Press photographers' pick of 2012 photos

Nationally, there were the Olympics and the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee.

But right here at home we’ve had the York 800 celebrations, the Queen’s Maundy Money visit – and the small matter of York City FC picking up two Wembley trophies within a week.

All that, plus the photographs that, every year, seem to come from nowhere to surprise and delight.

To say farewell to 2012, we asked each member of our award-winning team of photographers to choose their personal favourite picture of the year and here they are...

• David Harrison: The Olympic torch being carried through York, June 19 

“Others of the photographic team had better pictures of the Olympic Torch going through York,” says David.

“But I was lucky enough to have a ringside seat on the media wagon and followed it most of the way around York. Thousands turned out to see it as, can be seen in this picture. There were smiling faces all the way on a gloriously sunny afternoon. Great fun.”

• Mike Tipping: Protest against closure of the Leeds children’s heart surgery unit, July 23

More than a thousand people descended on Millennium Square in Leeds to protest at a controversial decision to close the children’s heart surgery unit in the city, which serves the whole of Yorkshire.

There were endless photo opportunities, but one leaped out at Mike – this photo of one-year-old Samuel Cardwell, who had had heart surgery himself when he was one week old, holding a placard saying “Don’t break my heart”. If ever a picture could tell a story, Mike, says, this was it. “It was the image of the day.”

• Frank Dwyer: Mowing the grass in York Minster, June 6

The Minster’s nave was carpeted with 1,500 square metres of grass in June for a special dinner to mark both the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee and the launch of the York Minster Rose.

It made for an unforgettable sight, says Frank. “It is rare enough to see the nave without seats – but to see it without seats and fully lawned … that was unusual!” he says.

“It was as though the outside world had come into the Minster. It made for a really surprising image – which is one criterion for a good photo!”

• Anthony Chappel-Ross: The Queen, the Duke of Edinburgh, the Archbishop of York and church dignitaries following the Maundy Thursday service at York Minster, April 5

Anthony chose this photo because it captures a very special moment in the life of the Queen and in the history of York.

“It was the Maundy service in Her Majesty’s Diamond Jubilee year,” he says. “And she was in York in its 800th anniversary year. It all just came together, a really significant moment.”

• Martin Oates: Whitby Regatta, August 18

“I didn’t know the regatta was on,” says Press picture editor Martin. “We’d just gone to the coast for a day trip.” He always takes a camera with him when he visits the coast, Martin says. “When you visit the coast it is very rare that you come back without some sort of photograph.”

He managed to snap the Spitfire just as it was flying past a cruise ship further out, which gave the impression it was buzzing the ship. It was one of those lucky chances, he says. “It could have come five minutes later, and I’d have missed the flight, or five minutes earlier and I’d have been in a different position.”

• Garry Atkinson: City’s victory tour in an open-topped bus, May 21

Garry has been photographing City since 1974 – but rarely has there been a moment as special as this, he says. The club had lifted the FA Trophy and then won the Blue Square Premier play-off final in successive weeks at Wembley.

The all-conquering heroes were then treated to an open-topped bus tour of York. Garry positioned himself above Harkers Bar to snap this photograph of the bus coming along Coney Street. Manager Gary Mills was holding both trophies. “It was a great moment,” Garry says.

• Nigel Holland: City goalkeeper Michael Ingham leading the celebrations after the FA Trophy victory at Wembley, May 13

Nigel was at Wembley with a posse of other photographers. Afterwards, they were all waiting for the official team victory photo. The City players began showering each-other with champagne. But then, quite unexpectedly, goalkeeper Ingham did his own thing.

“He came flying right across in front of everybody,” Nigel says. “It was the ultimate celebration photo. It was one of those things that just happens when you least expect it, which is what made the photo.”