On a previous visit to her brother’s London flat, Francesca Jones had taken her own reading light. Margot, her almost seven-year-old niece, was quite taken with it, so for her next birthday, Jones gave it to Margot.

“Margot had a camp bed in her parents’ room while I was staying. That night, she was snuggled up reading to me from her book, Jasmine the Present Fairy, light around her neck. It was such a special moment, so I captured it; I don’t think she even noticed me taking it,” Jones says. “I’d have missed it had I gone off to get my digital camera, or she would have noticed and I wouldn’t have captured something so authentic.” In editing the image, she enhanced the saturation and lifted the shadows a little, but nothing more.

The feeling of being engrossed in a book is something Jones recognises from her own childhood. “I think it’s quite magical,” she says. “The shot makes me feel nostalgic, as well as invoking a sense of poignancy. It’s crazy how short childhood is, and how fast they grow up. It’s not so long ago that I was reading to her; now she reads to me. It all sounds a bit cliched, but I didn’t really appreciate that until I became an auntie.”

Jones hopes her image will act as a reminder of the passing of time. “We should savour our time with our loved ones,” she says.

Kansas City had an eventful year, with a Super Bowl victory and parade, a shooting that grabbed the nation’s attention, concerts by pop superstars, a new airport and so much more.

If you follow our work by keeping your dial tuned to 89.3, you would have heard a year of audio-rich stories — but you would have missed the visuals we put in each story. Carlos revisited some of the photographs he and KCUR’s staff produced in case you didn’t see them the first time around, or want to look back at the year before 2024 begins.

In February, the Chiefs pulled out a come-from-behind victory over the Philadelphia Eagles, 38-35, to earn their third Super Bowl trophy.

I started the evening at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception where unhoused people were treated to a watch party. Then, I shifted to John’s Big Deck where tightly packed fans were in a fine mood as I left for Power and Light. When I got there, though, fans were much less happy as the third quarter wound down.

But the crowd’s mood began to turn as Kansas City made two fourth quarter touchdowns and Harrison Butker put the Chiefs ahead with a 27-yard field goal with 5:07 to play.

This was among the images I made after the Eagles’ Jalen Hurts’ last pass fell incomplete.

In late February, Kansas Citians finally strolled through the new terminal at the Kansas City International Airport after nearly five years of construction.

The $1.5 billion single-terminal airport opened to enthusiastic reviews for its use of public art, local food vendors and technology. But as the year wore on, it became clear that users still struggled to navigate the cell phone lot and congestion at the arrivals curb.

The media visited the terminal at different stages of its construction. I felt that this moment, a few weeks before the facility fully opened, best captured what this building offers, with lots of light and art, versus what the older horseshoe-shaped terminals didn’t offer. The photo has a weird mix of light flare and lines that are a bit disorienting, but to me, this shows what this terminal is all about.

In June, Kansas City, Missouri, was well on its way to another grim year for gun violence and homicides.

We try not to make the series of homicides just a number, but it’s hard to put a human face on the death toll in Kansas City.

I found Rosilyn Temple with Mothers in Charge standing near the scene of a homicide on College Avenue near 74th Street on June 14, where a shooting occurred that morning. She was standing by to comfort neighbors and family. A woman had been shot and died inside a home.

The NFL Draft came to Union Station in April

Not only did the NFL stage the draft on the grounds of the historic train station, the league sponsored events around town. Among these was a play day for area students who got to hang out and run NFL-type drills with college players in town for draft nights.

Middle schoolers ran through dummies, performed agility drills and caught passes with future stars such as Texas’ Bijon Robinson, Ohio State’s C.J Stroud and Alabama’s Bryce Young.

A local photographer makes beautiful photographs by freezing flowers

In August, KCUR’s Julie Denesha visited another photographer, Susan Pfannmuller, who buys a lot of flowers — but she doesn’t put the bouquets in vases. Instead, she freezes them in containers of water to create stunning images.

Julie and I are photojournalists by trade, and it’s always fascinating how other photographers approach subject matter and develop (pun intended) techniques that move beyond the way we see the world. Freezing things and encasing them in ice makes for a bold artistic choice and creates a whole new way to see things.

The Sobela Ocean Aquarium at the Kansas City Zoo opened in late August to enthusiastic crowds

The aquarium boasts 8,000 aquatic creatures that are part of the 34 exhibits in the meandering building. Local media and social influencers were invited to a preview of the facility’s 650,000 gallons of different habitats from around the world before it officially opened.

