Each year, we recognize the work and importance of local journalism through the lenses of the member and affiliate NPR stations. Photographers have covered pivotal moments throughout the year; that’s why we asked them to share memorable events they covered this past year.

Reflecting on the photos… I’m struck by the recurring theme of large gatherings of people. Whether in joy, prayer, protest or grief, it seems 2023 was a year where the desire to be around others was particularly palpable.

Some of the events included the East Palestine train derailment, the leak of classified U.S. intelligence documents, Texas women challenging the state’s abortion bans, the end of the nation’s COVID-19 immigration emergency order, the controversy around Title 42, the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling to end race-conscious admission programs at colleges and universities across the country and calls for a cease-fire in Gaza in several U.S. cities.

From moments of joy for concertgoers with Beyoncé‘s return to the stage to grief in vigils for the deaf and hard of hearing victims of a mass shooting in Lewiston, Maine.

From each corner of the country, these photographers have documented the events that have shaped the stories from their states and cities. “Through photos, I sought to convey the distinct tapestry of the place I call home, highlighting both the realities that demand attention and the aspects we cherish,” said KQED’s photojournalist Beth LaBerge.

These images from across the country represent some of the year’s most remarkable stories:

Copyright 2023 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.

TOKYO, Dec. 28, 2023 — Ultrafast optical imaging is typically measured in picoseconds, whereas high-speed electronic cameras image at the millisecond and microsecond timescale. To bridge the gap between these technologies, a research team at the University of Tokyo developed a technology they’re calling “spectrum circuit,” a precision optical circuit that allows superfine images to be taken over multiple timescales at high speed. Using the new technology, the researchers demonstrated nanosecond photography as well as ultrawide-time-range, high-speed photography.

Spectrum circuit produces nondamaging laser pulses that are set to emit at different time intervals. In addition to tunable time intervals, the pulse trains produced by spectrum circuit have short pulse durations and high temporal accuracy. Pulse manipulation is performed in free space while retaining the optical power and short pulse duration.

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An underwater shock wave moving through a HeLa cell. Using their spectrum circuit technology, the researchers could see the difference between how the shock wave moved inside and outside of a cell submerged in water. They noted that the results suggested that the cell structure shifts with the visualized wavefront position (shown in the red/orange line in the image). Courtesy of Saiki et al., 2023.

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The researchers combined spectrum circuit with a single-shot optical imaging technique called sequentially timed all-optical mapping photography (STAMP). Using spectrum circuit to provide a time-stretch approach at the nanosecond timescale, the researchers achieved superfine-exposure, nanosecond-scale photography based on STAMP. The single-shot, nanosecond photography demonstrated high spatial resolution, high signal-to-noise ratio, and a superfine-exposure time about 103 times shorter than the frame interval.

The researchers realized single-shot, multi-timescale, ultrafast photography by combining spectrum circuit and STAMP with other photonic time-stretch techniques to capture femtosecond-nanosecond dynamics, and with high-speed cameras as detectors to capture microsecond-millisecond dynamics.

Although the researchers used spectrum circuit with STAMP, use of the technology could be extended to applications like burst pulse generation and spectroscopy by optimizing each parameter design or optics. A diverse range of ultrafast light sources with broad bandwidths could be used, including supercontinuum white light lasers, mid-infrared lasers, and ultraviolet lasers. The researchers attribute the versatility of spectrum circuit to its free-space operation based on a combination of dispersive optics and mirrors.

The researchers demonstrated the new imaging technique by photographing a microscopic shock wave passing through a single cell. They captured the shock wave propagating through a biological cell with a 1.5-ns frame interval and 44-ps exposure time, while suppressing image blur and avoiding damage to the cell.

“For the first time in history, as far as we know, we have directly observed the interaction between a biological cell and a shock wave, and experimentally demonstrated that the velocity of the shock wave propagating inside the cell is faster than the outside of the cell,” researcher Takao Saiki said. “Furthermore, our approach has enabled us to demonstrate high-speed photography across a wide time range, which includes picosecond (one-trillionth of a second), nanosecond (one-billionth of a second) and millisecond (one-thousandth of a second) timescales.”

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Images of laser ablation taken using the ultrawide-time-range, high-speed camera. Applying this new imaging technology, the researchers could see the propagating shock wave and plasma and the progress of laser processing over multi-timescales (~10 to 100 ps, ~1 to 10 ns, and ~1 to 100 ms). Courtesy of Saiki et al., 2023.

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The researchers used the same approach to visualize the effects of laser ablation on glass. They focused an ultrashort laser pulse — just 35 fs long — onto a glass plate. Using spectrum circuit, they observed the resulting shock waves and the laser’s effect on the glass. They visualized femtosecond laser processing over multiple timescales (25-ps, 2.0-ns, and 1-ms frame intervals), and showed that the plasma generated at the picosecond timescale affected subsequent shock wave formation at the nanosecond timescale.

