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Every year our photographers and reporters capture moments that say as much, or more, than the words in our stories.

Some of our favorite Arizona Luminaria photos from the last year range from outtakes that didn’t make it into a story to photos that show the visual reporting of in-depth stories. The collection includes work by Michael McKisson, photography intern Josie Shivers, Noor Haghighi, Alessandra De Zubeldia and reporters John Washington, Carolina Cuellar, Chelsea Curtis, Beatriz Limón and Yana Kunichoff.

Enjoy this look back at the moments that shaped 2025:

Ike Vande Wege crosses the creek in the Aravaipa Canyon Wilderness area on Feb. 12, 2025. Vande Wege and four of his friends spent several days camping and hiking in the wilderness area. Photo by Michael McKisson.
City council member Kevin Dahl holds a pool float at a meeting on June 3, 2025 Credit: Noor Haghighi
Tucson Chief of Police, Chad Kasmar, speaks to an Arizona Luminaria reporter on Feb. 10. 2025. Photo by Michael McKisson.
Bunny Beatdown, Tucson Roller Derby player, takes a break in between drills on Sunday, Feb. 16, 2025. The team knows her to be outgoing, charismatic and confident. (Alessandra De Zubeldia/ASU) Rage, Bunny Beatdown, Buck It y Kill Pickle observan el juego desde la banca en Mesa el sábado 8 de marzo de 2025. (Alessandra De Zubeldia/ASU)
Jeneen “JP” Paxton talks about being unhoused in the summer at Escalante Park on July, 25, 2025. Photo by Michael McKisson.
Amazon guzzling water guy at a Project Blue info session at the TCC on Aug. 4, 2025. Photo by Michael McKisson
Tucson Convention Center. August, 2025. Photo by Michael McKisson
Adrienne Ledford, 72 delivers goodie bags of class supplies to teachers at Roskruge Bilingual K8 on Wednesday, Aug. 13, 2025. Ledford runs Treasures for Teachers. Photo by Michael McKisson.
Mary Alice Theroux speaks to an AZLuminaria reporter outside her mobile home on Tucson’s north side on Jan. 24, 2025. Photo by Michael McKisson.
A man tends a fire at a homeless camp at the at the 100-Acre Wood Bike Park on Jan. 29, 2025. Point in Time Count volunteers had not yet come to the park to speak with people, but did so later in the morning Credit: Michael McKisson
Attendees of an election night watch party at Hotel Congress pose for photos on Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2025. Photo by Michael McKisson. Asistentes a una fiesta para ver los resultados electorales en el Hotel Congress posan para fotos el martes 4 de noviembre de 2025. Foto de Michael McKisson.
Jim Byrne, TEA President at the TUSD Governing Board meeting on May 27, 2025. Photo by Michael McKisson.
Gov. Katie Hobbs speaks during a ceremonial bill signing for House Bill 2281, or “Emily’s Law,” at the Arizona Capitol on May 21, 2025. Credit: Chelsea Curtis
A man walks past the Wells Fargo building on Stone Avenue in downtown Tucson on March 10, 2025. The downtown branch of the Pima County Library is moving into the building. Photo by Michael McKisson.
Roseanne Aldama poses for a photo on inside her “Cottage” which does not have electricity, plumbing or insulation on Dec.16, 2024. Photo by Michael McKisson. / Roseanne Aldama posa para una foto en el porche de su hogar, que no tiene electricidad, ni plomería, el 16 de diciembre de 2024. Foto de Michael McKisson.
Marcel runs over a parachute that his dad Ben Elías floats up and down in their backyard on March, 25, 2025. Photo by Michael McKisson.
Marcel corre sobre un paracaídas que su papá, Ben Elías, eleva y baja en su patio trasero el 25 de marzo de 2025. Foto de Michael McKisson.
A crowd of about 1,000 attended a community meeting about a proposed data center at the Tucson Convention Center on Monday, Aug. 4, 2025. Credit: Michael McKisson
