Some of the best Arizona Daily Star photos of 2022
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Kelly Presnell
Photojournalist
Mamta Popat
Photojournalist
Rick Wiley
Photo editor
- Updated
Most, though likely not all, of the best photographs taken by Arizona Daily Star photographers Kelly Presnell, Mamta Popat, Rebecca Sasnett and Rick Wiley in 2022. Selection was adjudicated by photo editor Rick Wiley.
Hannah Cobb, right, Jurassic Quest repairs manager, helps crew member Cody Roberts and retail lead James Franks (not pictured) push out a triceratops at the Pima County Fairgrounds in Tucson, Ariz. on Feb. 10th, 2022. Jurassic Quest is a dinosaur exhibit with a variety of photorealistic dinosaurs and dinosaur themed rides, shows, art actives and more.
Barry Dacus, cleans a window while dressed up as an elf at Diamond Children's Medical Center, 1625 N. Campbell Ave. in Tucson, Ariz. on December 5, 2022. Dacus dressed up as an elf to bring some holiday cheer to children staying at the hospital for care.
Arizona Wildcats forward Cate Reese (25) and Arizona Wildcats guard Helena Pueyo (13) celebrate a foul called against Washington State in the second half during a game at Mckale Center in Tucson, Ariz. on January 7, 2022. Arizona won 60-52.
Tucson's Adam Gonzalez (1) dives between the legs of Rincon/University defenders to retrieve a loose ball in the second quarter of their high school basketball game at Tucson High School, Tucson, Ariz., January 11, 2022. The Badgers were in control from the start in their 66-53 win over the Rangers.
Giovanni ZoppΓ©, right, plays with his 9-month-old son Ilario Fabrizio Luigino ZoppΓ© inside the Big Top tent at ZoppΓ© Family Circus at the Mercado District, 221 S. Avenida del Convento, on Jan. 12th, 2022.
Arizona Wildcats forward Lauren Ware (32) is defended by USC Trojans center Clarice Akunwafo (34) in the first half during a game at McKale Center in Tucson, Ariz. on February 26, 2022.
The AYSO United Salaiz G2009 storm through the arch as they''re introduced to the crowd for the opening ceremonies of the 31st Annual Fort Lowell Shootout at Kino Sports Compex, Tucson, Ariz., January 14, 2022.
Tucson Police officers in bomb suits search a man chained to a utility pole near the corner of Columbus and Broadway, Tucson, Ariz., January 19, 2022. The man was taken away by officers shortly after.
Girls Scouts of Southern Arizona's Gaby Ayon moves boxes of cookies to the front of the line for distribution on the first first day of Cookie Drop at Ralph's Moving & Storage, Tucson, Ariz., January 21, 2022.
Arizona Wildcats guard Shaina Pellington (1) flies to the basket against the Arizona State Sun Devils in their Pac 12 game at Desert Financial Arena, Tempe, Ariz., February 10, 2022.
Flowing Wells's Leamsi Acuna (1), left, and Alenna Flores (44) lead the celebration at mid-court after the Caballeros fought their way past Ironwood Ridge 56-45 in the quarterfinals of the state 5A girls playoff basketball game at Flowing Wells High School, Tucson, Ariz., February 18, 2022.
Bull fighter Nate Jestes takes a flying leap over bull during a demonstration to wrap up the last of the events on the opening day of the Fiesta de los Vaqueros Rodeo, Tucson, Ariz., February 19, 2022.
Tim Bingham goes down in front of Damage Control after being tossed from the bull on day five of La Fiesta de los Vaqueros Rodeo, Tucson, Ariz., February 24, 2022.
It takes two stylists from Sports Clips to cut the 15 inches of hair from the head of Candyce Pardee at the annual St. Baldrick's Foundation head shaving fund raiser at Mountain View High School, Tucson, Ariz., March 4, 2022. Participants volunteer to have their heads shaved to raise money for childhood cancer treatment and research.
Mike Wang, technology manger for the University of Arizona Bookstore, hangs a "W" above the alphabetically sorted books available, part of the last minute work of getting the vendor tents ready on the eve of the Tucson Festival of Books on the U fo A mall, Tucson, Ariz., March 11, 2022.
While the Arizona Wildcats play "Bounce That Ass" by Young Cello, forward Cate Reese (25) smiles after slamming their sticker on the March Madness board to the beat of the song following their 72-67 win over UNLV in round one of the NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament hosted at McKale Center, 1721 E. Enke Dr., in Tucson, Ariz. on March 19, 2022.
Arizona Wildcats guard Madison Conner (4) tries to break through UNLV Lady Rebels guard Essence Booker (24) and UNLV Lady Rebels guard Alyssa Durazo-Frescas (12) defense during their game in round one of the NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament hosted at McKale Center, 1721 E. Enke Dr., in Tucson, Ariz. on March 19, 2022. Arizona won 72-67.
