Photography

Ari Smith, 14, cheers in agreement with one of the speakers during Snohomish County Indivisible’s senator office rally at the Snohomish County Campus on Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2025, in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

The best photos of 2025 in Snohomish County

From the banks of the Snohomish River to the turf of Husky Stadium, here are the favorite images captured last year by the Herald’s staff photographer.

 

Floodwater from the Snohomish River partially covers a flood water sign along Lincoln Avenue on Thursday, Dec. 11, 2025 in Snohomish, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Images from the flooding in Snohomish County.

Our photographers have spent this week documenting the flooding in…

 

Elias Espinoza, 4, tries to catch a stream of water while playing in the spray park at Daleway Park in 72 degrees at noon on Monday, June 9, 2025 in Lynnwood, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Spray the summer heat away

Elias Espinoza, 4, tries to catch a stream of water while playing…

 

Steven Lindquist does a kickflip off of a set of stairs at the Edmonds Skate Park at the Civic Center on Monday, June 16, 2025 in Edmonds, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Taking flight

Olivia Vanni / The Herald Steven Lindquist does a kickflip off of a set of stairs at the Edmonds Skate Park at the Civic Center… Continue reading

Steven Lindquist does a kickflip off of a set of stairs at the Edmonds Skate Park at the Civic Center on Monday, June 16, 2025 in Edmonds, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Andrew Vait plays piano with his “Elton John" tribute band called Madman Across the Water at The Stage at Quil Ceda Creek Casino on Thursday, June 26, 2025 in Tulalip, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Madman Across the Water

Andrew Vait plays piano with his “Elton John” tribute band called Madman Across the Water at The Stage at Quil Ceda Creek Casino on Thursday… Continue reading

Andrew Vait plays piano with his “Elton John" tribute band called Madman Across the Water at The Stage at Quil Ceda Creek Casino on Thursday, June 26, 2025 in Tulalip, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
People walk along Sunset Avenue as people below explore Brackett’s Landing North at sunset on Thursday, July 3, 2025 in Edmonds, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

A sunset walk

People walk along Sunset Avenue as people below explore Brackett’s Landing North at sunset on Thursday in Edmonds. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)… Continue reading

People walk along Sunset Avenue as people below explore Brackett’s Landing North at sunset on Thursday, July 3, 2025 in Edmonds, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Evergreen Arboretum and Gardens President Eileen Simmons, left, and volunteer Debbie McCoy plant zinnias from Sunnyside Nursery in front of the entrance to the Evergreen Arboretum and Gardens on Thursday, July 10, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Making a colorful entrance

Evergreen Arboretum and Gardens President Eileen Simmons, left, and volunteer Debbie McCoy plant zinnias from Sunnyside Nursery in front of the entrance to the Evergreen… Continue reading

Evergreen Arboretum and Gardens President Eileen Simmons, left, and volunteer Debbie McCoy plant zinnias from Sunnyside Nursery in front of the entrance to the Evergreen Arboretum and Gardens on Thursday, July 10, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
The sun begins to set as people walk along the Edmonds Fishing Pier on Thursday, July 17, 2025 in Edmonds, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

End of the day in Edmonds

The sun begins to set as people walk along the Edmonds Fishing Pier on Thursday, July 17, 2025 in Edmonds, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The… Continue reading

The sun begins to set as people walk along the Edmonds Fishing Pier on Thursday, July 17, 2025 in Edmonds, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Will Schlough works on a jellyfish mural on the side of a building along Olympic Beach for Art Walk Edmonds on Thursday, June 19, 2025 in Edmonds, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

The making of a mural

Will Schlough works on a jellyfish mural on the side of a building along Olympic Beach for Art Walk Edmonds on Thursday in Edmonds. (Olivia… Continue reading

Will Schlough works on a jellyfish mural on the side of a building along Olympic Beach for Art Walk Edmonds on Thursday, June 19, 2025 in Edmonds, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
A blue dasher dragonfly perches on a dried blade of grass on the waters edge of Lake Ballinger with a white water lily blossoming in the background on Wednesday, July 23, 2025 in Mountlake Terrace, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Summer serenity

A blue dasher dragonfly perches on a dried blade of grass on the waters edge of Lake Ballinger with a white water lily blossoming in… Continue reading

A blue dasher dragonfly perches on a dried blade of grass on the waters edge of Lake Ballinger with a white water lily blossoming in the background on Wednesday, July 23, 2025 in Mountlake Terrace, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Image from Prince Life Photography website.
Best Of

Light, lens & love: These photographers bring the magic

Want to see who’s turning everyday moments into jaw-dropping memories? Let’s find out.

