The Year in Pictures: Memorable moments of 2023
KUOW Photos by Megan Farmer and Juan Pablo Chiquiza
In the last year in Seattle and western Washington, we witnessed moments of both heartache and joy. Loss and celebration. Community and resilience.
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rom protests to floods, wildfires to pointe shoe fittings, we documented the lives and stories of Washingtonians as the year's events unfolded. In April, Indigenous survivors of the federal Indian boarding school system shared their experiences with U.S. Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland, on the "Road to Healing" tour. In July, Wedgewood neighbors rallied to save a roughly 200-year-old ancient cedar tree, Luma, from development. In September, 57,000 Beyonce fans dressed to impress during the Seattle stop of her Renaissance tour.
Here are some of the images that stayed with us.
Lummi elder Ernestine Lane receives a gift after sharing her experiences at the Chemawa Indian School in Salem, Oregon. Interior Secretary Deb Haaland visited the Tulalip Gathering Hall on Sunday, April 23, 2023, during the “Road to Healing” tour. The yearlong tour provides opportunity for Indigenous survivors of the federal Indian boarding school system to share their experiences.
KUOW Photo/Juan Pablo Chiquiza
Hundreds gathered to protest the MV Cape Orlando, a U.S. military vessel bound for Israel, on Monday, November 6, 2023, at the Port of Tacoma.
KUOW Photo/Megan Farmer
Kieyira Flintroy of Las Vegas poses for a portrait while waiting in line to see Beyonce’s Seattle stop on the Renaissance World Tour on Thursday, September 14, 2023, at Lumen Field in Seattle.
KUOW Photo/Megan Farmer
Competitors watch from the shoots during the Basin City Freedom Rodeo on Friday, June 17, 2022, in Basin City.
KUOW Photo/Megan Farmer
The sun sets on Friday, June 17, 2022, at the Freedom Rodeo in Basin City.
KUOW Photo/Megan Farmer
A view of the upper Skagit River from the Diablo Dam, one of three dams in the Skagit River Hydroelectric Project supplying power to the city of Seattle, on Wednesday, June 7, 2023, in Whatcom County.
KUOW Photo/Megan Farmer
Aliyah Sadoune, 15, of Kent, listens to speakers as thousands gathered at Westlake Park to show support for Palestine on Saturday, October 28, 2023, in Seattle.
KUOW Photo/Megan Farmer
Iryna, left, and Olena, smile for their photographer shortly after getting married on Saturday, April 8, 2023, at a home in Bellevue.
KUOW Photo/Megan Farmer
Olena, left, and Iryna, right, smile while tossing bouquets to their wedding guests shortly after getting married on Saturday, April 8, 2023, at a home in Bellevue.
KUOW Photo/Megan Farmer
From left, Noah Enter, 8, Ainsley Enter, 5, and Lucas Enter, 2, listen to noises made by flood water bubbling up through the roadways cracks, on Wednesday, December 6, 2023, along Francis Road in Clear Lake.
KUOW Photo/Megan Farmer
Kraken fans celebrate during a playoff game on April 24th, 2023, at the Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle.
KUOW Photo/Juan Pablo Chiquiza
Pam James is portrayed outside of her home on Wednesday, March 22, 2023, in Union.
KUOW Photo/Megan Farmer
Dancers with the Grand Kyiv Ballet rehearse ahead of their performance of Snow White, on Wednesday, December 20, 2023, at the Paramount Theatre in Seattle.
KUOW Photo/Megan Farmer
Kateryna Kukhar, principal dancer with the Grand Kyiv Ballet, applies makeup in a dressing room before performing as Cinderella in Snow White, on Wednesday, December 20, 2023, at the Paramount Theatre in Seattle.
KUOW Photo/Megan Farmer
Flames painted on a mailbox are shown charred by the Gray Fire that burned over 240 homes and over 10,000 acres on Sunday, September 3, 2023, along the west side of Silver Lake in Spokane County.
KUOW Photo/Megan Farmer
Chrissy, left, and Andres, right, share a kiss while marching with Entre Hermanos, Seattle’s Latinx LGBTQ+ organization, during Seattle’s Pride Parade on Sunday, June 25, 2023, in downtown Seattle.
Hadley Kalal, 10, smiles back at her mother after getting up on pointe for the first time during a pointe shoe fitting on Tuesday, September 12, 2023, at the Pacific Northwest Ballet School in Bellevue.
KUOW Photo/Megan Farmer
The King County Medical Examiner’s Office hosted the 2023 Indigent Remains ceremony on Wednesday, October 25, 2023, at Mt. Olivet Cemetery in Kent. Faith leaders read aloud the names of 302 people who died in King County last year who either could not pay for a burial service or whose family could not be located by the county.
KUOW Photo/Megan Farmer
Heavy smoke from wildfires blankets the region, as seen here from Fritz Hedges Waterway Park on Sunday, August 20, 2023, in Seattle.
KUOW Photo/Juan Pablo Chiquiza
Supporters of Luma, the 200-year-old culturally modified elder cedar tree at risk of being cut down to make way for a development project, attend a gratitude gathering for the double trunked tree on Tuesday, July 18, 2023, in the Wedgwood neighborhood of Seattle.
KUOW Photo/Megan Farmer
Zayvion Jones, 9, center, reacts while getting his ball signed by a player on Friday, July 7, 2023, before the first ever HBCU Swingman Classic at T-Mobile Park in Seattle.
KUOW Photo/Megan Farmer
Homes and cars destroyed by the Gray Fire are shown on Sunday, September 3, 2023, along the west side of Silver Lake in Spokane County. Over 10,000 acres and 240 homes burned in the fire.
KUOW Photo/Megan Farmer
A large crowd led by Jewish Voice for Peace - Seattle gathered to light candles on the second night of Hanukkah, or Chanukah, and call for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza on Friday, December 8, 2023, at Pike Place Market in Seattle.
KUOW Photo/Megan Farmer
Young fans react after high-fiving OL Reign forward Megan Rapinoe as she walks onto the field to play her final NWSL regular-season home game against the Washington Spirit on Friday, October 6, 2023, at Lumen Field in Seattle.
KUOW Photo/Megan Farmer
Megan Rapinoe and Sue Bird share a hug following Rapinoe’s last regular-season NWSL home game against the Washington Spirit on Friday, October 6, 2023, at Lumen Field in Seattle.
KUOW Photo/Megan Farmer
Brian Conner tends to horses as the sun sets on Thursday, August 11, 2022, in Pendleton, Oregon.
KUOW Photo/Megan Farmer
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Megan Farmer
Visual Journalist & Editor
Megan Farmer joined KUOW Public Radio as a visual journalist in 2017.
More stories from Megan Farmer » -
Juan Pablo Chiquiza
Social Media Strategist
Juan Pablo handles social media content, planning and scheduling at KUOW. He edits and manages a variety of original KUOW social content, including video. In fact, Juan is behind the station's pivot to video. As KUOW's live shows shifted online streaming during the pandemic, KUOW became a leader and guide for NPR as well as many NPR member stations. Juan also serves as the station's second-in-command photographer and reliably jumps into any situation with his expert skills, from breaking news events such as protests to live KUOW events such as Year in Review, podcast live events, and Town Hall meetings.
More stories from Juan Pablo Chiquiza »