“We could see the interplay between different physical processes taking place over time, and how they took shape,” said Keiichi Nakagawa, professor at the University of Tokyo. “Our technology provides opportunities to reveal useful, but unknown, high-speed phenomena by enabling us to observe and analyze such ultrafast processes.”

Nakagawa said that the team plans to use the new imaging technique to visualize how cells interact with acoustic waves like those used in ultrasound and shock wave therapy. “By doing this, we aim to understand the primary physical processes that activate subsequent therapeutic effects in the human body,” he said.

The team also wants to use spectrum circuit to improve laser processing techniques, by identifying the physical parameters that could enable faster, more precise, more consistent, and more cost-effective manufacturing.

“We expect to make broad contributions in various fields, from biomedicine to manufacturing, materials, the environment, and energy,” Nakagawa said.

The research was published in Science Advances (www.doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.adj8608).

More often than not when someone is trying to break into an industry it can be overwhelming just trying to get noticed, and this was no exception for Georgia Politis.

The second-generation Greek Australian from Darwin runs her own photo studio Georgia Politis Photography, and is popular amongst the Greek community for christenings, having photographed 300 since she began in 2017.

Like many passions, photography began as a hobby for Georgia, but it wasn’t until a local Greek woman suggested she pursue it further.

“When I think of this moment, I remember actually denying the idea, laughing as I thought ‘there is no way that will work, I am not good enough’,” Georgia told Neos Kosmos.

But after sitting on that thought for a few months, she decided to just do it and started out as Lens Photography in 2017 when she was 23-years-old.

Georgia had to work her way to where she is today, and that she did. “I found it very difficult for the first few years to showcase my skills and willingness to work in the industry.”

“This is because there is a pattern of behaviour with everyone, we all go by trust and what/who we know.

“So, having my new name and business out there in 2017, as well as being young, took a lot of courage.”

She believes part of the reason why it is hard for people to break into the industry and maintain their brand name is because photography is not really respected as it used to be.

“Many people have cameras on almost every device they have, many people may have professional cameras too – or people in the family who do.”

“We are often seen as ‘point and shoot’, where the background work is never seen or the true investment we make in our equipment and education is never thought of.

“As a woman who is young, I was seen as just a young girl with a camera, but not a businesswoman, so I made it my mission to show I was far more than that – and ended up loving it so much.”

To get her name out there, Georgia had to just jump into the deep end and volunteer cover events as a sponsor, regardless of her confidence – events like Darwin Greek GleNTi, The Blessing of the Waters, Easter and church ceremonies.

She says she does this not only for enjoyment but because it helps the Greek community and being around her community is important for her.

Georgia is now being recognised in public as a photographer and much to her surprise, even all the way in Greece.

As mentioned christenings are Georgia’s busiest service having done 300 of them since 2017. When she first started, not many people hired photographers for christenings, so she has helped change the industry in that sense.

Before Georgia became the professional award-winning photographer, she is today, awards like being in ThreeBestRated’s top three photographers in Darwin every year since 2018 and silver awards from the AIPP and the Icon International Photography Awards, her professional ethos was influenced by her Greek background, particularly her parents and grandfather George.

She has been working with the family business since eight, given small tasks that would pave the way she runs a business today. It was here she “learned the importance of honesty, the value of hard work, good customer service skills and most of all – importance of family.”

Also instrumental to her development was her time spent in Melbourne, learning under Nick Ghionis and Jerry Ghionis.

“It was during this workshop that I decided that I was going to push the boundaries; I quickly transformed my business from a ‘hobbyist’ photographer to a completely new business from this workshop.”

“When I returned to Darwin, I changed the business name to my own name, rebranded and began taking on any challenge.”

Georgia also runs Top End Virtual, helping other businesses with their administration needs.

You can find Georgia Polites Photography on Facebook and Instagram or via www.gpphotographer.com.au

Most people would look at landscape and wildlife photographer Anita Wooldridge’s perfect portrait of a large bull moose peering over its shoulder in front of the snow-covered Grandt Tetons and call it “a lucky shot.” And Wooldridge would agree, to an extent.

“People say, ‘Well, you were lucky.’ And it’s like part of it is luck,” she told Cowboy State Daily. “That day, it came together. It was a really great experience. But you’ve got to go get it. If you don’t go, you don’t get the shot.”

Wooldridge captured the photo on her first winter visit to Jackson, but it took years of expertise and plenty of day-of effort to capture such a majestic moment.

The Extra Effort

Wooldridge is a Colorado resident who’s been a photographer her whole life. Since her retirement, she’s been able to dive deeper into her hobby.

