Gazette photographers pick their favorite News photos of April 2019

I like the blue sky and clouds as well as the hands of Sammy and Jon mirroring each other as they pound polystyrene into place along what became a facsimile of the Berlin Wall. Once students from Metro High School put on the synthetic stucco and an artist painted on graffiti, it really does look like a concrete section of the wall. Metro High School students Sammy Haugen (left) and Jon Hills beat polystyrene tubes into place as they and other students and members of the Carpenter's Union local build a replica of the Berlin Wall at the National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library in southwest Cedar Rapids, Iowa, on Monday, April 15, 2019. The mock-up is part of the project, titled Revolution Starts in the Streets and coincides with the 30th anniversary of the fall of the wall in 1989. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

The sun sets on Cedar Lake in Cedar Rapids on Tuesday, April 16, 2019. This assignment was initally scheduled for day that was forecast to be cloudy so I went to the lake on one of my days off when I saw that the light looked promising as evening approached with just enough clouds to give the sky some interest. This was one of the last frames I shot as it became too dark to shoot without a tripod (which I didn't bring since I wasn't supposed to work on this day) but the silhouette of the feeding bird really makes the image for me. (Cliff Jette/The Gazette)

Holly Strehlow holds her daughter Kailey Strehlow, 3 (left), while Liz Fornter plays with her daughter Arrayah Fortner, 3, at the Strehlow home in North Liberty on Wednesday, April 3, 2019. Kailey and Arrayah both have a congenital heart defect, Hypoplastic left heart syndrome, and will be flying together to Duke Children's Hospital for their third and last planned palliative procedures. (Liz Martin/The Gazette)

I was taken by the affection shown from mother to daughter as Delaine Petersen strokes her profoundly disabled daughter Leslie's cheek and talks to her in the kitchen of their home in northeast Cedar Rapids, Iowa, on Thursday, April 4, 2019. I couldn't tell if Leslie was comprehending anything her mother was saying to her. But, mothers know and after Delaine and her husband Pete have been caregivers for their daughter for 46 years, I'm sure they notice those subtle signs of recognition in Leslie. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

An egret takes flight from a pond on the property of Jim and Nina Beeghly near Fayette on Thursday, April 18, 2019. I didn't have a long enough lens to get very close to the egret before it flew off but I liked the horizontal patterns in this image. (Cliff Jette/The Gazette)

Former Vice President Joe Biden speaks at Veterans Memorial Building in Cedar Rapids on Tuesday, April 30, 2019. Biden is making his first visit to Iowa after announcing his bid for the Democratic presidential nomination. (Liz Martin/The Gazette)

Adam Smith of Cedar Rapids looks a fingerprints identified as possible evidence at a simulated crime scene during a Criminal Investigation class at Kirkwood Community College in Cedar Rapids on Friday, April 12, 2019. Students worked in small groups to investigate a possible murder scene set up in a storage room at Cedar Hall, with assistance from local law enforcement officers. The obvious photo is the wider shot of several students and the overall crime scene but I like the light on the student and this more of a detail image of the student concentrating on the possible evidence. (Cliff Jette/The Gazette)

(from left) Doreen Meier of Cedar Rapids chats with her cousin Susan Mulletworth of Oakley, Buckinghamshire in England in Cedar Rapids on Thursday, April 11, 2019. Doreen had become estranged from her family after an marrying an American and moving to the US. Susan had unsuccessfully tried to contact her for years and was finally able to connect via Doreen's daughter-in-law Janet Meier of Cedar Rapids. The backlighting and the expressions of the subjects are what make this image for me. (Cliff Jette/The Gazette)

Four-year-old Cru Ketelsen of Cedar Rapids use a bucket to help him as he ice skates for the first time during Try Hockey for Free Day presented by RoughRiders Hockey Club Cedar Rapids and USA Hockey at the Cedar Rapids Ice Arena in Sunday, April 14, 2019. Hockey players from the RoughRiders Hockey Club, Maidens of Mayhem girls hockey team and Corridor Hockey Association adult leagues were on hand to teach the participating children basic ice skating and ice hockey skills. This is a very chaotic event with the ice filled with kids and instructors and I was drawn to the fact this skater looks like he's having fun. (Cliff Jette/The Gazette).

