TIME’s Best Portraits of 2012

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A great portrait captures the very essence of its subject, and this year, TIME continued its long legacy of storytelling with a number of compelling photographs. 2012 saw newsmakers in several categories and countries, so we sent photographers around the world to capture them as they made their mark. In Turkey, Peter Hapak photographed several Syrian families who had sought refuge in the country after fleeing their homeland to escape the brutality of Assad’s regime; in Iowa, Martin Schoeller captured Olympic gold medalist Gabby Douglas as the young gymnast trained — both in the gym and at home; and in Israel, Marco Grob photographed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who, in 2012, proved that his influence is not only large, but lasting. Their portraits — and the rest in this gallery — are visual testaments to the diverse and colorful personalities who made 2012 memorable; herewith, a look at TIME’s best commissioned portraits this year.

Warren Buffett. From "Warren Buffett Is on a Radical Track," January 23, 2012 issue. Mark Seliger for TIME
Warren Buffett. From "Warren Buffett Is on a Radical Track," January 23, 2012 issue. Mark Seliger for TIME
Bharara Preet, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York. From "The Street Fighter," February 13, 2012 issue. Martin Schoeller for TIME
Brad Pitt, Actor. From "Great Performances," February 20, 2012 issue. Performances: Moneyball, Happy Feet Two, The Tree of Life. Nominated: Best Actor for Moneyball. Sebastian Kim for TIME
Meryl Streep, Actress. From "Great Performances," February 20, 2012 issue. Performance: The Iron Lady. Nominated: Best Actress (winner).Sebastian Kim for TIME
Rooney Mara, Actress. From "Great Performances," February 20, 2012 issue. Performance: The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. Nominated: Best Actress.Sebastian Kim for TIME
Michael Fassbender, Actor. From "Great Performances," February 20, 2012 issue. Performances: Shame, A Dangerous Method, X-Men: First Class, Jane Eyre, Haywire.Sebastian Kim for TIME
Uggie, Jack Russell Terrier. From "Great Performances," February 20, 2012 issue. Performance: The Artist. Sebastian Kim for TIME
Fabien Rubi, 20 (L) and Claudia Aguirre, 23. From "Why Latino Voters Will Swing the 2012 Election," March 5, 2012 issue. Marco Grob for TIME
Raul Urquidi, 47. From "Why Latino Voters Will Swing the 2012 Election," March 5, 2012 issue. Marco Grob for TIME
Claressa Shields, Middleweight Boxer. From "The New Olympic Ring," March 12, 2012 issue. Peter Hapak for TIME
Emily Blunt, Actress. From "A Cool Customer," TIME Style & Design Spring 2012 issue. Peter Hapak for TIME
Emily Blunt, Actress. From "A Cool Customer," TIME Style & Design Spring 2012 issue. Peter Hapak for TIME
Rachel Weisz, Actress. From "Rolling in The Deep," March 26, 2012 issue. Graeme Mitchell for TIME
Shimon Peres, President of Israel. From "10 Questions," April 2, 2012 issue. Peter Hapak for TIME
Ammar Raja, 13. From "Flight of the Syrians," April 23, 2012 issue. Peter Hapak for TIME
Salwa, 30, (holding her baby niece, Hadeel, 2 months old) and Khadija, 33, Salwa’s aunt. From "Flight of the Syrians," April 23, 2012 issue. Peter Hapak for TIME
Lena Dunham, Actress. From "Girl Riot," April 16, 2012 issue. Lee Towndrow for TIME
Stephen Colbert, Host of The Colbert Report. From "Time 100: The World's 100 Most Influential People" April 30, 2012 issue. Gillian Laub for TIME
Louis CK, Comedian. From "Time 100: The World's 100 Most Influential People" April 30, 2012 issue. Gillian Laub for TIME
Jose Andres, Chef and Activist. From "Time 100: The World's 100 Most Influential People," April 30, 2012 issue. Peter Hapak for TIME
John Irving, Author. From "The Wrestler," May 14, 2012 issue. Ryan Pfluger for TIME
Benjamin Netanyahu, Prime Minister of Israel. From "Bibi's Choice" May 28, 2012 issue. Marco Grob for TIME
Laura (L) and Kate Mulleavy, the sisters behind the fashion brand Rodarte. From "Outsider Art," May 21, 2012 issue. Katy Grannan for TIME
Norah Owings, 18, and Noah Miller, 18, students at Elkton High School in Elkton, Oregon. From "Last Dance," June 11, 2012 issue. Gillian Laub for TIME
Rick Warren, Pastor at Saddleback Church, Lake Forest, California. From "Does God Want You To Be Thin?" June 11, 2012 issue. Bryce Duffy for TIME
Anthony Kennedy, Supreme Court Justice. From "What Will Justice Kennedy Do?" June 18, 2012 issue. Peter Hapak for TIME
Gabby Douglas, Olympic Athlete, Gymnastics. From "Flip Artist" in TIME's 2012 Olympics Special Issue, July 30, 2012. Martin Schoeller for TIME
Gabby Douglas, Olympic Athlete, Gymnastics. From "Flip Artist" in TIME's 2012 Olympics Special Issue, July 30, 2012. Martin Schoeller for TIME
Ryan Lochte, Olympic Athlete, Swimming. From "Rivalries" in TIME's 2012 Olympics Special Issue, July 30, 2012. Martin Schoeller for TIME
Zach Galifianakis (L) and Will Ferrell, Actors. From "Mock the Vote," August 6, 2012 issue. Emily Shur for TIME
Jerry Lewis, Actor and Comedian. From "Why Did Jerry Lewis Leave the Telethon?," August 27, 2012 issue. Marco Grob for TIME
Jerry Lewis, Actor and Comedian. From "Why Did Jerry Lewis Leave the Telethon?," August 27, 2012 issue. Marco Grob for TIME
Mitt Romney, 2012 Republican Candidate for President. From "The Mind of Mitt," September 3, 2012 issue. Peter Hapak for TIME
Mitt Romney, 2012 Republican Candidate for President. From "The Mind of Mitt," September 3, 2012 issue. Peter Hapak for TIME
Cat Power, Musician. From "The Voice," September 10, 2012 issue. Ryan Pfluger for TIME
Marion Cotillard, Actress. From "La Vie en Rose," TIME Style & Design Fall 2012 issue. Peter Hapak for TIME
Dwyane Wade, Professional Basketball Player. From "10 Questions," September 24, 2012 issue. Peter Hapak for TIME
Peter Hapak for TIME
David Byrne (L) and St. Vincent (Annie Clark), Musicians. From "Dream Team," September 17, 2012 issue. Peter Hapak for TIME
Leslie Mann, Actress (L) and husband Judd Apatow, Filmmaker. From "Working from Home," October 22, 2012 Issue. Emily Shur for TIME
Steven Spielberg, Director. From "Action, Mr. President!" in TIME's Lincoln Special Issue, November 5, 2012. Marco Grob for TIME
Daniel Day-Lewis, Actor. From "Hail To The Chief," in TIME's Lincoln Special Issue, November 5, 2012. Marco Grob for TIME
Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi, photographed in the Presidential Palace in Cairo, Nov. 28, 2012. From "Morsi's Moment," December 10, 2012 issue. Nadav Kander for TIME

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