At The Assembly, we are lucky to work with a number of photographers around the state. Their eye for detail and ability to capture just the right moment is unmatchedβand really makes our stories come to life.
Here are some of our favorite images from this year.
Roderico Y. DΓaz made the photos for our story about how fear of immigration enforcement is affecting Siler City, which has the highest percentage of Latino residents in North Carolina. Given the concerns, we had to anonymize most of the photos. This shot of the congregation at St. Julia Catholic Church has no identifiable faces, but captures so much humanity.
Read: In Siler City, Fear of ICE Hangs Over Latino Community
Madeline Gray headed out to the swamps of eastern North Carolina with giant tree hunters this fall. This photo of Luke Ferreira taking stock of a huge overcup oak tree manages to capture both the search and the scale, all in one shot.
It’s always a challenge to assign photography for a story where the main character is missing. Cornell Watson’s photographs of Luz Zambrano and her children so beautifully shows the impact of her husband’s absence after he was deported by Immigration and Customs Enforcement earlier this year.
Jesse Barber’s images of the Marian Friars Minor really take readers inside the life of the young men who are part of a religious order that dates back to 1223, and their effort to build a new home in the woods of Western North Carolina.
Read: Voices in the Wilderness
This is another story where the subject matter meant some of the photos would need to be anonymous. Even without a full face, Kate Medley’s photo of Desiree and her son still conveys both the trauma and the bond between them.
Read: How the N.C. Legislature Bankrolls Anti-Abortion Centers
The auction house has a life of its own, one many of us will never experience. Mike Belleme’s photos of the Cleveland County Agriculture and Livestock Exchange in Shelby truly give you the feel of it. This shot in particular captures multiple layers of depth and activity.
Read: The Cattle Con
When the Lumbee gathered in Pembroke in anticipation of the Senate vote to finally grant the tribe federal recognition, we knew we should have a photographer on the scene. Tony Wooten’s images of the joyous event show the generational impact.
Read: After Decades of Fighting, Congress Recognizes the Lumbee
When we sent A.M. Stewart out to document the arrival of Customs and Border Patrol officers in Charlotte, we didn’t know what to expect. This photo in particular, of Sav/Way clerk Jessica Hernandez Ulloa, shows the anxiety and foreboding for Latino businesses and employees.
Read: βItβs Very Bleakβ
Julia Wall’s portrait of Ken and Linda Ostrand in front of the turkey vulture art in their Hillsborough home really captures the essence of our story about a dispute over feeding wildlife.
Read: Neighborly Dispute Over Vultures Puts Wildlife Feeding in the Spotlight
Carolyn de Berry’s photo of Katie Hill reacting to her freshly cleaned and organized home was the perfect lead for our story on the Hot Mess Express, an effort to help other women who are struggling with compounding demands.
Read: βHot Mess Expressβ Transforms LivesβOne Swiffer at a Time
Megan Varner visited the Georgia World Congress Center to shoot the 2025 PokΓ©mon Regionals Championship in Atlanta this spring. This photo in particular shows both the immense joy of the kids, and the enormity of the event.
Read: More Than a Card Game
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