2012: Baltimore Sun’s Year in Pictures
Wilson Hicks, former Executive Editor for Life Magazine, once wrote, “The most graphic reporting is eyewitness reporting. ‘I was there, I saw it happen, it was like this.’ In journalistic print, the firsthand account which comes closest to reproducing the actuality of an event is the picture…”
Baltimore Sun photographers were on hand to witness and photograph the highs and lows of 2012, from the resurgent Orioles making the playoffs for the first time in 15 years to the devastation of Superstorm Sandy.
The images in this gallery are a sampling of these pictures as selected by Sun Director of Photography Robert Hamilton. Some of these photographs are from significant events that shaped the lives of people; others are small moments of universal truths.
- Golden morning light shimmers across the Chesapeake Bay and silhouettes the Bay Bridge. (Kim Hairston/Baltimore Sun)
- Asplundh Tree Expert Co. helps to get a large tree off of power lines on Schucks Road in Bel Air. Hurricane Sandy and the debris and water problems in Harford County. (Lloyd Fox/Sun Photographer)
- Kylee Kim, 7, received Sasha the Superhero Pup as a birthday present, and the two even won a Halloween lookalike contest. Sasha and Kylee play at Robert E. Lee Park under the watchful eye of mother, Heather Kim of Towson. (Christopher T. Assaf/Baltimore Sun)
- Children watch the dolphins at the National Aquarium in Baltimore. (Algerina Perna/Baltimore Sun)
- A Great Blue Heron stands along the shores of Liberty Reservoir on a foggy morning as traffic passes by on the Liberty Road bridge between Carroll and Howard County. (Robert K. Hamilton/Baltimore Sun)
- U.S. Representative Elijah Cummings sits in the background, waiting for his turn to pay tribute to Sen. Clarence M Mitchell, III (pictured) at Sharp Street Memorial Church during Sen. Mitchell’s memorial service. (Algerina Perna/Baltimore Sun)
- A driver on Pratt St. pumps his fist in support of a rally sponsored by the NAACP, the Maryland Southern Christian Leadership Council and the Baltimore National Action Network. The rally which began at Pratt and Light Streets and continues to City Hall was in memorialization of Trayvon Martin, the 17-year-old who was unarmed when he was shot and killed Feb. 26 in Sanford, Fla., on Feb. 26 by neighborhood watch volunteer George Zimmerman. (Algerina Perna /Baltimore Sun)
- A child walks throuth the human size kaleidoscope at Ripley’s Believe It or Not!, newly opened at Harborplace. (Lloyd Fox/Baltimore Sun)
- The Ravens cheerleadeers perform routines during the Ravens game against the Oakland Raiders at M&T Bank Stadium. (Christopher T. Assaf/Baltimore Sun)
- Hemi Orange Parsons is a two-year-old English Labrador owned by Allie & Dave Parsons of Reisterstown. The uber-friendly dog likes dual-lap time on a couch with the owners, and a mouth stuffed with toys. (Christopher T. Assaf/Baltimore Sun)
- Lisa Mills and her grandson Donte Gardner, 3, both of Baltimore, play in the Sondheim Fountain at the Inner Harbor. (Barbara Haddock Taylor/Baltimore Sun)
- Michael E. Busch, Speaker, House of Delegates, is about to become the longest-serving Marylander at the head of the House of Delegates. He’s pictured in the House of Delegates in the State House. (Algerina Perna/Baltimore Sun)
- Neighbor Paul Ragan examines the damage to a home at 420 W. Maple Avenue that was crushed by a tree during Hurricane Sandy. (Amy Davis/Baltimore Sun)
- Jean Anderson, left, and her grandmother, Edith Fletcher, weep at a protest and press conference that was held at the corner of Montford Ave. and Biddle Streets protesting the death of Anthony Anderson Sr. while in police custody. Anderson, Sr. was Jean Anderson’s father, and Edith Fletcher’s son. (Algerina Perna/Baltimore Sun)