The backboard buzzer-light flashes at the end of regulation with Arizona Wildcats guard Dalen Terry (4) inches short of a game winning dunk, with the game tied at 75 against the TCU Horned Frogs during their second round game in the NCAA Tournament, Viejas Arena, San Diego, Calif., March 20, 2022.
Arizona Wildcats guard Bennedict Mathurin (0) walks past the celebrating Houston Cougar cheerleaders after time ran out on their season in a 72-60 loss to the Houston Cougars in the Sweet Sixteen of the NCAA Tournament, AT&T Center, San Antonio, Tex., March 24, 2022.
Nolan Sotillo gets a fist bump from a fan while working the extended stage as he opens the evening at Country Thunder, Florence, Ariz., April 7, 2022.
Arizona's right fielder Tanner O'Tremba (44) comes up inches short of chasing down a hit to the wall by Washington State's Elijah Hainline (8) that ended up a double and runners at second and third in the fourth inning of their Pac 12 baseball game at Hi Corbett Field, Tucson, Ariz., April 8, 2022.
The Wildcats pour out of the tunnel to take the field for the University of Arizona's Spring Game at Arizona Stadium, Tucson, Ariz., April 9, 2022.
The Zipper and Insanity light up the night, two rides giving fair goers a thrill on the opening day of the Pima County Fair, Tucson, Ariz., April 21, 2022.
Officials rescue a person from a vehicle after the vehicle went over the edge off the Catalina Highway near Hoodoo Vista Point in the Santa Catalina Mountains on May 11, 2022. Rural Metro Fire Department, Pima County Sheriff's Department and Mount Lemmon Fire Department assisted with the rescue.
Catalina Foothills players pose for a selfie before the Cave Creek Cactus Shadows vs. Catalina Foothills 4A softball elimination game at Amphitheater High School, Tucson, on May 10, 2022.
The Arizona Wildcats celebrate teammate infielder Sophia Carroll's (00) two RBI home run as Carroll reaches home plate during the bottom the second inning in game one of Arizona's series against the Stanford Cardinal at Hillenbrand Memorial Stadium in Tucson, Ariz. on May 12, 2022.
Olesia Yaffa, 4, runs through a group of water jets while playing inside Marana Heritage River Park's Splash Pad at Marana Heritage River Park in Marana, Ariz. on May 19, 2022.
Photos of Omar Casas Varela, top, and Alan Cruz, both members of the Class of 2022, hold their place of honor among the seats just before the start of graduation ceremonies at Tucson High Magnet School, Tucson, Ariz., May 26, 2022. Casas Varela died in February of 2022, and Cruz died in May of 2020.
A big horn sheep stands with the moon as a backdrop, looking over Fiftymile Creek, Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, Utah, May 12, 2022.
Tom Wright hikes past the beached marker for Willow Canyon where it joins with the Escalante River, Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, Utah, May 13, 2022.
Sightseers explore the formation known as The Cathedral in the Desert on Clear Creek, Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, Utah, May 11, 2022. The reemergence of the formation is drawing sightseers after being submerged for some 50 years.
A stranded wakeless zone buoy sits on the cracking silt outside the new shores of the Bullfrog Bay Marina, Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, Utah, May 10, 2022.
With a monsoon cell dropping a bit of rain to the west, fans find seats in the grandstands long the strip during Street Rally night at the Tucson Dragway Tucson, Ariz., June 11, 2022.
Royce Dominguez, top and Roman Berreda run an agility drill during Counting Takedowns' week-long wrestling and economics camp at Sunnyside High School, Tucson, Ariz., June 14, 2022.
A woman records cellphone video as the crowd begins to take over the intersection of Granada and Congers as a few thousand turn out to protest the overturning of Roe v. Wade, Tucson, Ariz., June 24, 2022.
Ava Ford, 3, center, sits on her father Greg Ford's lap while while listening to the fireworks show during Marana's 2022 Annual Star Spangled Spectacular at Crossroads at Silverbell District Park in Marana, Ariz. on July 3, 2022.
Mason Kippes reaches out for his mother Sara during their parent-child swimming class at Catalina Pool, Tucson, Ariz., July 13, 2022.
After comforting his son, Josh Gamboa carries Jace into his kindergarten class on the first day of school at Ocotillo Ridge Elementary School, 10170 S White Lightning Lane in Vail, Ariz. on July 18, 2022.
Monsoon storm moving Marana across slowly obscures the view of Picacho Peak as seen from the Catalina Foothills north of Tucson on Tuesday, Aug. 9, 2022.
Sabino's Dominik Wayne-Parsons (9) jumps in front of a Coolidge receiver to knock down a pass on fourth and goal and prevent a score in the first quarter of their high school football game at Sabino High School, Tucson, Ariz., August 19, 2022.
