From sweeping landscapes to portraits to news, these are my “best” photos from 2016. A night shooting the Perseids at Artist Point, documenting the Presidential Election, a surprise engagement, a rare snowstorm, and vigil for the Pulse Nightclub shooting victims topped my favorites.
After a rough edit, these are the 18 I’ve picked as my favorites. To see my rough edit, visit my gallery Year in Photos: My Favorites.
Enjoy!!!!
Slam!!!

Ferndale’s Jordan Cristelli moves to pin Bothell’s Nicholas Mitchell during the Graham Morin Memorial Wrestling Tournament on Saturday afternoon Dec. 17, 2016, at Squalicum High School in Bellingham, Wash. Cristelli won the contest to advance in the tournament. (© Paul Conrad/The Bellingham Herald)
Mount Shuksan and Perseid

A lone meteor flares over Mount Shuksan during the 2016 Perseids Meteor Shower on Friday morning Aug. 8, 2016, at Picture Lake near Mount Baker Ski Area in Whatcom County, Wash. (© Paul Conrad/Paul Conrad Photography)
Pride in Bellingham

Janice Keller of Bellingham waits for the 2016 Bellingham Pride Parade to begin on Sunday morning July 10, 2016, in Bellingham, Wash. Keller is the Communication Manager for the Bellingham Public Library. ( photo © Paul Conrad/The Bellingham Herald)
BUBBLES!!!

A volunteer sprays a participant with colored powder during The Color Run on Sunday morning Aug. 21, 2016, in downtown Bellingham, Wash. Several thousand participated in the “World’s Happiest 5K” fundraiser to help benefit the Whatcom Family YMCA. (photo © Paul Conrad/The Bellingham Herald)
Remembering Orlando

Orlando Vigil – A couple hugs while listening to the names of the deceased of the Orlando nightclub massacre during a candlelight vigil on Monday evening June 13, 2016, at Rumors Cabaret in Bellingham, Wash. Over a hundred people turned out to honor those killed in the terrorist attack. Over a hundred people turned out to honor those killed in the terrorist attack. Organizer Heidi O’Hana said she was “heartsick and had a strong need to hold this.” (© Paul Conrad/The Bellingham Herald)
Old Friends

Long time friends Fontella Lindquist, left, and Maxine Bell Rawls get excited while reuniting during the 70th reunion for the Bellingham High School Class of 1946 on Sunday afternoon Aug. 14, 2016, at Northwood Hall in Bellingham, Wash. Although they attended separate high schools, the two say they have known each other since grade school. (photo © Paul Conrad/The Bellingham Herald)
Election Night Jitters

Carole Perry of Bellingham watches intensely the Presidential election results during the post-election party for the Republican Party at the Mt. Baker Rotary Building on Tuesday Nov. 8, 2016, in Lynden, Wash. (© Paul Conrad/The Bellingham Herald)
Locust Beach Sunset

The setting Sun peaks below the clouds as seen from Locust Beach on Tuesday evening July 12, 2016, in Bellingham, Wash. (© Paul Conrad/Paul Conrad Photography)
Orange is the New … Dust?

Volunteer Nina Poliquit of Olympia sprays participants with orange powder during The Color Run on Sunday morning Aug. 21, 2016, in downtown Bellingham, Wash. Several thousand participated in the “World’s Happiest 5K.” (© Paul Conrad/The Bellingham Herald)
Snowy Whatcom Museum

The Whatcom Museum is covered in falling snow at Maritime Heritage Park in Bellingham, Wash., on Friday Dec. 23, 2016. (© Paul Conrad/Paul Conrad Photography)
Firestarter

Fire performer Matt Coble of Seattle amazes over 200 people during an artists gathering at Locust Beach on Sunday evening July 17, 2016, in Bellingham, Wash. (© Paul Conrad/Paul Conrad Photography)
Surprise!!!

Alex proposes to Rose during their engagement session at sunset on Sunday evening Aug. 14, 2016, at Boulevard Park in Bellingham, Wash. (© Paul Conrad/Paul Conrad Photography)
Lupine Biking

Cyclocross racer Tommy Lingbloom with the “Kevin LaFleur Memorial Team” rides across a field along Rural Road north of Bellingham during the 2016 Sea to Ski endurance race on Sunday May 29, 2016, south of Ferndale, Wash. (© Paul Conrad/The Bellingham Herald)
Statuesque

Jenna Clift, 7, pauses in front of an angel statue while placing flowers on graves after the end of Memorial Day services at the Veteran’s Memorial on Monday afternoon May 30, 2016, at Bayview Cemetery in Bellingham, Wash. (© Paul Conrad/Paul Conrad Photography
Not in My Eyes

Zakara Braun, 9, protects her eyes as she gets her hair colored by volunteer Vanessa Vaughn before the start of the 2016 Girls On The Run 5K on Saturday morning June 4, 2016, at Lake Padden in Bellingham, Wash. (© Paul Conrad/The Bellingham Herald)
Piping

Bellingham Pipes Band member Peter Rolstad plays Amazing Grace during Memorial Day service at the Veteran’s Memorial on Monday afternoon May 30, 2016, at Bayview Cemetery in Bellingham, Wash. (© Paul Conrad/The Bellingham Herald)
Little Runner

Reese Watabayashi, 13, approaches the finish line during the 50th annual Chuckanut Foot Race on Saturday morning July 9, 2016, in Fairhaven, Wash. Watabayashi ran the 7 mile course in 57 minutes, 31.2 seconds. (© Paul Conrad/The Bellingham Herald)
Birth of the Universe

Milky Way & Mount Baker – The Milky Way over Mount Baker during Perseids Meteor Shower on Friday morning Aug. 8, 2016, as seen from Artist Point near Mount Baker Ski Area in Whatcom County, Wash., east of Bellingham. (© Paul Conrad/Paul Conrad Photography)
Prints are available for purchase. Click on any photo or visit my gallery Year in Photos: My Favorites.
You may also like my best from other years:
- 2015: A Look Back – My Best Year in Photos
- 2014 – Photos of the Year: My Favorites from the Past 12 Months
- 2013 – Reflections of 2013: My Best Images From the Past Year
- 2012 – 12 from ’12: My Best From the Last Year
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Paul “pablo” Conrad
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Paul Conrad is a Bellingham wedding and portrait photographer living in Bellingham, north of Seattle, WA, in the Pacific Northwest. He has won awareds in news photography, features, sports, portraiture, and documentary. His work has been published in newspapers and magazines throughout the United States and in Europe. He is available for assignments anywhere in the Pacific Northwest. Although his specialty is photojournalism covering news, sports, and editorial portraits, he also is skilled in family portraiture, high school senior portraits, and weddings.
His clients include Getty Images, Wire Image, AirBnB, The Bellingham Herald, and many local business in Whatcom County. Previous clients are Associated Press, the New York Times, L.A. Times, Denver Post, Rocky Mountain News, and many others.
All images are © Paul Conrad. For commercial and editorial use, contact me with my contact form, or via email here.