- At IRC, (International Rescue Committee), refugees and translators pose for a group picture after the refugees received their certificates for participating in a 5-day Cultural Orientation Program which helps refugees integrate into the community in several areas including employment housing, safety and health. In the foreground is Bawi Lian Cung 3-years-old. Algerina Perna/Baltimore Sun)
- Ann and Ed Bartlinski have adopted five special-needs girls from China. They also have 4 biological children. This is five year old Teresa, who needs a heart transplant. (Barbara Haddock Taylor/Baltimore Sun)
- Family and friends follow the casket of Major Robert Marchanti II, who was killed in Afghanistan in February 2012, during his funeral service at the Arlington National Cemetery. (Lloyd Fox/Baltimore Sun)
- Chrissy Lee Polis, a transgender woman, gets a smooch from Tye, one of her two cats. One year ago, she was beaten in McDonald’s for using the women’s restroom. Algerina Perna/Baltimore Sun)
- Melody Fowler, 4, of Westminster, poses with the 11 ft. 9 inch John Waters cut-out, on display in front of the Charles Theatre during the final day of Artscape. (Amy Davis/Baltimore Sun)
- Jaida Franklin, 11, left, and her friend Skyia Cooley,11, both from Baltimore, are so excited to have Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice, center, give them autographs after the Ravens practice. The Baltimore Ravens have their final training camp practice away from the Under Armour Performance Center at Stevenson University. They sign autographs for the fans after practice. (Algerina Perna/Baltimore Sun)
- Grand Pix of Baltimore winner, Ryan Hunter-Reay, celebrates in the winner’s circle after the race. (Lloyd Fox/Baltimore Sun)
- Retired waterman Harry Foote, Jr., 74, stands near his home on Armstrong Creek. He has been on the water in eastern Baltimore County his entire life. “As a kid in a 16-foot rowboat on Frog Mortar Creek, you didn’t need a net. You just reached out by hand and picked up the crabs.” (Amy Davis/Baltimore Sun)
- Kyle Kauffman, right, is hugged by head coach John Plevyak of Stevenson University after a 2-0 win over Hood College. Kyle Kauffman, the manager for Stevenson’s soccer team, has cerebral palsy and had his dream come true by getting a chance to play in the match against Hood College. (Lloyd Fox/Baltimore Sun)
- Ravens running back Ray Rice (27) is tackled by a scrum of Chiefs. Baltimore Ravens beat the Kansas City Chiefs 9-6 at Arrowhead Stadium. (Christopher T. Assaf/Baltimore Sun)
- Calvert Hall #31 Robbie Jones and #18 Logan Kurek hold up the game winning trophy after defeating Loyola 21-14 in the 93rd Annual Turkey Bowl football game played at M&T Bank Stadium on Thanksgiving. (Lloyd Fox/Baltimore Sun)
- Sgt. Justin Haggerty, 27, who returned from Afghanistan in January, will get to celebrate the 4th of July with his wife Joanna, 25, and daughter Joilee, 3, at his home base in Fort Meade. (Amy Davis/Baltimore Sun)
- The NVe Cisne Branco from Brazil and dozens of other tall ships and naval vessels depart the Inner Harbor and pass by Fort McHenry, ending the Star Spangled Sailabration. (Algerina Perna/Baltimore Sun)
- Yankees Raul Ibanez hits a game winning homer off Orioles’ Brian Matusz in the bottom of the 12th inning, his second homer of the game. (Lloyd Fox/Baltimore Sun)
- Rose Dente, left, is a 101 year old resident of St. Martin’s Home, which a residence for elderly people that is run by the Little Sisters of the Poor. Here, Rose shares a laugh while walking down a hall with Sister Lourdes. (Barbara Haddock Taylor/Baltimore Sun)
- Chinook helicopters take off from Aberdeen during a deployment Ceremony for the B-3-126th GSAB which is an aviation unit of about 60 soldiers from the Maryland National Guard. They are being deployed to Afghanistan. The ceremony was held at the Aberdeen Proving Ground. (Lloyd Fox/Baltimore Sun)
