Gazette photographers Bill Olmsted and Dan Lassiter choose their favorite photographs of 2010.
C'mon...How could this not be a favorite photo?
Photo By: Bill Olmsted
The first snowfall in our area is generally an event for The Gazette to take note of. This year produced such a light, wispy covering that I challenged myself to find something different, creative, and interesting to mark the day. Although it was met with some in-office skepticism, some readers appreciated the effort and I think I met the challenge.
Photo By: Bill Olmsted
My photos have always been displayed an eye to graphics and this one is no exception. From the perspectives of a photographer and a gardener, the curves and colors of this giant plant were so striking that I was driven to find a way to show them to their best advantage.
Photo By: Bill Olmsted
I shot a lot of graduation photos in 2010. It's surprising how difficult it can be to get something fresh and interesting, and the more of them we cover, the harder it gets. Milton High School decided to go ahead with an outdoor graduation, despite threatening skies and weather radar that said a storm was brewing. When a downpour occurred midway through Hannah Hermanson's commencement speech, she had to cut it short. Not before she told classmates it was their turn to make headlines. These students in the front row told the story with their faces. One revealed in the moment, another grimaced. Despite getting soaked along with my equipment, I still loved making this photo.
Photo By: Dan Lassiter
Reaction photos are often difficult to come by in sports but in a rivalry game with the Rock Valley North baseball championship at stake, this game between Evansville and Edgerton had a lot of potential. When Jeremy Weaver hit a 2-run homer that put Evansville up 3-0 in the first inning against hosting Edgerton, his teammates waited for him at the plate with a series of expressions that seem almost out of a Norman Rockwell painting. Luckily I was shooting on the third base side when it happened. Evansville went on to win and the season ended in a 3-way tie between Evansville, Edgerton and Jefferson.
Photo By: Dan Lassiter
When Pfc. Ryan Lonergan of Elkhorn got a kiss on the cheek from his niece Gabrielle Simons, 4, of Clinton, it made waking up at 3:30 a.m. to make the trek to Volk Field at Camp Douglas for the return from Iraq of Company A of the 132nd Support Battalion all the sweeter. I was happy to see our boys coming home, but even happier to catch such a sweet moment.
