2014 was an all-around turbulent year for the world. Between powerful protests, countries in conflict, the FIFA World Cup, Ebola outbreaks, drought, renewed race conflicts in America, and so much more, there still managed to be moments of enlightenment, creativity and discovery. The year was a true roller coaster ride, and with this comes a wide assortment of photos.

As social media continues to stride, photos and news stories flooded our feeds on a daily basis. Whether from live first person accounts, or from media outlets and photojournalists, a lot of people had different stories to tell, and perspectives to share.

With such a crazy year, we thought to share some of the most impactful photos of 2014; Photos that sum up the year as we enter 2015 with many issues still unresolved. They say a picture is worth a thousands words, so I’ll let the following photos speak for themselves.

(Warning: Some of the following images are graphic in content.)