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Gazette photojournalists’ favorite news and feature photos of 2021
Dec. 27, 2021 6:00 am
Here are our top images of the year and what makes them special to photographers.
Savannah Blake
This is from the first photo story I worked on for The Gazette. I found a historical re-enactment group through Facebook called the “Guardians of the Black Forest” and decided to reach out to the founder to get a behind-the-scenes look. He invited me out to photograph Nov. 14 one of their member meetups at a rural farm. During my time there, founder Chris Wegner told me more about everything that goes into making their battle re-enactments more realistic, including their costumes. On average a member can spend several thousands of dollars on costumes, including battle gear and weapons. In this photo, Wegner requires the help of two members to help put on his chainmail. The chainmail itself is extremely heavy, since it is made out of metal and gets hot in the summer heat and cold in lower temperatures. I wanted to capture a photo that conveyed the members commitment to wearing historically accurate pieces and what it takes to get battle ready. (Savannah Blake/The Gazette)
This is from the first photo story I worked on for The Gazette. I found a historical re-enactment group through Facebook called the “Guardians of the Black Forest” and decided to reach out to the founder to get a behind-the-scenes look. He invited me out to photograph Nov. 14 one of their member meetups at a rural farm. During my time there, founder Chris Wegner told me more about everything that goes into making their battle re-enactments more realistic, including their costumes. On average a member can spend several thousands of dollars on costumes, including battle gear and weapons. In this photo, Wegner requires the help of two members to help put on his chainmail. The chainmail itself is extremely heavy, since it is made out of metal and gets hot in the summer heat and cold in lower temperatures. I wanted to capture a photo that conveyed the members commitment to wearing historically accurate pieces and what it takes to get battle ready. (Photo by Savannah Blake/The Gazette)
This is another favorite photo of mine that comes from the first public Menorah lighting ceremony in Cedar Rapids. When I arrived at the Nov. 29 event, I could see a group of men and boys dancing to traditional Jewish songs. I decided to go for a longer exposure photo, 1/4th of a second, to capture the organic movement of the dancers. With the event happening at night, there was little natural light to work with so I knew creating a long exposure photo would work as an advantage for me. The dancers performed for quite a while, which gave me the opportunity to also play around with different camera angles. I like the way this photo turned out and I believe it shows the energy and pride of the Jewish community here in Cedar Rapids. (Photo by Savannah Blake/The Gazette)
This is another favorite photo of mine that comes from the first public Menorah lighting ceremony in Cedar Rapids. When I arrived at the Nov. 29 event, I could see a group of men and boys dancing to traditional Jewish songs. I decided to go for a longer exposure photo, 1/4th of a second, to capture the organic movement of the dancers. With the event happening at night, there was little natural light to work with so I knew creating a long exposure photo would work as an advantage for me. The dancers performed for quite a while, which gave me the opportunity to also play around with different camera angles. I like the way this photo turned out and I believe it shows the energy and pride of the Jewish community here in Cedar Rapids. (Savannah Blake/The Gazette)
Geoff Stellfox
Drag performer Roxie Mess finishes her first song of the evening on Oct. 22 at Belle's Basix in Cedar Rapids. Not only was this one of my favorite photos of the year, but it was also one of my favorite slate of assignments. I became a journalist for nights like these; from shooting professional hockey for the first time in my career, to spending the rest of the evening getting to know the talented Roxie Mess and learning about Cedar Rapid’s drag scene, which remains underground relative to where I came from in the Chicagoland area. In fact, my reporter and I were shocked at how few people understood what a drag queen is in the first place. As a journalist it’s important to me to find and tell stories that challenge readers perceptions of the world and find perspectives that have been ignored and that may make us at times uncomfortable or rattle some cages. (Geoff Stellfox/The Gazette)
Drag performer Roxie Mess finishes her first song of the evening on Oct. 22 at Belle's Basix in Cedar Rapids. Not only was this one of my favorite photos of the year, but it was also one of my favorite slate of assignments. I became a journalist for nights like these; from shooting professional hockey for the first time in my career, to spending the rest of the evening getting to know the talented Roxie Mess and learning about Cedar Rapid’s drag scene, which remains underground relative to where I came from in the Chicagoland area. In fact, my reporter and I were shocked at how few people understood what a drag queen is in the first place. As a journalist it’s important to me to find and tell stories that challenge readers perceptions of the world and find perspectives that have been ignored and that may make us at times uncomfortable or rattle some cages. (Photo by Geoff Stellfox/The Gazette)
