2018 was a year of growth.
There were highs and funks, good days and bad—but through every experience I uncovered a new truth about myself.
Every time we draw a camera to our eye, we have the honor to show humanity and the world’s spirit in a single frame. We get to listen, empathize, rejoice and mourn with our community.
With the help of every person I met this year, I grew richer by the day. I cannot thank you enough.
I sincerely hope these photos resonate the same heart I witnessed, learned from and appreciated.
Rabbi Eli Wilansky lights a candle after a mass shooting at Tree of Life Congregation on Saturday, Oct. 27, 2018, in Squirrel Hill. Eleven people were killed and six were wounded, including four police officers. (Steph Chambers/Post-Gazette)
Yeshiva School students Batsheva Ezagui, Batya Deitsch, Esther Rivka Shkedi, Tzipporah Shkedi watch a funeral procession for Dr. Jerry Rabinowitz drive along Forbes Avenue as it heads toward Homewood Cemetery, on Tuesday, Oct. 30, 2018, in Squirrel Hill. Eleven people were killed and six were wounded, including four police officers, after a mass shooting at Tree of Life Congregation on Saturday, Oct. 27, 2018, in Squirrel Hill. (Steph Chambers/Post-Gazette)
A woman in her car pauses as the hearse carrying Dr. Jerry Rabinowitz heads toward Homewood Cemetery along South Dallas Avenue, on Tuesday, Oct. 30, 2018, in Squirrel Hill. Eleven people were killed and six were wounded, including four police officers, after a mass shooting at Tree of Life Congregation on Saturday, Oct. 27, 2018, in Squirrel Hill.
A double rainbow appears over Pittsburgh on Monday, Aug. 13, 2018, seen from West End-Elliott Overlook Park. (Steph Chambers/Post-Gazette)
Members of the Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre dance during a rehearsal of ‘The Nutcracker’ on Thursday, Nov. 29, 2018, at the Benedum Center, downtown. (Steph Chambers/Post-Gazette)
Peters Township’s Robert Corrado gets fired up while listening to a pregame speech by head coach T.J. Plack before playing Bethel Park on Friday, Oct. 19, 2018, at Peters Township High School. (Steph Chambers/Post-Gazette)
Joey Bova of Bethel Park react as Flyer Valtteri Filppula ties the game while watching the big screen during game 5 of the first-round playoff series against the Philadelphia Flyers on Friday, April 20, 2018, outside PPG Paints Arena. (Steph Chambers/Post-Gazette)
Gabby Karwowski, 10, and her sister Natalie Karwowski, 12, cry as a C-130 carrying their father Master Sgt. Christopher Karwowski returns from deployment on Friday, Jan. 19, 2018, at the 911th Airlift Wing in Coraopolis. Four C-130 aircrafts returned from a four-month deployment to Qatar, the aircrafts' last deployment before retirement. (Steph Chambers/Post-Gazette)
Aliquippa's Avante McKenzie and Aliquippa's Eli Kosanovich react on the bench together as time winds down to their victory over Middletown, 35-0, during the PIAA Class 3A football championship on Saturday, Dec. 8, 2018, in Hershey. (Steph Chambers/Post-Gazette)
Thomas Jefferson head softball coach Heidi Karcher shows her "believe" lucky sports bra to her players after beating Albert Gallatin 2-0 in 8 innings during the WPIAL Class 5A softball semifinal on Wednesday, May 23, 2018, at Boyce Mayview Park. (Steph Chambers/Post-Gazette)
City of Pittsburgh crossing guard Carla Harris (right) laughs with Rhavyn Doubt, 7, and Doubt’s stuffed animal “Fluffy” as Doubt waits with her on Wednesday, April 18, 2018 at the corner of Meadow Street and Larimer Avenue in Larimer. “She’s a sweetie, and she keeps me company,” Harris said of Doubt, who lives nearby but likes to sit with her at the intersection on a regular basis. “I’m like a godmother to the kids because I am here every day watching over them and protecting them.” (Steph Chambers/Post-Gazette)
South Fayette’s Jamie Diven and Sareena Waskowiak kiss after South Fayette beat Thomas Jefferson, 31-24, during the WPIAL Class 4A championship on Saturday, Nov. 17, 2018, at Heinz Field. (Steph Chambers/Post-Gazette)
Officer David Shifren knocks off a pawn as Manoj Darjee, 9, of Carrick reacts during a weekly community chess class with Shifren on Wednesday, Sept. 12, 2018, at the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh in Knoxville. Shifren, a Zone 4 community resource officer, leads chess classes at the Hazelwood branch every Tuesday at 5 p.m., at the Knoxville branch every Wednesday at 4 p.m. and at the South Oakland Frazier Fieldhouse near Dan Marino Field every Thursday at 5 p.m. Shifren earned his Master of Fine Arts degree in fiction writing from the University of Pittsburgh. While conducting research for one of his mystery novels, Shifren participated in a detective ride along, which sparked his interest in police work as a career. Shifren works as an officer in the evenings and writes novels and screenplays in the mornings. He also teaches a film-appreciation class at his alma mater.(Steph Chambers/Post-Gazette)
Mars basketball player Raymond Kahn and assistant coach Kent Bloom celebrate after beating Trinity during the WPIAL Class 5A semifinal on Tuesday, Feb. 27, 2018, at Baldwin High School. Mars beat Trinity, 56-39. (Steph Chambers/Post-Gazette)
A drop of rain falls from the chin of West Allegheny head coach Bob Palko on Friday, Sept. 21, 2018, at Upper St. Clair High School. (Steph Chambers/Post-Gazette)
Jamaica Johnson, an 11th-grader at Pittsburgh CAPA, and Denzel Washington share a moment during a "ground blessing" at the August Wilson House on Wednesday,when the actor announced $5 million in support of the projects at the playwright's childhood home. Jamaica performed a monologue from "King Hedley II" at the ceremony. (Steph Chambers/Post-Gazette)
Mars head coach Dana Petruska reacts after Tai Johnson made her shot on a foul during the PIAA class 5A girls basketball championship on Wednesday, March 28, 2018, at the Giant Center in Hershey. Mars beat Archbishop Wood, 36-33. (Steph Chambers/Post-Gazette)
Chianne Corniffe, Callie Rector and Graci Ricci, all 10, practice their gymnastics on Wednesday, Sept. 26, 2018, along Dewey Street, or as the girls refer to it as "the party street," in Etna. (Steph Chambers/Post-Gazette)
Aliquippa head coach Mike Warfield is doused with water after beating Middletown, 35-0, during the PIAA Class 3A football championship on Saturday, Dec. 8, 2018, in Hershey. (Steph Chambers/Post-Gazette)