- A Tiger Swallowtail butterfly lands on one of thousands of sunflowers located in in a field in Jarrettsville, MD. (Lloyd Fox/Baltimore Sun)
- Members of the 10th company struggle through the Wet and Sandy drill at the Naval Academy during Navy Sea Trials. The event serves as a leadership challenge for the plebes. The freshman class go through 14 hours of physical and mental training. (Lloyd Fox/Baltimore Sun)
- Nick Markakis receivies congratulations from his teammates after his 1st inning 2 run home run on Opening Day of the 2012 season against the Minnesota Twins. (Gene Sweeney Jr./Baltimore Sun)
- Mubarak Muhammed makes his way around a classmate during a game of capture the flag. About 100 local students from Dogwood Elementary test their physical endurance and ability to work as a team in order to complete various activities at M&T Bank Stadium as part of NFL Play 60 with the help of a few Baltimore Ravens’ players. (Lloyd Fox/Baltimore Sun)
- After playing racquetball, Bert Van Court, right, discovers a few cheerleader candidates waiting for their tryouts in the hallway of the Downtown Athletic Club. A record 312 hopefuls came to Saturday’s tryouts to become Ravens cheerleaders. Finalists will compete in the final round of tryouts later this month for the final 60 spots – 20 male and 40 female cheerleaders. (Amy Davis/Baltimore Sun)
- Three CSX employees navigate the debris and wreckage of the toppled hopper cars at the scene of a train derailment on a rail line that snakes along the Patapsco River at the Main Street overpass in historic Ellicott City. Two people were confirmed killed in the mishap as investigators sift through the wreckage, while interviewing witnesses to rebuild a timeline of events. (Karl Merton Ferron/Baltimore Sun)
- Orioles Ryan Flaherty, Nick Markakis and Adam Jones do their outfield leap, as the celebrated Baltimore’s 6-5 win over Texas. (Gene Sweeney Jr./Baltimore Sun)
- The Navy’s Blue Angels practice their performance over Fort McHenry in conjunction with Sailabration. They did several practice runs including this one where a goose joins them in formation. (Gene Sweeney Jr./Baltimore Sun)
- Six of Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus elephants arrived in Baltimore on the B&O Railroad near the B&O Museum. They paraded on Pratt St. to the 1st Mariner Arena where they will perform. (Algerina Perna/Baltimore Sun)
- Clergy members from the Maryland Marriage Alliance gather together to say a prayer before holding a press conference regarding their opposition to the same sex marriage bill. The meeting was held in the House of Delegates office building. (Barbara Haddock Taylor/Baltimore Sun)
- Ravens’ #37 Emanuel Cook recovers a Patriots fumble on a kickoff, as Patriots’ #36 Lousaka Polite (L) and #52 Dane Fletcher (R) can’t come up with the ball in the third quarter. (Lloyd Fox/Baltimore Sun)
- Spectators at Fort McHenry get a good view of the Navy’s Blue Angels as they perform the Sailabration air show in June. (Jerry Jackson/Baltimore Sun)
- Two of the six female dolphins at the National Aquarium are pictured during their play and feed time. Beginning tomorrow, the Aquarium is changing its dolphin program from the current limited-access, separately priced choreographed show to one that offers every patrons all day access to interact with the dolphins and trainers. (Kenneth K. Lam/Baltimore Sun)
- A Baltimore Police officer stands behind crime scene tape at the scene of a police-involved shooting following a dispatch for a burglary in progress, reported near S. Chester Street and Bank Street in southeast Baltimore. A suspect was shot, while another was taken into custody as investigators pore through evidence. (Karl Merton Ferron/Baltimore Sun)
