2D graphics

[LoLFactor]

I have to do a project for school and it involves 2D graphics. I wish to make a small game and need an efficient way to work with images: collision detection, animation and such.
For Windows, what library do you recommend? I've considered GDI+ and Direct2D, but both are a bit low-level.

[ultifinitus]

I would recommend SDL (Simple DirectMedia Layer) I have been learning it lately and the lazyfoo website has some amazing tutorials on how to get programming with it- of course you could also use openGL if you wanted to get a little more involved but for a school project I think that SDL would be the way to go.

[Mythios]

If you want to have any form of image rotation in your game you'll probably want to look at openGL as well. But openGL can be a little overwhelming when you first learn it. If I was you I'd start with SDL. And as ultifinitus said - take a look at www.lazyfoo.net