“It’s just always been a passion to capture landscape and wildlife photography,” she said. “And if you can get both settings like that one photo, a picture’s worth 1,000 words. I used to do a lot of underwater photography. I have degrees in oceanography. So, that was always a passion for me. But I moved to Colorado in 2012 because the mountains called.”

Despite living in Colorado and its famous section of the Rocky Mountains, Wooldridge said the Grand Tetons and Yellowstone National Park are “two of my favorite places in the world.” She’s made plenty of trips to Wyoming for nature photography, but her last visit provided the first opportunity for winter wildlife photography.

A lack of winter weather and a COVID-afflicted companion altered the first leg of Wooldridge’s winter excursion in Jackson. Then, as her friend recovered, the snow finally arrived and she could immerse herself in the atmosphere she had come for.

“That’s when I found him posing,” she said.

Tactical Moose

Wooldridge likes moose, and there are plenty of them in the Jackson area. Capturing her majestic moose shot took considerable effort and planning, but the results are evident.

For starters, she knew she was in the right place at the right time to find mellower moose. The critters are notorious for having hair-trigger tempers — docile and cool one moment, agitated and aggressive the next.

“The moose this time of year are out of the rut. So, they are in a different mindset. Their brain has gone back into their head,” she said.

She also knew where to find the most moose. The best opportunities for good photos would be near the bitterroot bushes, where the bulls and cows hang out at this time of the winter season.

“They really like bitterroot bush, apparently,” she said. “They need that for digestion (but it has) very little nutritional value. In the Antelope Flats area, there’s a lot of this plant. So, they congregate in that area to eat the plants. Everybody knows they hang out in that area.”

Getting there is half the fun. Once Wooldridge found the bitterroot bushes, she identified the two-track roads that could get her closer. The first outing was more than she anticipated.

“I wasn’t prepared for my first trip to walk out where I needed to get the shot,” she said. “It’s a little dicey to walk in that kind of stuff. I didn’t get the shot I wanted.”

The strategy was sound, but the tactics needed some alterations. She’d be back the next day.

Patience Makes Perfect

On her second outing, Wooldridge got where she needed to go.

“On the next trip, I decided to take my time and meander to where the moose are. That’s where you must go to get a shot with the moose in front of the Tetons and with the right lens,” she said.

The moose were closer than the day before, but her slower approach and respectful distance kept them all calm. Wooldridge said other people were standing in the same area, but everyone were careful and avoided startling the bitterroot-munching moose.

Wooldridge knew the photo she wanted, but didn’t know when her moose moment would manifest in front of her camera. So she watched and waited, letting her moose models determine the shooting schedule.

That’s when “he” wandered into the frame.

“There were several bulls in the area,” she said. “Some were interacting; they will do some antler rattling this time of year because they’re trying to get rid of their antlers. Then, they walk off and eat for a while. He just happened to be isolated where I could get him alone and not have others in the same frame.

The perfect image of a bull moose wintering in the Grand Tetons was a short moment that resulted from a healthy amount of planning and preparation. Wooldridge’s effort paid off, but it was no accident.

“I tried several times on several different occasions to get that shot,” she said. “It was going out there many times to try to get the right conditions and have a cooperative subject in front of the Tetons. That made the shot.”

Get The Shot

The moral of Wooldridge’s story is how much foresight, planning and effort it takes to capture the perfect moment on a camera, one everyone looks at and says, “Boy, you got lucky.”

She’ll be the first to admit there was an element of luck to her majestic moose mountain photo, but she made most of her luck.

A quote falsely attributed to Thomas Jefferson says, “I’m a great believer in luck. The harder I work, the more luck I have.” Regardless of who said it (most likely writer Coleman Cox in the 1920s), it’s Wooldridge’s tried-and-true key to successful wildlife photography.

“As a photographer, if you don’t go out, you don’t get the shot,” she said. “The more you go out and are in the area, the more likely you are to see what you want to take a picture of. You can get lucky on a given day and just happen to be there and say, ‘Oh, wow, that’s great.’

“But some people work for a shot and go out day after day and hope they’re there when it comes together. And that day, it came together.”

Finding luck is more challenging than finding the perfect moose photo, but even Wooldridge would admit she got lucky during that trip. After her moose moment, she was fortunate enough to be in the area where an orphaned black bear cub was found stuck in a tree.

Wooldridge got incredible images of the unfortunate black bear, but the story had a happy ending. The cub was rescued by Idaho Black Bear Rehab, where she will reside until she can return to the wild in spring.

“That was an experience for me because it was maybe once in a lifetime,” she said.

Any photographer or tourist would call that a lucky break. Regardless, Wooldridge’s message for any aspiring wildlife photographer remains the same.

“You’ve got to go get it,” she said. “If you don’t go, you don’t get the shot.”

Andrew Rossi can be reached at arossi@cowboystatedaily.com.