Lightning strikes just west of Tumamoc Hill from a cell that built up just to the south of Tucson, Ariz., August 23, 2022. Several cells formed around the valley just before sunset, dropping rain and causing some localized flooding.
Fans brave the noise, heat and smoke to get video of the jet car Terminal Velocity firing up the engine in the start area just before a run on Nitro Nights at the Tucson Dragway, Tucson, Ariz., Sept. 24, 2022.
Cate Reese, #25, at the University of Arizona Women's basketball media day at McKale Center in Tucson, Ariz. on September 30, 2022.
Arizona wide receiver Dorian Singer (5) steps out of bounds after keeping two feet in the end zone for a touchdown during the second quarter against Colorado at Arizona Stadium on Oct. 1, 2022.
Mica Mountain wide receiver and safety Devin Hayward, center, dances with a teammate inside a dance circle before heading out to the bus for a football game on Sept. 15, 2022. Dance huddles and music are common inside the Mica Mountain football locker room.
Tucson Fire Department personnel hose water from a ladder truck as employees use heavy equipment to dig into a mountain of smoldering scrap down to the source of the flames while fighting a fire at SA Recycling, 1525 W. Miracle Mile, Tucson, Ariz., October 13, 2022.
Sabino's quarterback Cameron Hackworth (1) has his hair flying as he throws to his receivers in the team's pre-game workout before their playoff game against San Tan Foothills in the opening round of the state 3A football playoffs at Sabino High School, Tucson, Ariz., November 4, 2022.
Francisca Davila holds an ofrenda she made of friends and mostly family who have passed away during the 33rd Annual All Souls Procession on November 6, 2022.
David Jackson high-fives a young student at Keeling Elementary School in Tucson after she received new shoes compliments of the non-profit Soles4Souls New Balance and the National Shoe Retailers Association. Kids got a new pair of sneakers and socks. 550 pairs for shoes were available. Teachers got a $150 gift card for new shoes.
Eitan Smolak skips over the drawing his mother, Aiyan, works on during the 6th annual Chalk Art Marathon at Tanque Verde Elementary School, 2600 N Fennimore Ave. in Tucson, Ariz. on November 16, 2022. After a two year hiatus, due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the chalk marathon returned in honor of Tracey Jones, a parent who enjoyed the event. According to Alicia Marrano, art teacher, the idea is to bring science and art together. Participants pay $10.00 for a square. The funds go towards buying supplies for the day and for science and art tools for the classroom. This year the event was organized by the school's Parent Teacher Group.
Canyon del Oro's Chase Laux (14) bounces off the tackle of St. Mary's Jakob Coker (1) on a second quarter catch-and-run in their first round game in the state 4A playoffs, Oro Valley, Ariz., November 17, 2022.
Sean Christian, of Tucson, raises his arms as he crosses the finish line and wins the men's division of the 102-mile race in the 39th Banner - University Medicine El Tour de Tucson in Tucson, Ariz. on November 19, 2022.
A small group of riders make the climb up Pistol Hill Road on the far eastern leg of El Tour de Tucson, Tucson, Ariz., November 19, 2022.
A rider and a group of area neighbors exchange salutes as the main body makes the first few yards of the long climb up Pistol Hill Road from Old Spanish Trail during El Tour de Tucson, Tucson, Ariz., November 19, 2022.
Washington State defensive back Jaden Hicks (25) nearly picks off a pass intended for Arizona running back Rayshon Luke (20) in the second quarter of the Cougars' Pac-12 matchup with the Wildcats on Nov. 19, 2022 at Arizona Stadium.
An ecstatic Michele Keller hugs her newly-adopted daughter, Ariana, in Judge Geoffrey Ferlanβs courtroom at Pima County Juvenile Court in Tucson on National Adoption Day, Nov. 18, 2022.
Arlene Anaya bows her head as she receives a blessing during the 34th Annual Thanksgiving Food Outreach event hosted by the Gospel Rescue Mission at H.S. Lopez Family Foundation Center of Opportunity, 4550 S. Palo Verde Road, in Tucson, Ariz. on November 23, 2022. According to Lisa Chastain, chief executive officer of Gospel Rescue Mission, 3,000 meals were prepared and participants could receive pet food and a resource box filled with hygiene products. She also said this was the first year for the hybrid event, where guests can either drive through or walk up and enjoy a sit down meal at the outdoor banquet.
An ecstatic Arizona head coach Jedd Fisch after running back Michael Wiley scored in the third quarter during Arizona State at Arizona football at Arizona Stadium on Nov. 25, 2022.
UA fans and players try to get their hands on the Territorial Cup after the Wildcats beat the visiting Sun Devils in football on Nov. 25, 2022.
