UGA photographers share their 2024 photos of the year

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This has been another year to remember. UGA’s Division of Marketing & Communications photographers Andrew Davis Tucker, Chamberlain Smith, Dorothy Kozlowski and Peter Frey each chose their 10 favorite photos taken this year for a wide variety of photo shoots and provide their thoughts about each in the captions.

Andrew Davis Tucker

Fireworks over Sanford Stadium during the run out at the beginning of the Tennessee game. It was really cool to be shooting photos for the first time that we had fireworks for football in Sanford. We had a little advance notice that Athletics was going to be shooting them off but we really didn’t know what it was going to look like. I took our fisheye lens and went to the top of the southwest corner to get the runout and to have the G in the middle of the field right side up. I really like this one because the stadium is red, but a splash of white light hits the field and the flags. (Andrew Davis Tucker/UGA)

Oscar Delp celebrates with Trevor Etienne after he scored in overtime to win the SEC Championship 22-19 over Texas. / Delp made this photo. The touchdown score was a a photo of Etienne fpushing and falling alling across the goal line and really didn’t look like anything. But the energy from Delp as he came over to celebrate made this photo. It’s a play I think Bulldog Nation will remember for a long time. (Andrew Davis Tucker/UGA)

Students and fans relax in a pool in the back of a pickup truck on Kudzu Hill overlooking a packed Foley Field as Georgia hosted a Super Regional Game 3 versus NC State. / The Bulldogs lost this game, but this is still one of my favorites from that day. I went up the hill behind the stadium where folks line up trucks side by side, grill burgers and hot dogs, and consume some refreshments from Red Solo Cups. I knew I had to get up and get shot of this from behind. I love that Athens is a small town. I came up to the front of this truck and on complete coincidence ran into a student that grew up sitting behind our family at Georgia football games. He invited me up to get on his truck to shoot some photos. Then while sitting up there one of his friends, safety Dan Jackson, was sitting there with us. I had met Dan last year shooting his portraits for our Game Changers series. So just all the things, cool photo, cool people, in one of the best locations to watch a baseball game in the summer time in Athens, Ga. (Andrew Davis Tucker/UGA)

Graduate Elisa Fontanillas middle celebrates the conferring of her degree from the Grady College during the spring undergraduate Commencement at Sanford Stadium. / Elisa was an intern in our office for a year leading up to her graduation. She’s just an awesome, special, thoughtful student. One of the ones that you know is going to make the world a better place. I went over to shoot some photos of her when her college was conferring degrees just to get some good photos for her as a thank you for all the hard work she did in our office. Being such a genuine person she celebrated naturally and tuned her tassel with so much emotion. Even with a tear in her eye. One photo I’ll never forget. (Andrew Davis Tucker/UGA)

Portrait of athletics tutor, senior Halle Bynum among books inside a study room at the Rankin Smith Student Athlete Academic Center. / This is Halle, she was a fun student to shoot for our Game Changers portraits this year leading up to football season. She was such a good sport, posing for several different scenarios. This one was my favorite, her smile just made it. (Andrew Davis Tucker/UGA)

Portrait of junior inside linebacker Jalon Walker inside the locker room at Sanford Stadium. / Walker was such a good sport posing for our Game Changers portraits this summer. This photo was a total team effort. Leland Barrow in Athletics was able to give us time with Jalon. Our creative director Lisa Robbins was on the shoot and provided art direction, and my colleague Dorothy Kozlowski helped with multiple things on this shoot. She sprayed Jalon with a mixture to make his muscles shine better and let me borrow her star filter to make the red light and the bling on his necklace shine. Then to top it all off she stood in the background and held the red light to get it in just the right place. So she’s in the photo too! (Andrew Davis Tucker/UGA)

Overhead view of a worker washing the bricks of the super G in Reed Plaza inside Sanford Stadium. / We were working on a photo essay for stadium prep for Sanford Stadium leading up to the fall football season. So on one of many days photographer Chamberlain Smith and I were going over to the stadium I saw these guys working on cleaning the walkways in Reed Plaza. I was at the stadium to shoot new signage going up in the President’s box, but once I was in the stadium with an Athletics student worker, I had to get up over this to give it a look. I had to wait for a little while but it turned out nice. (Andrew Davis Tucker/UGA)

Tuba player Lorelai Crook shares a laugh with Travis Mansfield while on a break during Redcoat Marching Band practice at the Redcoat Marching Band Practice Field. / Travis was one of my favorite subjects from this entire year. He is a funny guy and I was so happy to catch a natural moment show that. I spent an afternoon this summer with him out at band practice. In between practicing when the Redcoats would have a quick break the sousaphones would often just keep their instruments on and talk with each other. I love this photo because it shows how funny of a person he is and the contrast of him and one of his friends as they are opposites in stature yet they both play their giant instruments for the band. (Andrew Davis Tucker/UGA)

