Star Tribune Photos of Year 2021

From surviving a pandemic to bringing home the Olympic gold, a look back at some of the moments captured by Star Tribune photojournalists in 2021.  
January 20, 2021 — 9:26am

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Mark Vancleave, Star Tribune
Behind the lens: Star Tribune photo/video staff reflect on their challenges this past year as they remained on the ground to cover the stories important to our community.

Photographers describe their emotional work this past year during the full event, Jan. 20, 2022.

After family matriarch Juanita Moran fell ill with the coronavirus last winter, her family prepared for the worst and rallied around her, even as they battled the virus themselves. The seven children, including Rebecca

Elizabeth Flores, Star Tribune

Emajay Driver, a close friend of Daunte Wright, sat near a memorial for Wright in Brooklyn Center, Minnesota on April 11, the night Wright was shot and killed by ex-Brooklyn Center police officer Kimberly Potter during a traffic stop.

Carlos Gonzalez, Star Tribune

People protest outside the Brooklyn Center Police Department in response to the fatal police shooting of Daunte Wright, Wednesday, April 14, 2021 in Brooklyn Center, Minn. Former Brooklyn Center police officer Kimberly Potter was charged with second-degree manslaughter after the shooting.

Richard Tsong-Taatarii, Star Tribune

Paris Page embraced her daughter Genyria, 9, during a prayer vigil at North Memorial hospital after three children were shot in the last week in Minneapolis, Minn., on Tuesday, May 18, 2021. Page is Ladavionne Garrett Jr.'s cousin, one of the three children shot.

Renee Jones Schneider, Star Tribune

Gov. Tim Walz, along with Commissioner for the Minnesota Department of Health Jan Malcolm, were confronted by a man who opposed their policies as they toured a facility where COVID-19 vaccines were being administered to people with appointments Thursday at the Earle Brown Heritage Center in Brooklyn Center.

Anthony Souffle, Star Tribune

Aaron Lavinsky, Star Tribune

Brian Peterson, Star Tribune

About 50 anti-capitalist protesters briefly shut down intersections in Uptown during a protest against a homeless camp eviction in North Minneapolis on March 19. 2021.

Mark Vancleave, Star Tribune

Brian Peterson, Star Tribune

Luke Loewe (12) of Minnesota is blocked while defended by Max Christie (5) and Julius Marble II of Michigan State in the second half Wednesday, Dec. 8, 2021 at Williams Arena in Minneapolis, Minn. ] CARLOS GONZALEZ • cgonzalez@startribune.com

Carlos Gonzalez, Star Tribune

Scores of State Patrol officers stood guard at the Minnesota State Capitol.

Mark Vancleave, Star Tribune

Indigenous leaders and "water protectors" marched through swamp land to the boardwalk leading to an Enbridge pipeline construction site on Monday. ]

Alex Kormann, Star Tribune

After fishing in what should be the thunderous Minnehaha Falls, a great blue heron shakes off water from the now trickling falls Tuesday in Minneapolis. ]

David Joles, Star Tribune

Roderick Sewell took practice laps during the first day of

Leila Navidi, Star Tribune

Jay Brooks tossed fresh snow in the air as he played with his 3-year-old Bernedoodle dog Sercie (cq) Sunday evening at Lynnhurst Park. ] Jerry Holt •Jerry.Holt@startribune.com

Jerry Holt, Star Tribune

Joseph Long sported a beard of snow and ice as he used a snowblower to clear the sidewalks on Northeast Tyler Street after an overnight snowfall blanketed the area Thursday. ] ANTHONY SOUFFLE • anthony.souffle@startribune.com

Anthony Souffle, Star Tribune

Steve Sweat of Mankato did a handstand while skating at Roller Garden. ] LEILA NAVIDI • leila.navidi@startribune.com

Leila Navidi, Star Tribune

Kawsar Qazizada hugged big sister Dewa as they were reunited at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport in late August. Kawsar and her father, Ziaullah Qazizada, stayed in Minnesota while her mother and siblings went to Afghanistan for a funeral. (Her parents realized at the

Renee Jones Schneider, Star Tribune

Arabelle Rohs, who lives in Sherburne County, said she got the idea for dressing as a coronavirus particle — with Sherlock as a doctor — for the State Fair's annual 4-H Llama and Alpaca Costume Contest after learning the animals have natural antibodies to the virus. The contest, in which 4-H participants and their animals dress in complementary costumes, has been part of the fair since 2008.