A cow at the University of Arizona farm attempts to determine whether the camera is edible on Feb. 26, 2025. Photo by Michael McKisson.
A statue of Dr. Alfredo Valenzuela outside Davis Elementary on Aug. 20, 2025. Photo by Michael McKisson.
Miles teacher Patrick Kelly, left and Georgia Stebe are at the front of the “boat,” as some students pretend to raft difficult rapids in the Grand Canyon during a lesson on April 25.
Cows mill in a pen at the University of Arizona farm on Feb. 26, 2025. Photo by Michael McKisson.
Melisa (Miel) Bohlman-Ramos’ haiku is 7th on the Haiku Hike trail. Credit: Carolina Cuellar / Arizona Luminaria
George Goode dreams of a horseshoeing facility with boarding for Indigenous people from everywhere to learn the trade. Photo credit: Noor Haghighi Credit: Noor Haghighi
Ben, 34, shivering in the morning sun in Navajo Wash, has been living on the streets for two years. Photo taken Jan. 29, 2025. /// Ben, de 34 años, temblando de frío bajo el sol de la mañana en Navajo Wash, ha estado viviendo en las calles durante dos años. Foto tomada el 29 de enero de 2025. Crédito: John Washington Credit: John Washington
The basketball court outside the MTC facility in Marana stands empty in October 2025. / La cancha de baloncesto frente al centro de detención de inmigrantes (MTC) en Marana se encuentra vacía en octubre de 2025. Crédito: Yana Kunichoff, Arizona Luminaria. Credit: Yana Kunichoff, Arizona Luminaria
Republican candidate Daniel Butierez talks to local media at a watch party on Tuesday, Sept. 23, 2025. Photo by John Washington.
Rep. Adelita Grijalva talks to an agent during the aftermath of a federal immigration raid that turned chaotic on Tucson’s west side Friday, Dec. 5. Photo by John Washington. La representante Adelita Grijalva habla con un agente durante las secuelas de una redada federal de inmigración que se volvió caótica en el lado oeste de Tucson el viernes 5 de diciembre.
A beaver munches on a stick under a log in the the lower San Pedro river during the Watershed Management Group’s annual beaver survey. Credit: Carolina Cuellar / Arizona Luminaria
Adelita Grijalva speaks to a crowd of supporters at El Casino Ballroom in Tucson on Tuesday, Sept. 23 after she won a seat in the U.S. House. La demócrata Adelita Grijalva habla en El Casino Ballroom de Tucson después de ganar una silla en la Cámara de Representantes el martes 23 de septiembre de 2025 Crédito: Josie Shivers. Credit: Josie Shivers
People passing by the multiple food trucks on Stone Avenue, on Oct. 18. This year’s festival had 50 food vendors, with a variety of cultural foods for people to choose from. Credit: Josie Shivers
Laura Lahr, left, and her partner, Paul Lopez, sit in their mobile home with their dog on Sept. 16, 2025. Photo by Josie Shivers. / Laura Lahr, a la izquierda, y su pareja, Paul Lopez, se sientan en su casa móvil con su perro, Gunner, el 16 de septiembre de 2025. Foto de Josie Shivers.
Socorro Hernández-Bernasconi at her house in Guadalupe on April 23, 2025. The town of Guadalupe declared April 24 as Socorro Hernández-Bernasconi Day. Credit: Beatriz Limón
Pueblo High School senior Jassiel, works on production of the radio show at 98.7 KWXL during advanced radio class on Sept. 22. / Jassiel, estudiante de último año de Pueblo High School, trabaja en la producción del programa de radio en 98.7 KWXL durante la clase de radio avanzada el 22 de septiembre. Crédito: Josie Shivers
Credit: Josie Shivers
As evening fell in Arizona, Diane Ovalle and Valeria Fernández walked toward the mural dedicated to their friend and colleague Nick Oza. May 9, 2025. Credit: Beatriz Limón

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