The exhibits offer no end of photographic opportunities. It takes a little patience and some luck to find moments that might stand out from the others. I spent a little extra time peeking over the shoulders of many bloggers and other folks who wanted to show and tell their audiences about Kansas City’s newest attraction. The jellyfish, I thought, provided a mesmerizing place to make a photo and relax in the dark.

The KC Wheel popped into the Kansas City skyline in mid-September

KC Wheel emerged seemingly overnight next to I-35 in Kansas City’s Westside. But finding a clear shot of the Ferris wheel with the city’s skyline behind it proved challenging.

There are several billboards around it. Numerous power poles and other utilities dot the area, making a clean shot difficult. After driving around it a few times and on different days, I discovered a back way in using Jefferson Street. It took a delicate climb along the embankment of northbound I-35 to get this image without anything covering it up or giving anyone too much free advertising.

Taylor Swift left an impression on Kansas City in 2023

It began with her Eras tour, which came to town for two — TWO! — shows at Arrowhead Stadium. Her romance with Chiefs’ tight end Travis Kelce, and her appearances at home and away football games, have made her a constant presence in Kansas Citians’ orbit.

In September, we visited the Swift merchandise pop-up trailers outside Arrowhead prior to her performances to make photos of the crowd scooping up T-shirts, posters and other merchandise. But I thought these large cutouts of her that adorned artist Jeff Parson’s yard in Riverside delivered a playful punch to the enthusiasm and over-the-top mania that she brought and left in the area.

Kansas City Ballet premiered Jekyll and Hyde in October

KCUR’s arts reporter Julie Denesha photographed and wrote about Val Caniparoli’s rendition of Jekyll and Hyde.”

He premiered the performance of Robert Louis Stephenson’s gothic novella in North America at the Kansas City Ballet.

During dress rehearsal, Julie captured the struggle between good and evil as it played out on stage between performers Cameron Thomas (Hyde) and Gavin Abercrombie (Jekyll).

Freight Train Rabbit Killer celebrated 10 years

October was a good month for photography at KCUR. Frank Morris, NPR’s national correspondent based at KCUR, created a remarkable audio piece about local music group Freight Train Rabbit Killer.

Frank spent time with the band and made this image of them performing at the Kansas City fashion show for Mark Smeltzer’s dead rabbit-themed clothing. Frank has a crafty eye for images and used his phone with its wide-angle lens to capture the colors and “crashing, heavy blues, swirled with dark opera and the devil,” as Frank described their music.

The American Royal Livestock Show gave children a chance to show off their animals

Also in October, I got a chance to spend a couple of days weaving in and out of the sawdust-covered floors of the hog barn and dirt-filled arenas of Hale Center at the American Royal Livestock Show with Harvest Public Media reporter Eva Tesfaye. Livestock shows are one of my favorite places to photograph. The people are friendly and very open to having their pictures taken. Plus, there are many unpredictable moments and great stories to find.

Eight-year-old Allison Throckmorton from San Antonio, Texas, had just finished showing off her sheep, Tornado, and was taking time to do an interview with Eva. While they talked, I snapped candid photos. She would play and nuzzle with Tornado as she interviewed. Those were really fun photos. Allison exhibited a comfortable and bubbly nature during the interview. When they finished, I asked her to pose with Tornado for a portrait. I normally don’t like to use photos of people mugging for the camera, but this image seemed so natural and fun that I felt it was the best reflection of her relationship with her project.

Photography is an art that requires patience, talent, and a keen eye for detail. When it comes to wildlife photography, the challenge is even greater. This article will discuss the story of a remarkable photographer who, against all odds, has mastered the art of capturing stunning images of birds and butterflies in motion.

The Tale of a Courageous Photographer

Andrew Fusek Peters, a seasoned wildlife photographer, faced a life-changing event when he was diagnosed with cancer. Instead of letting the disease get the best of him, he channelled his energy into developing new photographic techniques to capture the beauty of nature. Using a high-speed photography system, he takes between 10,000 to 15,000 shots just to get one sequence in focus. His dedication and commitment have resulted in visually captivating images that offer a unique perspective on the natural world.

Peters has been cancer-free for four years now, and his passion for photography remains unyielding. He has already published a book titled ‘Butterfly Safari’ and is currently working on another one documenting garden wildlife. In addition to his photography work, Peters is a strong advocate for conservation in the UK.

