Most Powerful Images of 2011

Two lights from the former site of the World Trade Centers shine for the 10th anniversary of 9/11.

(Reuters / GARY HERSHORN)

A University of California Davis police officer pepper-sprays students during their sit-in at an "Occupy UCD" demonstration in Davis, California. (Jasna Hodzic)

An aerial shot of the damage immediately following the Japanese tsunami.

(Reuters / KYODO)

Chile's Puyehue volcano erupts, causing air traffic cancellations across South America, New Zealand, Australia and forcing over 3,000 people to evacuate. (Reuters)

A distressed bride attempts suicide in China after her fiance abruptly called off their marriage. Still in her wedding gown, she tried to kill herself by jumping out of a window of a seventh floor building. Right as she jumped, a man managed to catch and save her.

(Reuters / CHINA DAILY)

(See all 45 most powerful images of 2011 here)

Wow, I found these images on the link to the sight above and was left speechless. I picked a few that stood out to me, but there are so many more images worth looking at. It was a big year, and a sad year. I feel as though our years are becoming more tragic. Or maybe that is just the media showing us every little bad thing that happens out there. In all 45 of the pictures on that website, not one of them was joyful. An image doesn't have to be tragic to be powerful. I hate that about media these days. Here is to making the best of 2011 and looking back on the positive and uplifting events and moments in our lives.