TIME's Best Portraits of 2012

  • Warren Buffett. From "Warren Buffett Is on a Radical Track," January 23, 2012 issue.
    Mark Seliger for TIME
    1 of 43
  • Warren Buffett. From "Warren Buffett Is on a Radical Track," January 23, 2012 issue.
    Mark Seliger for TIME
    2 of 43
  • Bharara Preet, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York. From "The Street Fighter," February 13, 2012 issue.
    Martin Schoeller for TIME
    3 of 43
  • 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
    4 of 43
  • Meryl Streep, Actress. From "Great Performances," February 20, 2012 issue. Performance: The Iron Lady. Nominated: Best Actress (winner).
    Sebastian Kim for TIME
    5 of 43
  • Rooney Mara, Actress. From "Great Performances," February 20, 2012 issue. Performance: The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. Nominated: Best Actress.
    Sebastian Kim for TIME
    6 of 43
  • 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
    7 of 43
  • Uggie, Jack Russell Terrier. From "Great Performances," February 20, 2012 issue. Performance: The Artist.
    Sebastian Kim for TIME
    8 of 43
  • 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
    9 of 43
  • Raul Urquidi, 47. From "Why Latino Voters Will Swing the 2012 Election," March 5, 2012 issue.
    Marco Grob for TIME
    10 of 43
  • Claressa Shields, Middleweight Boxer. From "The New Olympic Ring," March 12, 2012 issue.
    Peter Hapak for TIME
    11 of 43
  • Emily Blunt, Actress. From "A Cool Customer," TIME Style & Design Spring 2012 issue.
    Peter Hapak for TIME
    12 of 43
  • Emily Blunt, Actress. From "A Cool Customer," TIME Style & Design Spring 2012 issue.
    Peter Hapak for TIME
    13 of 43
  • Rachel Weisz, Actress. From "Rolling in The Deep," March 26, 2012 issue.
    Graeme Mitchell for TIME
    14 of 43
  • Shimon Peres, President of Israel. From "10 Questions," April 2, 2012 issue.
    Peter Hapak for TIME
    15 of 43
  • Ammar Raja, 13. From "Flight of the Syrians," April 23, 2012 issue.
    Peter Hapak for TIME
    16 of 43
  • 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
    17 of 43
  • Lena Dunham, Actress. From "Girl Riot," April 16, 2012 issue.
    Lee Towndrow for TIME
    18 of 43
  • 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
    19 of 43
  • Louis CK, Comedian. From "Time 100: The World's 100 Most Influential People" April 30, 2012 issue.
    Gillian Laub for TIME
    20 of 43
  • Jose Andres, Chef and Activist. From "Time 100: The World's 100 Most Influential People," April 30, 2012 issue.
    Peter Hapak for TIME
    21 of 43
  • John Irving, Author. From "The Wrestler," May 14, 2012 issue.
    Ryan Pfluger for TIME
    22 of 43
  • Benjamin Netanyahu, Prime Minister of Israel. From "Bibi's Choice" May 28, 2012 issue.
    Marco Grob for TIME
    23 of 43
  • Laura (L) and Kate Mulleavy, the sisters behind the fashion brand Rodarte. From "Outsider Art," May 21, 2012 issue.
    Katy Grannan for TIME
    24 of 43
  • 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
    25 of 43
  • 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
    26 of 43
  • Anthony Kennedy, Supreme Court Justice. From "What Will Justice Kennedy Do?" June 18, 2012 issue.
    Peter Hapak for TIME
    27 of 43
  • Gabby Douglas, Olympic Athlete, Gymnastics. From "Flip Artist" in TIME's 2012 Olympics Special Issue, July 30, 2012.
    Martin Schoeller for TIME
    28 of 43
  • Gabby Douglas, Olympic Athlete, Gymnastics. From "Flip Artist" in TIME's 2012 Olympics Special Issue, July 30, 2012.
    Martin Schoeller for TIME
    29 of 43
  • Ryan Lochte, Olympic Athlete, Swimming. From "Rivalries" in TIME's 2012 Olympics Special Issue, July 30, 2012.
    Martin Schoeller for TIME
    30 of 43
  • Zach Galifianakis (L) and Will Ferrell, Actors. From "Mock the Vote," August 6, 2012 issue.
    Emily Shur for TIME
    31 of 43
  • Jerry Lewis, Actor and Comedian. From "Why Did Jerry Lewis Leave the Telethon?," August 27, 2012 issue.
    Marco Grob for TIME
    32 of 43
  • Jerry Lewis, Actor and Comedian. From "Why Did Jerry Lewis Leave the Telethon?," August 27, 2012 issue.
    Marco Grob for TIME
    33 of 43
  • Mitt Romney, 2012 Republican Candidate for President. From "The Mind of Mitt," September 3, 2012 issue.
    Peter Hapak for TIME
    34 of 43
  • Mitt Romney, 2012 Republican Candidate for President. From "The Mind of Mitt," September 3, 2012 issue.
    Peter Hapak for TIME
    35 of 43
  • Cat Power, Musician. From "The Voice," September 10, 2012 issue.
    Ryan Pfluger for TIME
    36 of 43
  • Marion Cotillard, Actress. From "La Vie en Rose," TIME Style & Design Fall 2012 issue.
    Peter Hapak for TIME
    37 of 43
  • Dwyane Wade, Professional Basketball Player. From "10 Questions," September 24, 2012 issue.
    Peter Hapak for TIME
    38 of 43
  • David Byrne (L) and St. Vincent (Annie Clark), Musicians. From "Dream Team," September 17, 2012 issue.
    Peter Hapak for TIME
    39 of 43
  • Leslie Mann, Actress (L) and husband Judd Apatow, Filmmaker. From "Working from Home," October 22, 2012 Issue.
    Emily Shur for TIME
    40 of 43
  • Steven Spielberg, Director. From "Action, Mr. President!" in TIME's Lincoln Special Issue, November 5, 2012.
    Marco Grob for TIME
    41 of 43
  • Daniel Day-Lewis, Actor. From "Hail To The Chief," in TIME's Lincoln Special Issue, November 5, 2012.
    Marco Grob for TIME
    42 of 43
  • 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
    43 of 43
By TIME Photo Department

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.

More Must-Reads From TIME

Contact us at letters@time.com.

You May Also Like
Next Up: Editor's Pick
The 25 Defining Works of the Black Renaissance
EDIT POST