Freezing Time: Capturing Birds and Butterflies in Motion

What makes Peters’ work stand out is his ability to freeze time and capture the graceful movements of these creatures. The intricate details of birds and butterflies in flight highlight their vibrant colors and the mesmerizing beauty of nature. Each image tells a story of resilience, survival, and the miracle of life.

His captivating images provide a close-up view of these creatures that we typically see from afar or in quick, fleeting glances. Through his lens, we can appreciate the delicate patterns on a butterfly’s wings or the sleek aerodynamics of a bird in flight.

Photography as a Tool for Conservation

While his work is undeniably beautiful, Peters is also using his photography as a tool for conservation. He hopes that by showcasing the beauty of these creatures, he can inspire others to take action and protect these species and their habitats.

His upcoming book on garden wildlife is not just a collection of stunning photographs; it is also a testament to the rich biodiversity that can be found in our own backyards. Peters’ work reminds us that we share our world with these creatures and that it is our responsibility to ensure their survival.

In conclusion, Andrew Fusek Peters’ story is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the power of art. His stunning images of birds and butterflies in motion serve as a reminder of the beauty of nature and the importance of conservation. So, the next time you see a bird in flight or a butterfly fluttering by, take a moment to appreciate their beauty and the intricate details that make them unique.

Sol Campbell, London – 23 January

46mm lens 1/1000^th f2.8 ISO 800

We had an interview with the former England international in which he opened up about living with the threats that still go on 22 years after his acrimonious move from Spurs to Arsenal. I wanted to take a portrait that hinted at this so I placed him looking out from a window of his London home.

England v Italy, Six Nations, Twickenham – 12 February

560mm lens 1/2000^th f4 ISO 4000

Aaah, I just love the hurly-burly of international rugby. I don’t know what it is with modern rugby players’ shorts but this sort of incident is happening more and more. Possibly something to do with the lower tackle heights? Are players now targeting the shorts as an area to grab hold of?

Manchester City celebration, Emirates Stadium, London – 15 February

59mm lens 1/1250 f4 ISO 4000

This seemed to be a key moment in a pivotal match in the Premier League title race. City, away at Arsenal, taking the lead in the second half and really stamping their authority over their nearest challengers. When Jack Grealish scored, I quickly got up from my seat and ran over to the corner flag where they were celebrating as I wanted to get the scoreboard in the background. But what makes this picture for me is the expression on Erling Harland’s face, seeming to sob with joy on his teammate’s shoulder.

The Severn Bore, Minsterworth, Gloucestershire – 23 February

400mm lens 1/2000 f3.5 ISO 400

I was down in the Bristol area covering an evening England Lionesses match when I realised that the next morning there was going to be a five-star Severn Bore. This natural phenomenon happens when a very high tide causes a wave of water to travel miles up the river and canoeists and surfers can enjoy epic rides. I had no idea really what I was doing or where I should go for the best view so headed to a pub called the Severn Bore and waited, and waited and waited. Finally it arrived and I couldn’t believe how close the surfers were to the river bank, ducking dangerously under branches as they sped by.

Wales v England, Six Nations, Cardiff – 25 February

190mm lens 1/1600 f4 ISO 4000

This is a fairly simple picture to take, it’s just a matter of being in the right place at the right time and not missing it. The Principality Stadium is fantastic for photographing rugby, the sight lines and backgrounds are so good especially in the corners for tries. It’s always pulsating when England are down to play there.

Cross Country Chase, Cheltenham Festival – 15 March

160mm lens 1/1600 f4 ISO 2500

Jockey Ben Jones is dumped into the bottom of the final fence after his horse Francky Du Berlais refused to jump. Horse racing has the knack of producing the odd comic picture like this. Even though for the majority of time I’m photographing the winners of races, it sometimes pays off to turn my lens on some of the back-markers.

Mary Earps, England v Brazil, Wembley – 6 April

130mm lens 1/1600 f4 ISO 4000

Mary Earps of England celebrates after her heroics in the penalty shootout helped win the Women’s Finalissima for the Lionesses. For the recently crowned BBC Sports Personality of the Year, this was just the start of a memorable year. She is great to take pictures off because she always wears her heart on her sleeve, never concealing her emotions whether winning or losing. Immediately after the match ended I knew she would do something so I placed myself between her and the crowd. Thanks Mary, I knew you wouldn’t let me down.