Amy Jean Knorr, center, greets friends during her 106th birthday party at the Atria Bell Court, 6653 E Carondelet Drive in Tucson, Ariz. on November 28, 2022. Knorr was born in 1916 on a farm in rural Illinois. In 1921 the family moved to Whitehall, Michigan. Knorr attended a one-room school house up through eighth grade. Education was very important in her family and one of the values instilled in her. Knorr attended Michigan State University on a 4-H scholarship of $95 that paid for two of her three terms and majored in home economics. She went to earn a doctorate in higher education at Michigan State. In 1964 she married Philip Knorr and moved to Tucson, where Philip was on faculty. Amy Jean held two part-time positions at the university for a few years before being hired on as professor of Home Economics Education in 1970. Eight years later she was named department chair, a position that she held until her retirement in 1983. Knorr has lived at Atria Bell Court for 10 years and continues to read books and socialize with friends.
Desert View's Marisol Diaz (30), lower left, and Sahuaro's Cassandra Coolidge (30) try to get control of a loose ball in their high school game at Desert View High School, Tucson, Ariz., December 2, 2022.
Brooklyn Foreman dances a little in the rain putting a damper on the Oro Valley Festival of the Arts and Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony at the Oro Valley Marketplace, Oro Valley, Ariz., December 3, 2022.
The zoo's flamingos stay up late, one of the few animals up at night for Zoo Lights at Reid Park Zoo, Tucson, Ariz., December 7, 2022.
Arizona forward Esmery Martinez (12) goes up against the Kansas defense on a shot under the basket during their game at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., December 8, 2022.
Visitors stroll along Christmas Avenue on the opening night of the 73rd annual Winterhaven Festival of Lights, Tucson, Ariz., December 10, 2022.
A pedestrian stroll past the newly refurbished Tucson Inn neon sign shortly before a ceremony to throw the switch and light the iconic landmark again, Tucson, Ariz., December 14, 2022. A small crowd turned out for the block party to celebrate the sign's return.
Shyla Harlan leads the procession as the Knocker Child, the figure who asks shelter for the nacimiento, as the 86th Annual Las Posadas winds its way through the neighborhood surrounding Carrillo K-5 Communications and Creative Arts Magnet School, Tucson, Ariz., December 16, 2022. Harlan is the first girl in the local procession's history to play the part of the Knocker Child. This year also had a record number of Carrillo students participating in the procession.
Arizona guard Pelle Larsson (3) gets fouled as he scores, earning an and-one against Tennessee in their game at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., December 17, 2022.
Former US Representative Gabrielle Giffords takes the hand of bass drummer Miku Hori as she moves through the percussion section meeting the members of the Catalina Foothills High School marching band on December 17, 2022. Giffords is the grand marshal of the upcoming Rose Bowl Parade, where the Falcons will march January 2, 2023. Giffords gave the band a small pep talk, listened to their rendition of Riders in the Sky.
Luis Matias hammers in a stake while helping Louise Miles put up a lighted arch over the sidewalk outside her home, part of the neighborhood wide decorations along the 14000 block of East Via Cerro del Molino, Tucson, Ariz., December 15, 2022. Melissa Matias spearheaded the community wide decoration spree taking the lighted arches idea from a custom in her native Puerto Rico. Matias decided to bring Christmas arch idea to her neighbors, leaving how-to instructions on the group mailbox and it caught on quickly. "I'm ecstatic with the results, how quickly everybody came together," she said.
Miguel Angel Jimenez smokes his cigar at the 4th tee box during the final round of the Cologuard Classic golf tournament at Omni Tucson National Resort in Tucson, Ariz. on February 27, 2022.
Saraya Dalton fights the breeze to strip part of her fry bread/chili tent of some of its sheets at the First San Manuel Chili Cook-Off, San Manuel, Ariz., April 23, 2022. Several canopies and displays fell victim to the day's gusty winds at the Ray Blair Airport and Dalton was trying to prevent her own from taking flight.
Ryane Martinez-Garibay, daughter of slain Pima County Constable Deborah Martinez-Garibay, clutches the American flag as the casket bearing the body of her mother is brought past an honor guard into the funeral mass at St. Augustine Cathedral in Tucson, Ariz., on Sept. 1, 2022. Martinez-Garibay and two others were shot and killed while serving an eviction at a Tucson apartment complex late last month.
A young boy runs behind Juan Ciscomani, Republican for U.S. Congress, District 6, as he greets supporters late Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2022. Ciscomani won the race to represent the district.
Passersby take a look at the colorful light catchers in the Brighten Your Life Creations booth on the first day of the Fourth Avenue Winter Street Fair, Tucson, Ariz., December 9, 2022.
Kelly Presnell
Photojournalist
Mamta Popat
Photojournalist
Rick Wiley
Photo editor
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