Check It. Pictures of the Year Intl at Annenberg Space for Photography.

One of my favorite things about attending classes in the Annenberg building at USC (go Trojans!) was an annual art exhibit that took over the lobby every winter. The Pictures of the Year International show features the best documentary photography from the past year, from all over the world and across all different sorts of categories, like nature and sports to contemporary news and wars. And no matter what the subject, all the photographs are somehow able to elicit strong emotions within you, whether it be happiness or sadness, or just simple awe. The photographers are usually from news outlets, which means they're right in the middle of the action, and taking you with them.

Luckily (unluckily?) for you, now you don't even have to get to the USC campus to check out this awesome show (plus it's not showing there anymore). The exhibit is now being presented at the Annenberg Space for Photography, a newish venue set in Century City, and it's all free. It's an exhibition that doesn't usually get so much hype, but trust me, once you've walked through it and experienced it once, you'll come to appreciate photography in such a different way afterward. Highly recommended!

The Annenberg Space for Photography is located at 2000 Avenue of the Stars in Century City, and the Pictures of the Year International exhibit lasts until Oct. 10.

-- Chau Tu

Photo credit: Charles Ommanney, Getty Images; courtesy of Pictures of the Year International; Barack Obama backstage at the Capitol before bring sworn in as the 44th President of the United States.