The Chair, Aintree – 13 April

29mm lens 1/2500 f13 ISO 1250

I have always loved photographing the famous Chair fence on the Grand National course at Aintree. The enormous ditch on the take-off side can inspire the horses to make huge, daring leaps. Plus when it’s a nice, sunny day the lighting can be perfect. For this image I put a remote camera in the ditch, adjusted the settings to get as much depth of focus as possible combined with a very fast shutter speed to freeze the sideways action and hoped for the best.

Mo Farah, London Marathon – 23 April

155mm lens 1/1600 f4 ISO 1000

This was Farah’s last ever marathon before he retired for good later in the year. He seemed quite a disconsolate figure as he turned off his watch while slowly crossing the line. The finish at The Mall has such a spectacular background and I liked how it contrasted with the slightly sad athlete. It made me think back fondly to the many times I have photographed Farah crossing various lines in jubilation.

Coventry v Luton, Championship play-off final, Wembley – 27 May

70mm lens 1/1600 f4 ISO 2500

It’s the penalty shootout in the world’s richest match, the prize a spot in the Premier League. Luton Town have just scored their sixth successful penalty and up steps Fankaty Dabo of Coventry City. Next, oh dear – he skies his shot high and wide and Luton have won. Recently I have worked out a bit of a plan for penalty shootouts where I try to get as near to the goal as possible on the left hand side. This is where the goalkeepers stand when they are not in action but it means a lot of celebrations happen towards them. However, the assistant referee also stands on that side on the goal line. So to get a clear view I go much nearer the goal, a tactic that really paid off on this occasion.

Everton v Bournemouth, Goodison Park – 28 May

125mm lens 1/1250 f4 ISO 800

On the final day of the Premier League, Everton needed a win to avoid relegation. Fortunately the only goal of the game, scored by Abdoulaye Doucouré, happened in my corner. I made sure to go a little looser on this celebration to keep in a lot of the Goodison faithful going wild in the background. It’s a great feeling to be at a big game that ends 1-0 and you have got the only goal and celebration.

Manchester City v Internazionale, Champions League final, Istanbul – 10 June

24mm lens 1/1600 f4.5 ISO 4000

The first thing I do when I get on the pitch at a major match like this is try and bag a decent spot for my remote camera behind a goal. The only problem is that all the photographers from the global agencies are let on before me so it can be tricky finding a spare place. I managed to get this angle. I’ve always thought a remote camera is a very low percentage camera, you need a huge amount of luck to get something good and most matches you get nothing. However if you don’t try, you’ll never get it and my luck was really in that night. It also really helps that it was the only goal – and what an important one too.

Novak Djokovic, Wimbledon – 5 July

400mm lens 1/2000 f2.8 ISO 2000

For a good few years I have sensed something has been going on with Djokovic and the Centre Court crowd. Does he feel unloved? That he doesn’t get the recognition he deserves? This was at the end of a routine second-round match against Jordan Thompson of Australia and I could tell something was up with him. Before shaking hands at the net, the world No 1 turns to the crowd behind the umpire’s chair, cups his ear and pops his eyes. It felt really bizarre.

Centre Court, Wimbledon – 12 July

16mm lens 1/1600 f7.1 ISO 1600

This has to be one of my favourite spots to photograph sport. I could spend hours and hours there (in fact over the years I have probably spent days and days there). You get such a good feel for the game and the players often turn around towards you while looking towards their coaches and friends. Recently, due to building work, this spot has been slightly remodelled and I noticed that by placing a wide angle lens low down on to a shiny metal post in front of me I could achieve a nice reflection. Something a bit different.

Stuart Broad, fifth Ashes test, The Oval – 31 July

840mm lens 1/1600 f5.6 ISO 1600

The final day of the final Test and we all knew it was Broad’s final day of cricket. It seemed like the whole crowd were willing him to take a wicket. But it just wasn’t happening and the clock was ticking. He needed a change of tactic or a change of luck – so he swapped the bails over. The next ball he got Timmy Murphy out. This was his reaction as he points in disbelief towards the stumps where a moment before he had performed his moment of witchcraft. Definitely one of the moments of the year.

World Canoe Slalom Championships, Lee Valley – 23 September

400mm lens 1/30 f32 ISO 100

I’ve always loved photographing this sport but rarely get the chance. When the sun is out it can produce spectacular images. For this picture I wanted to convey a feeling of water flying everywhere as the paddler speeds down the course. So I moved to shoot it back-lit against a wall in shadow to show off the white streaks but also adjusted settings to get this feeling of movement.

