2023 in Photos
The best pictures taken during my first year as a full-time photojournalist, with work spanning two jobs and two vastly different regions in the United States, from the Lincoln Journal Star in east Nebraska to the Grand Junction Daily Sentinel in western Colorado. Most compelling images as well as most visually interesting. Big appreciation to everyone who let me document your memories and stories, it's all about you.
Braelynn Sirk, 2, face covered in marker, smiles while freely drawing on a giant color board as her mother laughs in the background during a day at the Mesa County Fair in Grand Junction, CO, on July 12, 2023.
Kouassi Occansey, from Nebraska, races toward the finish line of the full Lincoln Marathon as an American flag waves in the spring wind in Lincoln, Nebraska, on Sunday, May 7, 2023.
A morning crew worker from Talbott Farms hand picks grapes while sporting a local Grand Junction High School hoodie during a grape harvest in Palisade, CO, on Oct. 10, 2023.
Nebraska Sen. Megan Hunt (from left), Sen. Jen Day and Sen. Machaela Cavanaugh embrace while being cheered on by supporters after a bill banning abortions past six weeks failed to pass at the Nebraska State Capitol on Thursday, April 27, 2023.
Easton Zeldenthuis ropes a calf as rays from a setting Colorado sun gleam through the fairgrounds during a breakaway roping competition at the Delta County Fair on Aug. 5, 2023.
Faythe Gray, middle left, fights off Nolan Thompson’s pass rush, right, as Marc Gray winds up for a pass during an annual Thanksgiving football game at the Mesa County Fairgrounds Park on Nov. 23, 2023. The tradition, in its ninth year, brings out 10-15 members of the Gray, Root and Cordova families every year to spend time as a large family before splitting off for Thanksgiving at each of their homes. This year, they made a Facebook post inviting other families to join.
Skiers and snowboarders hit the slopes during opening day at Powderhorn Mountain Resort on Grand Mesa, CO, on Nov. 24, 2023.
Grand Valley residents walk down Grand Junction’s Main Street under a sea of colorful lights after the annual tree lighting ceremony on Nov. 18, 2023.
A fiery meteor from the Perseids meteor shower falls past the Earth’s atmosphere alongside a glowing Milky Way atop the Grand Mesa on Aug. 13, 2023.
A cowboy and his horse rest under a dim light at the Collbran Rodeo Grounds arena after the sun had set during the Plateau Valley Heritage Days rodeo on July 4, 2023.
Jacob Dillon, right, pledges allegiance to the United States flag alongside members of his firefighting academy graduation class before their graduation ceremony at the Grand Junction Convention Center on July 7 2023.
Central High School head football coach Ryan Whittington, left, smiles after patting a player on the back of the head during a practice on Aug. 23, 2023.
Arianna Martinez, 4, smiles while wearing a snowman hat and sucking on a lolly pop as Christmas lights shine in the background during the city of Palisade’s Olde Fashioned Christmas and tree lighting in downtown Palisade, CO, on Dec. 1, 2023.
Concert goers sing along and mosh pit to a various assortment of emo and punk rock songs including “Chop Suey!” by System Of a Down and “Nine in the Afternoon” by Panic! At The Disco during Emo Night Brooklyn at the Mesa Theatre on Aug. 11, 2023.
Spectators watch the Blue Angels perform above the Grand Junction Regional Airport (GJT) from atop mounds of dirt at a construction site nearby Horizon Drive on Oct. 15, 2023.
Jeffrey Mages uses a magnifying glass to inspect a large marijuana nug grown hydroponically in New Jersey at his home in Grand Junction on Dec. 11, 2023. Mages gets sent smokeable bud, edibles and other THC-infused items from all around the country to test for quality, taste, feel and other variables, as part as his job as a certified ganjier, or sometimes known as cannabis sommelier. He is one of two ganjiers in the Grand Valley.
A herd of 8-10 bighorn sheep take in the view of a frosty Grand Valley from the Colorado National Monument after Grand Junction saw its first snow storm of the 2023-2024 fall and winter seasons, with central Grand Junction seeing around 1.5 inches of snow while Orchard Mesa and the GJT saw an upwards of three inches overnight, on Nov. 25, 2023.
