submit your photos by January 6 to have your work featured in the exhibit — and doing whatever we can to foster and encourage local photographers.
- The City Paper’s Louis Jacobson picks his top nine photographic images (plus one video project) exhibited in the D.C. area in 2015.
- National Geographic revealed the winners of their 2015 photo contest, with the grand prize going to James Smart for his shot “Dirt” which shows an anti-cyclonic tornado touching down in open farmland in Colorado.
- Aperture looks back at a selection of their 2015 features, from in-depth conversations with William Klein and Miyako Ishiuchi to a secret history of Japanese photography.
- A collection of some of the best books of photography from this year, as selected by Teju Cole and editors of The New York Times magazine.
- “Each photograph selected for TIME’s Top 10 photos of 2015, carefully culled from thousands and presented here unranked, reflects a unique and powerful point of view that represents the best of photojournalism this year.”
- The Guardian takes a closer look at five fake photos that went viral in 2015.
- “Trees and bees confused in Washington, D.C.” Capital Weather Gang’s Kevin Ambrose headed for the Mall to document the effects of the recent spring-like weather.
- SFGate has a photo gallery of this elephant seal determined to cross North Bay Highway in California. She DGAF.
- Quit taking images of beautiful sunsets. You’re better off looking for the bizarre. Scientists have uncovered exactly what makes a photo memorable.
- A Siberian tiger and a goat that was supposed to be his lunch became best friends instead.
- Fans of Vladimir Putin can now spend “the whole year with the Russian president” as a new 2016 limited edition calendar is released in Russia. Make sure not to miss November’s photo, captioned “Dogs and I have very warm feelings for one another.”
- Behind the Lens: 2015 Year in Photographs. By Pete Souza, Chief Official White House Photographer. Make sure you’re sitting comfortably and have time to spare before feasting your eyes on this post which features over 100 incredible images.
- “The National Zoo’s small mammal house features an eclectic collection of wacky hairstyles and odd visages.” Stunning photographs by habitual Exposed DC alumna Angela Napili.