Hannah Longmire and her teammates stretch before their race on Oct. 12 at Cherry Hill Park in Cedar Rapids. Longmire, an eighth-grader at Northwest Middle School, is a double amputee and the lead runner on her school’s cross-country team. I took this photo on my first full day of assignments, and it helped to put my career back in perspective. Uprooting your life is always scary, and after spending almost eight years living near Chicago and my hometown, a move to the Cedar Rapids and a job at the state’s best paper made me question myself, my worth and if I’m cut out to be a photojournalist. However, as soon as I met 14-year-old Hannah Longmire, everything made sense. Not only is her positive personality infectious, she’s one of the toughest, most grounded people I’ve ever met. Watching her run reminded me why I push myself to continuously grow. (Geoff Stellfox/The Gazette)
Hannah Longmire and her teammates stretch before their race on Oct. 12 at Cherry Hill Park in Cedar Rapids. Longmire, an eighth-grader at Northwest Middle School, is a double amputee and the lead runner on her school’s cross-country team. I took this photo on my first full day of assignments, and it helped to put my career back in perspective. Uprooting your life is always scary, and after spending almost eight years living near Chicago and my hometown, a move to the Cedar Rapids and a job at the state’s best paper made me question myself, my worth and if I’m cut out to be a photojournalist. However, as soon as I met 14-year-old Hannah Longmire, everything made sense. Not only is her positive personality infectious, she’s one of the toughest, most grounded people I’ve ever met. Watching her run reminded me why I push myself to continuously grow. (Photo by Geoff Stellfox/The Gazette)
Jim Slosiarek
Who doesn’t like a good haircut before the start of the school year? Photojournalism is about capturing the moments and expressions of the people we photograph. I like the little slice of life moment with 10-year-old Travonte Davis. William Burt, founder and owner of Kut Kings in Waterloo, cuts Travonte's hair on June 14 in his mobile barbershop in the parking lot at Westminster Presbyterian Church in southeast Cedar Rapids. Burt started Kut Kings Mobile Barber Shop to help the underserved who lack the resources to get grooming services on their own. Burt hopes to expand the program to other cities besides Waterloo and Cedar Rapids and involve more barbers. (Photo by Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)
Who doesn’t like a good haircut before the start of the school year? Photojournalism is about capturing the moments and expressions of the people we photograph. I like the little slice of life moment with 10-year-old Travonte Davis. William Burt, founder and owner of Kut Kings in Waterloo, cuts the hair of Travonte Davis, 10, on June 14 in his mobile barbershop in the parking lot at Westminster Presbyterian Church in southeast Cedar Rapids. Burt started Kut Kings Mobile Barber Shop to help the underserved who lack the resources to get grooming services on their own. Burt hopes to expand the program to other cities besides Waterloo and Cedar Rapids and involve more barbers. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)
I was taken with the effort that Aftab Afridi took to give assistance to Shakil Safi. Afridi is literally prying Safi's fingers from the bag. The tradition of hospitality is rooted in Islam and was evident in Afridi's actions. It's such an incredible and heartbreaking journey that Safi and his fellow humanitarian parolees from Afghanistan are experiencing. Leaving parents, siblings, wives and children behind and arriving in Iowa with only the bags they traveled with. Aftab Afridi (left) pries the fingers of Shakil Safi so that he can carry Safi's luggage Oct. 29 at The Eastern Iowa Airport. Safi, an Afghan humanitarian parole, arrived with fellow parole Zia Zikhail. (Photo by Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)
I was taken with the effort that Aftab Afridi took to give assistance to Shakil Safi. Afridi is literally prying Safi's fingers from the bag. The tradition of hospitality is rooted in Islam and was evident in Afridi's actions. It's such an incredible and heartbreaking journey that Safi and his fellow humanitarian parolees from Afghanistan are experiencing. Leaving parents, siblings, wives and children behind and arriving in Iowa with only the bags they traveled with. Aftab Afridi (left) pries the fingers of Shakil Safi so that he can carry Safi's luggage Oct. 29 at The Eastern Iowa Airport. Safi, an Afghan humanitarian parole, arrived with fellow parole Zia Zikhail. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)