A model peaks out from behind rainbow-colored curtains before walking in a Colorado West Pride fashion show at the Colorado Mesa University Plaza as part of 2023 PrideFest festivities on Sep. 7, 2023.
Cedar Catholic's Lauren Bernecker, from left, Samantha Rick and Kathlyne Jones hold back emotions after being knocked out of the Nebraska state class D basketball tournament by Centura in a semifinal game at the Bob Devaney Sports Center on Friday, March 3, 2023.
A Wildland Firefighter helicopter flies above the flames of the Spring Creek Fire nearby Battlement Mesa, Colorado, on June 27, 2023. The blaze lasted for two months before 100% containment, with 3,200 acres burned in its wake.
Waylon Wilson, 2, plays a game of Connect 4 while suited up in a T-Rex costume during a Halloween event at Whitman Park on Oct. 17, 2023.
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Wahoo celebrates after defeating Waverly as a Waverly player exits the field in the Nebraska B-2 District Final at Sam Crawford Field on Friday, May 5, 2023.
A rainbow parachute is lifted to unveil 24 bicycles to be donated toward kindergartners at Shelledy Elementary School in Grand Junction, CO, on Nov. 29, 2023. The Strider bicycles were donated through a partnership between HDR, an engineering firm based out of Omaha, Nebraska, and the organization All Kids Bike.
A Native American boy waits for his turn to perform a traditional Native American dance during the Downtown Arts Festival in Grand Junction on Oct. 6, 2023. The regalia and shoe-wear worn is handmade at reservations in Utah, preserving a tradition of hand-sewn animal skin and cloth. This group included dancers from the Southern Ute tribe, the Ute Tribe and the Ute Mountain tribe.
Eric Luebke, middle, smiles at his dad while learning how to control an ice sled during the first meeting for a new para sled hockey program at the River City Sportplex in Grand Junction on July 28, 2023.
Colorado Mesa University theatre arts major Emma Gregory signs her handprint on one of the final beams added to the university's new theatre arts building, which is set to open in fall of 2024, during a topping off ceremony on Nov. 17, 2023.
A car fire at 620 S 17th St. blazes on through a mild snow storm as Lincoln Fire and Rescue circle the vehicle to assess the best way to put out the flames on Thursday, March 16, 2023.
Murphy Riley puffs on a cigar after reeling in a fish for his third catch of the day at Holmes Lake during a spring afternoon that reached the mid 60s on Monday, April 17, 2023.
Rapper Wiz Khalifa stands in front of a giant astronaut while performing at Pinnacle Bank Arena as the main headline of the Goodtrip Tour on Friday, April 21, 2023. Smoke filled the arena for the day-after 4/20 celebration.
Aspen trees account for much of the vibrant fall colors seen atop the Grand Mesa as the seasons change, taken in-camera with a short shutter speed and a motion blur technique on Oct. 3, 2023.
Nebraska's Keisei Tominaga (30) celebrates with the crowd after sinking a three-point shot against Michigan State at Pinnacle Bank Arena on Tuesday, Feb. 28, 2023.
Two children and two adults were rescued from the Plateau River by Palisade EMS and concerned community members after the vehicle hit a patch of slick icy road on Highway 65 and crashed into the river on Dec. 9, 2023. EMS personnel used a rope system to safely rescue the family from the dangerously cold and fast moving river.
Echo Bartels, left, and Lauren Speadt take a careful look at the underside of a ewe’s belly while trimming hairs before a 4-H sheep showmanship competition at the Mesa County Fair on July 12, 2023. As per annual tradition at the Mesa County Fair, Bartles took home multiple first place awards, including the heaviest steer weighing in over 2,000 pounds.
A duck flaps its wings while trying to balance on a thin sheet of ice atop Highline Lake while the sun shines on a golden rock which reflects onto the water. Come late January this duck and the rest of its flock will have to find another water source to rest in, as the lake will be completely drained next month to try to cure a years-long zebra mussel issue.