Aaron Lavinsky, Star Tribune

Clarence Maschke of Norwood Young America, who woke at 4:30 a.m. that morning, took a catnap on Dan Patch Avenue after lunchtime at the Minnesota State Fair. ] LEILA NAVIDI • leila.navidi@startribune.com

Leila Navidi, Star Tribune

Former Republican Governor Tim Pawlenty and current Governor Tim Walz received their single-shot Johnson & Johnson vaccine Tuesday at the Vikings practice facility in Eagan. Today is the first day all Minnesotans aged 16 and older are eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.

Glen Stubbe, Star Tribune

Minneapolis Chief Medaria Arradondo met privately with Mayor Jacob Frey and they hugged before he publicly announced that he will retire at the end of this term. Monday, Dec. 6, 2021 Minneapolis, Minn. ] GLEN STUBBE • glen.stubbe@startribune.com

Glen Stubbe, Star Tribune

John Grubb of St. Michael was discharged from Hennepin

David Joles, Star Tribune

After taking a year off, the Easter Bunny hopped to it this spring, posing for socially distanced photos with kids of all ages at Maplewood Mall. Photographer Moses Onyancha worked to make sure 4-year-old Victor Tomsen was all smiles during his photo session. Last year's event was canceled due to the state-mandated shutdown.

Richard Tsong-Taatarii, Star Tribune

Ashley Mehrwerth gave friend and fellow driver TJ Inderieden a smooch on the cheek on victory lane following his win in the flagman's invitational at Granite City Motor Park in Sauk Rapids, Minn. The special event started three years ago, with racers from different divisions competing and TJ starting on pole — and ultimately winning. As fans continued to donate, TJ's purse reached $1,200.

Jeff Wheeler, Star Tribune

Just a few days into spring, a slow-moving storm drenched the Twin Cities, and the much-needed moisture was reflected in the soon-to-be-budding cottonwoods along the Mississippi River in Hastings. With temperatures in the 60s and 70s, leaf-filled canopies weren't far away. It could have been worse: The same storm brought snow Up North.

Glen Stubbe, Star Tribune

Caydence Love, 9, left, and Brielle Jarmon, 8, shouted out Trinity Ottoson-Smith's name as they joined others on a march to pray for her at North Memorial Hospital during a rally, Sunday, May 23, 2021 in Minneapolis, MN. ] ELIZABETH FLORES • liz.flores@startribune.com

Elizabeth Flores, Star Tribune

13-month-old Hamilton Hormann regards Santa Claus from a safe distance at the IDS Center's Crystal Court in Minneapolis, Minn., Wednesday, Nov. 17, 2021. This year's Holidazzle festivities will include events in Downtown and Loring Park running from Thanksgiving through mid December.

Mark Vancleave, Star Tribune

Rick Pelleltier widened the path into a frozen Lake Harriett at sunset Sunday, Dec. 12, 2021 in Minneapolis before he swam in the 33 degree water for the 274th consecutive day. The first major storm of winter dumped more than a foot of snow in some areas of the metro. ] JEFF WHEELER • Jeff.Wheeler@startribune.com

Jeff Wheeler, Star Tribune

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz surprised Sign Language Translator Nic Zapko proclaiming it "Nic Zapko Day" on her birthday after he addressed the media regarding the distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine during a press conference, Tuesday, March 9, 2021 in St. Paul, MN. ] ELIZABETH FLORES • liz.flores@startribune.com

Elizabeth Flores, Star Tribune

Nazera Mohamed posed for photos in the sunflower field at

Renee Jones Schneider, Star Tribune

Parade of champions: Crowds lined the streets on St. Paul's East Side in August to welcome home their

Jerry Holt, Star Tribune

All eyes were on Minneapolis in March as the trial of former

Jerry Holt, Star Tribune

Michael Crothers, of Houston, listened to his phone at George Floyd Square as the verdict was read in the murder trial of former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin, Tuesday, April 20, 2021 in Minneapolis. Chauvin was on trial in the death of George Floyd, a Black man who died in police custody in May, 2020. Chauvin was convicted on all three charges, second-degree murder, third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter.