- L-R Oriole Hall of Famers, Cal Ripken Jr. Eddie Murray, Earl Weaver, Brooks Robinson, Frank Robinson and Jim Palmer. The Baltimore Orioles unveil the Brooks Robinson statue at Camden Yards before an Orioles game against the Boston Red Sox. (Lloyd Fox, Baltimore Sun)
- Wearing the Ravens colors at the family’s rerquest, a stream of fans wait in line to pay respects at a public viewing of Art Modell, the onetime owner of the Baltimore Ravens, as he lies in a closed casket at the center of the field at the Ravens’ stadium Saturday, Sep 8, 2012. (Karl Merton Ferron/Baltimore Sun)
- Dominion employees Dan Donovan, left, and Tim Nelson descend a water tank at the Dominion Cove Point terminal, which is a liquid natural gas (LNG) importing facility. The company hopes to build a liquifaction operation there so it can begin exporting LNG from the terminal. (Barbara Haddock Taylor/Baltimore Sun)
- Baltimore City resident Joseph Wetherell, 2, enjoy the weather while playing in an outdoor sculpture at Pierce’s Park near Pier Five of Inner Harbor. (Kenneth K. Lam/Baltimore Sun)
- New York Yankees’ Ichiro Suzuki touches the plate to score against Baltimore Orioles catcher Matt Wieters in the first inning during Game 2 of the American League Division Series at Oriole Park at Camden Yards in Baltimore. (Karl Merton Ferron/Baltimore Sun)
- Left to right, Montell Bridgett, Marquise Pryor and Antwain Robinson, 18, dance as music plays before the bell signals the beginning of sparring. They are training at the UMAR Boxing Program, Inc. on North Avenue. (Kim Hairston/Baltimore Sun)
- Head groundskeeper Nicole Sherry shouts for assistance to reel back in the tarp which got caught by winds, pushing some of it to second base, as the grounds crew has some difficulty keeping it down, during wind gusts from a nearby passing storm at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. (Karl Merton Ferron/Baltimore Sun)
- A military truck sits in the water on St. Louis Avenue between 8th and 9th Streets in Ocean City, MD, as personnel help residents evacuate with their essential belongings from their apartment as Hurricane Sandy, now a Category One system, floods the streets. (Karl Merton Ferron/Baltimore Sun)
- Orioles’ players greet the 10th Man, Connor Schoenwetter, 5, of Cockeysville, during the opening day ceremonies. Baltimore Orioles vs. Minnesota Twins on opening day baseball at Camden Yards. (Lloyd Fox/Baltimore Sun)
- I’ll Have Another (#9) overtakes Bodemeister (#7) in the final stretch to win the 137th Preakness Stakes. (Jerry Jackson/Baltimore Sun)
- The funeral for five members of the Worrell family who perished in a fire was held at Mount Pleasant Church and Ministries. The names of the children and grandmother who died from left are: Tykia Manley, 7; K’niyah Nora Scott, 2; Darryl Kenneth Steward III, 4; James Tivon Holden, Jr., 1 year, and Mrs. Nancy Fenner-Worrell. Fenner-Worrell was the great grandmother to James Holden, Jr. (Algerina Perna/Baltimore Sun)
- Ravens’ Terrell Suggs celebrates with Justin Tucker after he kicked the game winning field goal to defeat the New England Patriots at M & T Bank Stadium. (Kenneth K. Lam/Baltimore Sun)
- Gary Catlin, Fairmount, MD, talks about the damage his property sustained from tidewater that was pushed into his community by Superstorm Sandy. (Kim Hairston/Baltimore Sun)
- In the ninth inning, Kansas City Royals right fielder Jeff Franceur (21), left, and second baseman Johnny Giavotella (9) fumble the catch of a flyball by Baltimore Orioles J.J. Hardy at Oriole Park. (Algerina Perna/Baltimore Sun)
- Ravens kicker Billy Cundiff walks off the field after missing the game tying field goal in the AFC Championship game, while #4 Sam Koch and #46 Morgan Cox slump in dejection. (Gene Sweeney Jr/Baltimore Sun)
- Senator Madaleno cheers outside the Senate after the Same Sex Marriage Bill passed. (Algerina Perna/Baltimore Sun)
