I often hear people say that 9/11 was our Pearl Harbor, but I can't imagine how this man and the rest of his generation must have felt the day after Pearl Harbor was attacked. Suddenly, WWII was thrust upon the United States. By the time it was over more than 50 million people were dead, and it has shaped geo-politics ever since.

This project is a big one that required the creativity and skills of many people and several groups at MSNBC.com. It began more than a year ago when our Senior Media Producer Meredith Birkett saw Kadir van Lohuizen's work at a photojournalism festival. The project is an example of our continuing commitment to documentary photojournalism.

Sometimes the content of detail pictures from a story carry the most impact for me. This image came from a series of pictures of an American brothel, and it just made me stop and say, "Whoa." The language in the signs made me sad that people involved in the business don't trust one another, and the fact that they use egg timers really drives it home that there is no romance...just sex.

I'm not sure why people would venture out onto a pier with waves that big breaking over it, but their doing so makes for some entertaining images.

I'm not sure why people would venture out onto a pier with waves that big breaking over it, but their doing so makes for some entertaining images.

One of the things I love about my job is consistently seeing images from all over the world and learning about different customs and cultures. The eve of St. Nicholas must be so much fun for adults and kiddos alike in the Czech Republic. I can't imagine this event would go over well in the U.S. though, as I'm sure someone would find something silly to sue someone over and ruin everything. In any case, I think a little reaction within this picture would have made it better.

Most sports pictures dont resonate with me; however a good swimming picture often stops me in my tracks. Swimming is a difficult sport to shoot. Much of the action happens under water. Its difficult to pre-focus on where you are SURE the swimmer will pop up for a breath, AND the action happens so fast. The ambient light in many pools is pretty tough to deal with. Its often dark and flat. I like Donald Miralles approach here. The use of artificial lighting freezes the action and provides great modeling.

I'm not 100 percent sure what is going on in this picture, but it looks like a good time! The subject in the center of the frame only works for me because of his emotion and that you do get a sense that this is an "organized group." While this image isn't exceptional, I think it's effective because you really feel what's going on. The actual concept of a laughing club seems a little forced to me unless these people are REALLY funny, but other than a couple of members of the group who look like they're working at it, it seems that laughter really is contagious. It worked in Mary Poppins, why not India? Laugh on.

I used this image on our main AIDS story running up to World Aids Day, as I was touched by the expression the photographer captured on this child's face. Her eyes look so tired, and the placement of her hand on the woman's back looks so soft and sweet...as if the little girl is comforting her caregiver. I can only wonder and worry about what happens to the millions of children who are touched by a disease that is ravaging their families and their continent.

This picture just makes me happy. After seeing so many depressing, yet moving images of war, disease, poverty and the like, this provides a nice visual relief.

Kudos to the photographer for stepping back and looking at the big picture. He made a lovely image with a nice graphic element.

When I first saw this photo, I must admit that I initially laughed. The sunglasses mixed with the traditional head dress of this man struck me as funny. I know that this is a serious situation and I must admit my ignorance in the situation as well. Maybe these people always wear sunglasses, I have no idea. Still I think it is a funny picture.

This is a photo that I used today for our world news front. I absolutely loved this photo because of the colors and it was a nice clean, tight shot. I thought it was worthy of a stage photo. How does anyone else feel, does it have enough impact on you to have deserved a spot as a stage photo?

Lighting in a photo gets me every time. I always manage look at photos more intently when the light interests me. Now that doesn't mean that I don't look at other photos, just that I am a sucker when it comes to lighting, typically. I love the light in this photo. That small sliver on his face gives the photo that much more emotion. And the way the light falls off his face helps me to connect to this photo.