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The 100 best photos by Chicago Tribune photographers in 2022
As the photography staff of the Chicago Tribune looks back on the stories of 2022, we hope the following pages of outstanding photography confirm our commitment to bring you fair and relevant images in a timely manner. Throughout the year, our photographers work in many Chicago neighborhoods and surrounding suburban communities. You see their bylines regularly and across this collection, but below are the visual editors who help shape our photography every day. — Todd Panagopoulos, Director of Content/Visuals
When the phone calls and police radio traffic started to come through reporting gunshots fired at Highland Park’s Fourth of July parade, time seemed to stand still for a brief moment. Then instinct kicked in. Photo editors on and off-duty immediately dispatched all of the working Tribune staff photojournalists and a freelance photographer, who were covering other Independence Day activities in the region, to the scene. What emerged over that day and the weeks following were compelling, dramatic images documenting a tragedy that took seven lives, injured dozens more and forever changed a community. One of those riveting storytelling images from that day evokes the powerful emotions that so many felt after hearing the news. This is the importance of photojournalism and visual storytelling. It’s these poignant images that Tribune photojournalists bring to our readers every day — whether it be pain, sorrow, joy, triumph or beauty. It’s an honor to share the year’s best images with all of you. — Steven Rosenberg, Senior Content Editor/Visuals
Chicago Tribune photojournalists are at the right places at the right times every day to tell your stories, making images from every corner of the city of Chicago, suburban communities, small towns and locations beyond Illinois. They capture the beauty of the natural world, the pain of loss and the joy of life. Tribune photographers work during the hottest days and the coldest nights. In each image they strive to create an emotional connection to increase understanding in our communities and to celebrate you, our readers, and this great city. — Mark Hume, Deputy Senior Content Editor/Visuals
It’s a privilege to work with smart and skillful journalists across the newsroom, especially our talented team of photojournalists. It’s even more rewarding when we can publish the best of our best. We take this job very seriously, whether we’re publishing feature photos — like stunning fall color captured from a drone hovering over Promontory Point — or important, yet tragic, news photos from a shooting scene. — Andrew Johnston, Deputy Senior Content Editor/Visuals
A fun part of my job is to select the photos and videos that get showcased on Instagram. Social media is overflowing with great images, so my assignment is to cut through the noise and grab people’s attention — which is easy to do with the amazing documentary photos our staff produces. Whether it’s a time-lapse video of a super moon rising over Chicago or gubernatorial candidates beating a path through Illinois on caravan tours, our photojournalists are there covering it all. The sweet reward is getting to share their amazing images with Chicagoland and beyond and to see the real-time responses from all of you. — Marianne Mather, Deputy Senior Content Editor/Visuals
As the photography staff of the Chicago Tribune looks back on the stories of 2022, we hope the following pages of outstanding photography confirm our commitment to bring you fair and relevant images in a timely manner. Throughout the year, our photographers work in many Chicago neighborhoods and surrounding suburban communities. You see their bylines regularly and across this collection, but below are the visual editors who help shape our photography every day. — Todd Panagopoulos, Director of Content/Visuals