Image from Prince Life Photography website.
(Photo by Cindi Rausch) T46B4 Quiver breaches near Sam George by Keystone Ferry Landing on March 21.

Photo of ‘staggering’ Whidbey Island orca encounter makes waves

Before moving to Whidbey Island, Cindi Rausch’s closest whale encounter was with Herman Melville’s Moby-Dick. Since 2021, the retired high school English teacher has been… Continue reading

(Photo by Cindi Rausch) T46B4 Quiver breaches near Sam George by Keystone Ferry Landing on March 21.
Children emerge from the cold plunge on Wednesday, Jan. 1 in Edmonds, Washington. (Will Geschke / The Herald)

‘A hangover cure for sure’: Hundreds take the plunge in Edmonds

The annual New Year’s Polar Bear Plunge has been a tradition for 18 years.

Children emerge from the cold plunge on Wednesday, Jan. 1 in Edmonds, Washington. (Will Geschke / The Herald)
Dozens of people with mustaches clipped wait to be measured for a Guinness World Record Mustache Chain Attempt on Friday, Nov. 1, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Photo Gallery

Photos of the Year 2024

From breaking news to features and everything in between, here are the Herald photo staff’s favorite images from 2024.

Dozens of people with mustaches clipped wait to be measured for a Guinness World Record Mustache Chain Attempt on Friday, Nov. 1, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Scott Peterson works to clear a tree that fell on the roof of a Shawn Hawes' apartment unit on Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2024 in Lake Stevens, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

‘It almost killed me’: Bomb cyclone wreaks havoc in Snohomish County

Two people died. Trees crushed homes. And 135,000 locals lost power.

Scott Peterson works to clear a tree that fell on the roof of a Shawn Hawes' apartment unit on Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2024 in Lake Stevens, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Participants in the Guinness World Record Beard Chain Attempt lineup to get their beards clipped together to be measured at Pacific Rim Park on Friday, Nov. 1, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Country’s longest beards descend on Everett in pursuit of record

The grizzled group of 40 didn’t reach the mark they wanted Friday, but they had a good time anyway.

Participants in the Guinness World Record Beard Chain Attempt lineup to get their beards clipped together to be measured at Pacific Rim Park on Friday, Nov. 1, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
A person pauses to look at an art piece during the Schack Art Center’s 50th anniversary celebration on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Schack Art Center celebrates golden anniversary in Everett

For the next month, the Schack Art Center will honor its 50 years of impacts on the local arts scene.

A person pauses to look at an art piece during the Schack Art Center’s 50th anniversary celebration on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Isabel Barrett, 7, picks apples with her family at Swans Trail Farms on Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024 in Snohomish, Washington. Swans Trail Farms’ Harvest Festival, which highlights the apple varieties grown on the farm, runs through Oct. 31. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Harvest Festival now open in Snohomish

The festival at Swans Trail Farms is packed to the brim with family-fun activities. It’s open through Oct. 31.

Isabel Barrett, 7, picks apples with her family at Swans Trail Farms on Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024 in Snohomish, Washington. Swans Trail Farms’ Harvest Festival, which highlights the apple varieties grown on the farm, runs through Oct. 31. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Retired South County Firefighter Dave Erickson speaks to a crowd of 50 people gathered outside of the Fallen Firefighter Memorial Park at the downtown Edmonds Fire Station on Wednesday, Sept. 11, 2024 for a 9/11 Memorial Ceremony. In the background of the ceremony stands a 1-ton beam recovered from the collapsed World Trade Center along with multicolored glass tiles. The tiles represent the more than 3,000 people killed, including 343 firefighters, 60 police and 10 emergency medical services workers. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

In Edmonds, tiles represent the thousands lost on 9/11

At the downtown Edmonds fire station, South County Fire on Wednesday commemorated the 23rd anniversary of the attacks

Retired South County Firefighter Dave Erickson speaks to a crowd of 50 people gathered outside of the Fallen Firefighter Memorial Park at the downtown Edmonds Fire Station on Wednesday, Sept. 11, 2024 for a 9/11 Memorial Ceremony. In the background of the ceremony stands a 1-ton beam recovered from the collapsed World Trade Center along with multicolored glass tiles. The tiles represent the more than 3,000 people killed, including 343 firefighters, 60 police and 10 emergency medical services workers. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Jack White sets up his desk at Hazelwood Elementary on Monday, Aug. 26, 2024 in Lynnwood, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Snohomish County first-time teachers prep for first day

Three of the area’s newest recruits share how they’ve been gearing up for school.

Jack White sets up his desk at Hazelwood Elementary on Monday, Aug. 26, 2024 in Lynnwood, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)