Aaron Lavinsky, Star Tribune

At George Floyd Square, people including Jennifer Starr Dodd, left, celebrated the conviction verdict in the murder trial of former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin, Tuesday, April 20, 2021 in Minneapolis. Chauvin was on trial in the death of George Floyd, a Black man who died in police custody in May, 2020.

Richard Tsong-Taatarii, Star Tribune

Fan favorite Jeremy Lambert, in his popular 1957 Chevy, took the checkered flag to win the feature race at the Lake Superior Ice Racing Association's weekly event at Allouez Bay in Superior, Wis., in February. With cars reaching speeds of 65 mph and occasional icy spinouts inevitable, the races aren't for the faint of heart. "The adrenaline, the fun — that's why we're out here," said Lambert. "But, I also want to win."

Alex Kormann, Star Tribune

A common loon rose from the water and flapped its wings in the diffused light of a smoky sunset on Dodo Lake near Canyon, Minn., in late August. While loons may appear to be having difficulty taking flight, it's all just part of the preening process. Soon the adult loons would start moving south, with the younger loons following a month or so later.

Brian Peterson, Star Tribune

The 1200 pound aluminum cherry ball is unbolted, lifted, and separated from the Spoonbridge base it sits atop at the Sculpture Garden in Minneapolis, Minn., on Tuesday, Nov. 16, 2021. Due to the typically harsh conditions of Minnesota winters, this iconic Minneapolis fruit requires a fresh coat of paint about every ten years to keep the cherry's red crisp and glossy. Leon Budke, an employee with Rocket Crane Services, rides inside the cherry as it's moved from the spoon on to the ground. This wasn't Budke's first ride in the cherry; he's taken the ride previously and joked he may come out of retirement the next time the cherry is moved. ] SHARI L. GROSS • shari.gross@startribune.com ORG XMIT: MIN2111161233587423

Shari Gross, Star Tribune

Matt and Nicole Siewert pose for wedding photos on the Stone Arch Bridge Friday, Dec. 10, 2021 in Minneapolis, Minn. The first significant winter storm of the season hit the Twin Cities and brought snowfalls ranging from 5 to 12 inches. ]

Alex Kormann, Star Tribune

Twins legend Tony Oliva, photographed at Target Field Wednesday, Dec. 1, 2021 in Minneapolis. Twins great Tony Oliva will find out Sunday if the Golden Days Era Committee selected him as a member of the Class of 2022 for the National Baseball Hall of Fame. He was photographed Wednesday, Dec. 1, 2021 at Target Field in Minneapolis. ] JEFF WHEELER • Jeff.Wheeler@startribune.com

Star Tribune

A Marine sergeant released two baskets of doves at the Day of Remembrance ceremony at the State Capitol on Sept. 11, 20th anniversary of the attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. It was a time to remember the horror, anger and despair that came on Sept. 11, 2001. But it was also a time to remember the feelings that came afterward: awe at the stories of heroism, humility at the selflessness displayed and unity.

Shari L. Gross, Star Tribune

A puppy did its own meditation while watching birds outside a window during a yoga with puppies fundraiser for the Beagle Freedom Project. Meghan Vanderbilt is in the background.

Shari Gross, Star Tribune

Zumba instructor Sadie Jelinek led her first weekly outdoor class of the season Saturday at the Armatage Recreation Center. ] ANTHONY SOUFFLE • anthony.souffle@startribune.com

Anthony Souffle, Star Tribune

Defensive colleagues watched Vikings linebacker Eric Kendricks lead by leaping in a group celebration after an interception in the third quarter against Detroit earlier this season. The Lions left U.S. Bank Stadium with a 17-19 loss, but it wasn't without twists and turns on both sides. To refresh your memory, the Vikings won as time ran out, thanks to Greg Joseph's 54-yard field goal.

Carlos Gonzalez, Star Tribune

A whitetail doe bounded off to safety while feeding on a foggy morning Sunday near Weyerhaeuser, WI. ]

David Joles, Star Tribune

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