Harry Kane, England v Italy, Wembley – 17 October

24mm lens 1/1600 f4 ISO 4000

It was a historic year for Harry Kane, not only did he become Spurs’ all-time leading goal scorer, he also became England’s leading scorer. This picture shows him celebrating a goal against Italy and confirming England’s place at the Euros next year. This goal also confirmed him as England’s record scorer at Wembley. This picture is taken with a remote camera placed at a slightly different angle, behind one of the stanchions Wembley uses to hold up the net.

Rugby World Cup final, Paris – 28 October

400mm lens 1/1600 f4.5 ISO 3200

After a pulsating, close-fought final between South Africa and New Zealand, the Springbok captain holds aloft the Webb Ellis trophy and so confirms his country as the most successful World Cup team ever. If only every winning captain lifted a trophy like Siya Kolisi – he does it perfectly. If you want an example of how not to do it then take a look at Martin Johnson in 2003.

World Trampoline Championships, Birmingham – 12 November

165mm lens 1/2000 f2.8 ISO 3200

I love the challenge of going to photograph a sport I’ve never covered before, working out what happens and when. Seeing the synchro pairs in action I wanted to create an image that gave over this sense of flying up in the air together. Fortunately I managed to find a spot in the crowd where I could get a clean, dark background but also be at the right height to get both performers close together.

Adam Johnson memorial ice hockey match, Nottingham – 18 November

30mm lens 1/200 f4.5 ISO 3200

This was a very moving occasion – the first time the Nottingham Panthers ice hockey players had been back on the ice after the tragic death of their teammate Adam Johnson. He was killed while playing in a match in Sheffield. It was clear the whole sport had been shocked so it was a powerful statement to see the ice hockey community come together like this. I knew the players would form a circle of remembrance before the game started so I thought it was best to find a spot high up in the crowd to look down on them.

Everton fans protest, Goodison Park – 26 November

23mm lens 1/1000 f4 ISO 4000

After their 10-point deduction in November, the Everton fans held a mass protest against the Premier League. Before the match everyone attending was handed a pink card with the Premier League logo and the word Corrupt on it. As these were fairly small I decided I needed to go quite close to the fans holding up the signs just before kick-off but at the same time have a wide enough angle to show the widespread anger.

Leon Edwards, UFC world champion, Birmingham – 30 November

50mm lens 1/400 f1.4 ISO 1250

A couple of weeks before he went to Las Vegas to successfully defend his UFC welterweight world champion belt, I visited a small MMA gym in Birmingham to see Leon train and take his portrait. For this picture I positioned a couple of lights to the rear and either side of him and then used a reflector behind me to put some light into his face.

Ipswich Town fans, Portman Road – 16 December

16mm lens 1/2500 f4 ISO 1000

Ipswich’s story is quite remarkable and they seem like a football club reborn. This year promotion from League One has been followed by a rise towards the top of the Championship. Could the Premier League be just round the corner? I went to the recent “Old Farm” derby versus Norwich, a match Ipswich haven’t won for 14 years. I didn’t expect to see this on a Saturday morning, full on pyro for the Ipswich team bus arrival. After this spectacular display one of the ultras turned round to me and said “We better not lose after all this.” They didn’t, it was a 2-2 draw.

Luke Humphries, PDC World Championships – 17 December

400mm lens 1/1600 f2.8 ISO 3200 multiple exposure

To get something a little bit different at the darts is a challenge. One thing that plays into my hands is the fact I know exactly what they are going to do and where it will happen. Plus they do the same action over and over again. So I can have a bit of fun and experiment. This multiple exposure created in camera is caused by five different exposures with me moving the camera slightly right to left while firing the shutter. The deep black background really helps too with something like this.

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Once a year, I reflect on pictures taken outside the normal daily opportunities that come my way as a photographer for the Star Beacon.

The chance to photograph the Boston Marathon, the National Collegiate Athletic Association Track and Field Championships and the Ohio High School Athletic Association Track and Field Championships provided a wide variety of photographic options.

Garbage bags were an important tool while shooting the finish of the Boston Marathon for more than an hour in a soaking rain.

In Austin, Texas, a prayer for a breeze was needed, as temperatures stayed in the high 80s well into the evening in early June. A motorized bike ride to a local drug store provided just that breeze, and a bit of an adventure.

A late fall sunny day provided the light for a silhouette that highlighted football fans at the University of Virginia.

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