UGA Army ROTC cadet Isiah Pangilinan carries the American flag as he leads Athens-Clarke County firefighters at the start of the 9/11 Stair Climb inside Sanford Stadium. / This was the first time that anyone had organized a stair climb at the stadium on the 9/11 anniversary. I just love the symbolism of the flag leading ACC firefighters to start the climb. (Andrew Davis Tucker/UGA)

Licensed Veterinary Technician Nia Chau preps DJ the black bear of Bear Hollow Zoo as he is prepped for a CT Scan at the Veterinary Medicine Teaching Hospital. / I’ve shot photos in the CT scan before. I’ve shot photos of bears before. Never of the two together. And I just love the little moment of Nia as she lifts his ear as she adjusts the cords before he was scanned in the big donut. (Andrew Davis Tucker/UGA)

Chamberlain Smith

One of the first events I photographed in 2024 was the UGA Contemporary Chamber Ensemble and the UGA Choral Project performance of “Awakening.” I used the opportunity to try out some fun camera techniques, test out a new lens, and listen to live music. This motion blurred image shows Sarah Frook Gallo conducting the show in the Ramsey Concert Hall at the Performing Arts Center. (Chamberlain Smith/UGA)

During spring break, I photographed an IMPACT service trip at the Georgia coast where students partnered with the UGA Marine extension to volunteer during their time off. In this photo Xavier Turner and Jackson Vassy are seen through a tire as they collect litter on Tybee Island. (Chamberlain Smith/UGA)

I spent spring semester documenting the behind the scenes process as students, factually, and staff brought “Little Shop of Horrors” to the Fine Arts Theatre stage. In this photo, student Tristen Sledge receives help getting into her Audrey II costume backstage during dress rehearsal. (Chamberlain Smith/UGA)

Spring Commencement brought with it a beautiful, golden sunset and some of my favorite photo opportunities of the year. This image shows the shadows of students on the walls of Sanford Stadium as they enter to graduate. (Chamberlain Smith/UGA)

I had the chance to join students and faculty on the Interdisciplinary Field Program over the summer to document their travels and studies in National Parks across the country. In this photo, student Claire Godat is pictured eating an ice cream cone in Grand Canyon Village after a geology lesson while hiking the Bright Angel Trail at sunrise. (Chamberlain Smith/UGA)

Leading up to football season, my colleague, Andy Tucker, and I spent weeks over the summer documenting the behind the scenes operations of getting Sanford Stadium game ready. This photo shows a facility operations staff member pressure washing seats and stands to prepare for guests. (Chamberlain Smith/UGA)

2024 was the year I earned a remote pilot license and began my journey with aerial photography! This image is from an early morning flight over South Campus as students walked to and from Snelling Dining Commons. (Chamberlain Smith/UGA)

This conceptual portrait of professor Pejman Rohani was a team effort with my creative staff colleagues and stands out as a favorite session from the year. We used projections, TVs and plexiglass to surround Dr. Rohani with real data from his infectious disease research for a unique effect created in-camera. (Chamberlain Smith/UGA)

The fall leaves on North Campus are a photographer’s dream! I spotted this framing of foliage on the bridge from the UGA School of Law over Herty Drive and stood in wait for someone to walk by and complete the photo with their silhouette. (Chamberlain Smith/UGA)

This scene took place immediately after Georgia’s final regular season game win over Georgia Tech in a historic eight overtimes. The emotional embrace between head coach Kirby Smart and quarterback Carson Beck stood out to me as a quiet, impactful moment from a night of chaos on the field. (Chamberlain Smith/UGA)

Dorothy Kozlowski

Members of the UGA Ballroom Performance Group dance during a rehearsal for the annual showcase, Ballroom Magic. This show is always spectacular on its own, but I used a photo crystal in front of the lens while shooting, which distorts and reflects, so you never really know what you’re going see, but the effect was a dreamy one that I really liked. (Dorothy Kozlowski/UGA)

Assistant professor James Naigus in silhouette playing a French Horn in his office at the Hugh Hodgson School of Music building. After capturing a more traditional portrait earlier, I decided to play with his silhouette, which already looked striking, and then a co-worker who was assisting added the mirror for reflection. (Dorothy Kozlowski/UGA)

Graduate student Josh DeJongh stages collecting a gas sample used for combustion experiments in the laboratory. I liked how the addition of the colorful lights near the glass, (thanks, video co-worker!) paired with Josh’s intense gaze, turned this fairly standard research pose into a really cool photo. (Dorothy Kozlowski/UGA)

Community members dressed in traditional Chinese Hanfu attire play a game during the International Street Festival in downtown Athens. I was already drawn to the vibrant colors and fabrics of the traditional clothing, and placed myself in-between two attendees to frame this fun, light-hearted moment. (Dorothy Kozlowski/UGA)

Mascot Uga XI ‘Boom’ on North Campus during the filming of the 2024 Public Service Announcement commercial. This was the first time we’d been able to combine our athletic mascot and the academic setting of historic North Campus. Boom didn’t seem to mind the cool, dewy grass and clover on his feet on this warm summer day! (Dorothy Kozlowski/UGA)