I spent some time at the recently reopened hardware store for a business feature. I probably stayed longer than I should but I wasn't satisfied with the photos I was seeing. It was clear from the reactions of many of the customers that they were happy to have their neighborhood hardware store open again. I think the sentiment was mutual among the employees also as Phil Cronin ands other employees thanked them for shopping at the store. Store manager Phil Cronin (left) shakes hands with LeRoy Bright and thanks him for his patronage at the Vernon Village True Value hardware store, 3501 Mt. Vernon Rd. SE, in southeast Cedar Rapids, Iowa, on Wednesday, April 10, 2019. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

What better way to illustrate a story about a physical therapist with a dance background providing care to other dancers than to capture the therapist demonstrating what she wants her client to do? Physical therapist Rebecca Strabala (left) demonstrates a move for Jordan Sanders, a sophomore St. Ambrose University dance team member, during her physical therapy session at Mercy Health Plaza, 5264 Council St. NE, in northeast Cedar Rapids, Iowa, on Friday, April 12, 2019. Strabala, a dance major in college, uses her dance knowledge to better tailor treatment exercises to what her dance clients. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

I don't know how a person ignores someone while that person is speaking to them using a megaphone? It takes me back to my college days photographing similar demonstrations for better benefits for faculty. Naomi Runder an organizer with Iowa State Action speaks to University of Iowa president Bruce Harreld, calling on Harreld to be an advocate for the university workers, as members of the union SEIU take over the Iowa Board of Regents meeting at the university's Levitt Center for University Advancement in Iowa City, Iowa, on Thursday, April 18, 2019. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

Refugee, mostly from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, make their homes in Cedar Rapids. I was attracted to the brightly-colored head wrap worn by one of the women attending a meeting on how to start a childcare business that serves the refugee community. A brightly colored head wrap worn by Rebecca Furaha is seen as refugee outreach worker and translator David Mulaji translates English into Swahili during an informational meeting at the Catherine McAuley Center in southeast Cedar Rapids, Iowa, on Monday, April 15, 2019. The center started the Refugee Child Care Business Development program to help migrants set up childcare businesses, meeting a statewide need. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

I liked how owner Nassor Cooper was so hands-on in trouble shooting details at the opening of his first bar including showing his friend Tiny how to electronically access the selection of arcade games in the first hour that Cooper's 80s-themed bar was open for business. Nassor Cooper (right) explains an arcade game console to Nathan 'Tiny' Brashaw at Cooper's bar The Rewind, 1010 2nd Avenue SW, in southwest Cedar Rapids, Iowa, on Monday, April 15, 2019. The 80's-themed is Cooper's first and features 80s music and decor as well as two arcade consoles with 80s era arcade games. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

Food photography is a true art. Even though I and my favorite food writer Meredith act as our own food stylists, we do pretty good work. I bounced the light out of a silver umbrella to give a more directional quality of light and harder shadows. Cheesecake Cookie Cups for Everybody Eats food column on using muffin pans in North Liberty, Iowa, on Friday, April 5, 2019. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

Between a number of food columnists and profiles on new restaurants and bars, the staff photographs a lot of food. Most of the food shoots are on location where we bring in our lighting. I augmented the natural light coming through a skylight with electronic flash. I'm not a food stylist. I prefer to find a pleasing composition in how the chef or cook plated the dish. Smoked ham pickle wraps off the Half Chews section of the menu are available at Moniker 86 Social Club, 821 Third Ave. SE, in southeast Cedar Rapids, on Monday, April 22, 2019. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

Dwayne Hensch, golf maintenance worker, clears flood debris at Jones Golf Course in Cedar Rapids on Tuesday, April 2, 2019. Late winter flooding has caused a delay in the course opening this season. (Liz Martin/The Gazette)

United Fire Group CEO Randy Ramlo (center) prepares to pose for a photo with other company, construction and civic leaders during an open house at the American Building, new corporate headquarters of United Fire Group, in Cedar Rapids on Monday, April 22, 2019. UFG remodeled the American building, which was built in 1914, and built a 50,000-square-foot expansion to the west. (Liz Martin/The Gazette)