Amidst Turmoil, AP Photographers Unveil Moments of Joy

She leaps with her eyes shut, beaming with delight — this young girl, enveloped by gang turmoil in her neighborhood in Haiti. The game of jumping rope she engages in evokes a joy within her that her dire surroundings cannot extinguish.

Across the globe, countless individuals — facing myriad situations — yearn for such joy. Yet, in a world beset with anguish and upheaval in 2024, these feelings might be elusive and difficult to acknowledge.

Life speeds by, leaving its impressions. It appears that occasions of joy and amazement must often be highlighted before they vanish. This series of photographs by AP photojournalists does precisely that.

For every disruptive news piece globally, there may be an equal instance of joy or wonder. However, because news portrays the extraordinary, commonplace moments can sometimes be overshadowed by the flurry of events.

These images, when viewed collectively, intentionally seek to seize that joy and enchantment, refining and preserving it in a concentrated essence — reminding us that even amidst dark times, it still exists.

Some images, like that of the young girl from Haiti and the picture of displaced Palestinian children at play, illustrate that even amid tough journeys, individuals can find relief. Others, such as the shot of a coca vendor in a legal market in Bolivia, reveal that smiles can shine through at any moment.

Some scenes, like the youths performing a street dance in a favela of Rio de Janeiro, illustrate that exuberance knows no limits and will always manage to emerge. Others depict the very joyful imprints of humanity — such as the heart-shaped footprints left in the snow-covered rugby field in Chile.

Patterns, blown kisses, celebrations of equality, graceful skaters, carefree children playing, a motorcyclist against a stunning sunrise, or even a reveler enjoying immersion in a pool of crushed tomatoes — these images, collected globally, provide a remedy for much of the negativity present throughout 2024.

March 24, 2024. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)AP