Restoration specialist Don Cope drives the Iron Horse sculpture to his restoration shop. The movement of the historic sculpture was an event in itself, and I wanted to show it en route. I staked out a spot across the street from the farm and knew I only had one chance to capture this scene. I really like the bright colors of the sky, truck and straps surrounding the bold, dark starkness of the Iron Horse sculpture as it travels to its restoration location. (Dorothy Kozlowski/UGA)

Environmental portrait of undergraduate football team member Nazir Stackhouse in the locker room at Sanford Stadium. While scouting the space, I accidentally stumbled on how cool these red walls looked when lit up with flashes, and Nazir was all in when I explained that I wanted him to yell/roar for the photo. Turing the camera at an angle made for that much more of a fun, dynamic shot. (Dorothy Kozlowski/UGA)

Undergraduate student and member of the cheerleading squad Emma Schroeder performs a jump in the photo studio. I wanted to re-create the idea of stadium lighting in the studio, and ended up borrowing all of my co-workers’ flashes (we used 9 total) and using a star filter (that creates a sparkle effect on visible light sources) on my lens. Emma was a joy to work with, and was wiling to jump around 10 times (while smiling) until we caught this perfect moment. (Dorothy Kozlowski/UGA)

Red lights from Sanford Stadium light up the Tate Student Center. I like this atypical night view of Tate and the red lights on the stadium that were on in anticipation of the football game the next day. The calm-before-the-storm silence mixed with the intense red creates an aura and energy that even non-fans can appreciate. (Dorothy Kozlowski/UGA)

Members of the Georgettes perform in Sanford Stadium. I am a sucker for pretty light, and I couldn’t help but notice the cool effect created by the sun bouncing off the rhinestones on the Georgettes’ uniforms as they cheered in the stands during a football game. (Dorothy Kozlowski/UGA)

Peter Frey

The Iron Horse is lowered to a new plinth at the UGA Horticulture Farm in Greene County after its restoration by local craftsman Donald Cope and art preservationist Amy Abbe. I like this photo because I have been working on the project of the restoration and the Iron Horse has an interesting history. (Peter Frey/UGA)

Environmental portrait of Ivy Odom Aponte pouring iced tea in her Birmingham, Alabama, kitchen. This was a fun shoot with Ivy at her house in Birmingham, Alabama. Try pouring a glass of tea without looking where you’re pouring it. (Peter Frey/UGA)

IFP students taking a 4-mile hike through the Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest. This photo was taken while traveling with the UGA Interdisciplinary Field Program out west for about a week. I like how it shows the student group relationship to nature and the American West. (Peter Frey/UGA)

Ava Macie cuts Chloe Myers hair by the campfire. (Peter Frey/UGA)

Guy Kemelmahker toasts a bagel in the flames of the camp propane burning. This photo was taken while traveling with the UGA Interdisciplinary Field Program out west for about a week. I like this photo because it shows Guy using the flame of the propane burning to toast his bagel at the camp in Mammoth Lakes, California. Breakfast was generally a cup of cold food during the trip, but the students improvised when needed. (Peter Frey/UGA)

IFP students Emme McCumiskey, Claire Godat, Hailey Bos and Chloe Myers tour Mono Lake in a canoe. This photo was taken while traveling with the UGA Interdisciplinary Field Program out west for about a week. I really like this image of the students canoeing on Mono Lake California. The low camera view and slightly off center angle helps add to the shot of the students with the tufa behind them. (Peter Frey/UGA)

Geology professor Deb Dooley gives a geology lecture to students in an outdoor classroom above Olmsted point in Yosemite National Park. One of Yosemite’s most famous geological features, Half Dome, is visible in the background. This photo was taken while traveling with the UGA Interdisciplinary Field Program out west for about a week. This is a perfect shot to sump the IFP, the view of Half Dome in the background, the students circled on the rocks as their professor lectures. The tour buses below in the background showing where most tourists take in the view, while the student hike up above for class. (Peter Frey/UGA)

Hailey Bos takes a photo of Chloe Myers posed with Half Dome in the distance before their 8-mile hike from Glacier Point to Nevada Falls and Yosemite Valley. This photo was taken while traveling with the UGA Interdisciplinary Field Program out west for about a week. I like this photo because when we got here I was really worried that the morning haze and backlit Half Dome wouldn’t ’t make for a decent shot, but the almost silhouette worked out well. (Peter Frey/UGA)

(L-R foreground) Instructor Carolyn Cummins and undergraduate students Caty Watts and Emme McCumiskey look for aquatic life as the IFP group performs a survey along the tidal waters of McClures Beach in Northern California. This photo was taken while traveling with the UGA Interdisciplinary Field Program out west for about a week. I like this photo because it shows the students on a field exercise in the Pacific Ocean — sort of a key geographic marker for their trip. (Peter Frey/UGA)

WUOG 90.5 radio station hosting the local band “The Howdies” for “Live From the Lobby” show. I like this photo of local Athens Band “The Howdies” taken in the lobby of WUOG because it was like getting back into the band photography I did in Athens when I was in school here in the late 1980s and early 1990s. (Peter Frey/UGA)

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