- Teammates mob Nate McLouth after he hit the game winning RBI single which scored Manny Machado to give Baltimore the 3-2 win over the Tampa Bay Rays. Chris Davis lifted him up at 2nd base and carried him around the field. (Gene Sweeney Jr./Baltimore Sun)
- Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley signs the same-sex marriage bill at the Statehouse. The bill would eventually be put to the voters in November where it passed. (Amy Davis/Baltimore Sun)
- Seton Keough Gators teammates (clockwise from left) Jeni Ford (1), Meg Wickless, Brooke Stiner, Ijeoma Igwe, Hailee Clampitt (18) and Rachel Robinson (12) celebrate sealing the win and the championship over the Archbishop Spalding Cavaliers in Game 4 of the A Conference IAAM Volleyball Championship. (Karl Merton Ferron/Baltimore Sun)
- PFC Richard Effler with the GROTC program at Carver Votech salutes as he walks into the War Memorial in Baltimore. He and hundreds of others were there to celebrate Veterans Day. (Lloyd Fox/Baltimore Sun)
- Marvin Cabrera, working for the Baltimore City Dept. of Transportation’s street light conversion, installs an LED lamp as the truck slowly makes its way on the Howard Street Bridge, replacing sodium vapor street lamps with lower-profile, higher-efficiency LED (Light emitting diode) street lamps. The crew says that Baltimore is phasing out its utilization of the orange-colored sodium vapor lamps (seen in foreground, above) throughout the city. (Karl Merton Ferron/Baltimore Sun)
- A choked-up Cal Ripken Jr., talks about when he first learned of his mother’s abduction during a press conference at Camden Yards. The press conference was on the investigation of the abduction and subsequence safe return of his mother Vi Ripken at her home in Aberdeen. (Kenneth K. Lam/Baltimore Sun)
- A stallion rears to protect his herd as several bands share a pen. The ponies are regaining their strength following a grueling swim through Assateague Channel in the 87th annual Chincoteague Pony swim. The swim was made famous by Marguerite Henry’s book “Misty of Chincoteague”. (Karl Merton Ferron/Baltimore Sun)
- Jaedyn Fitt, 4, clings to her father, Justin Fitt, during a opening ceremonies of the new school year and new school building at Leith Walk Elementary. Justin says his pre-k daughter, “Just doesn’t want me to leave.” Baltimore city officials, joined by state and local political and education leaders, kick off the first day of school at Leith Walk Elementary, which will welcome students to a brand new $32 million, state-of-the-art building this year. (Kim Hairston/Baltimore Sun)
- Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller, left, and Speaker of the House Michael Busch, right, clutch the backs of their chairs as they wait for Governor Martin O’Malley to arrive at a bill signing ceremony this morning. The leaders needed a special session to avoid “doomsday” budget cuts. (Barbara Haddock Taylor/Baltimore Sun)
- Kelly McPartland, center, of Maryland, keeps control of the ball under pressure from Ashley Moulton, right, of Loyola, in the first half of a women’s lacrosse NCAA quarterfinal. Maryland wins 17-11. (Kim Hairston/[Baltimore Sun)
- Riders and horses are on the track as the sun rises over Pimlico Race Course. (Kim Hairston/Baltimore Sun)
- Model Rachel Mackay wears a BCBG Max Azria black dress from Cupcake for a Spring Fashion preview at the Inn at the Black Olive. (Lloyd Fox/Baltimore Sun)
- Calvert Hall’s Lee Lipinski drives in the first of five runs in the first inning after by being hit with a pitch from Archbishop Spalding pitcher Ryan Wagner. (Kenneth K. Lam/ Baltimore Sun)
- The PBR (Professional Bull Riders) tour stopped at the 1st Mariner Arena. Bull “Gator Bend” eyes thrown rider Jordan Hupp during Friday night’s event. (Gene Sweeney Jr./Baltimore Sun)