2020: Pittsburgh’s Year in Photos

Visual record keeping. That’s my job in a nutshell. And 2020 was the most imperative year to be a trustful source for it. Something I most certainly don’t take for granted.

As I rang in the new year with my girlfriend, I wore her Christmas gift to me: a t-shirt that reads “America needs journalists,” and my custom pair of shoes dedicated to our friend and coworker Alex Gordon who we lost to suicide in October. As much as we all want to move on from 2020, it’s important to remember the good and the bad, the lessons learned, and bring the memories of those with us.

Normally when I look back on my images from the prior year, it’s quite easy to narrow down the best photos from the most important events, portraits, or assignments. But after personally covering over 50 protests amidst the COVID-19 pandemic this year, it was a much harder process. Not because of the quality of my images. But because the messages of change within racial inequality, police brutality, LGBTQ+ discrimination, and so many other topics led by various groups in Pittsburgh who deserve to be continually recognized for their grassroots efforts and hard work. It’s the personal connections and conversations with those I meet and photograph that make me love this job.

So let this be my personal message to the entire community for trusting me to help share your story: Thank you! I look forward to documenting your future successes in 2021.

This article appears in Dec 23, 2020 – Jan 5, 2021.