DJ Ryan Swift

Over the past three years, the staff at LIFE.com has pored over tens of thousands of extraordinary LIFE pictures — including some of the most celebrated photographs ever made. Here, in an exercise that proved thrilling, humbling, satisfying, and exasperating all at once, each staffer selected five all-time favorites. Could we have expanded the list to 10, or 20, or 50 favorites? In a heartbeat. But for now, these will have to suffice.

Click to find out.

Sweet gallery entitled “Duke Ellington, Jazz Genius” from LIFE Magazine.