POY 2015

POY 2015

POY 2015

Just like we always do this time of year… here are my top photos from 2015. It’s a mix of what I thought were my best images, what I thought were the important images and images I just thought were fun.

A few of the highlights include…

  • Protests over a Confederate statue (and the Confederate flag)
  • Same-Sex marriage becomes legal
  • Enough UF football to fill a book
  • UF Softball winning the national championship
  • A really flexible UF gymnast (a few weeks before the team won their third  national championship in a row)
  • Graduation in the Swamp for the first time in many years.
  • A meteor falling over Gainesville in the middle of the night.
  • One of the final games of Billy Donovan’s UF career.
  • A hawk in my back yard.
  • A mini-pig named Panda at a small-town Christmas festival.

 

Florida Gators wide receiver Antonio Callaway (81) catches a touchdown pass against the Florida Atlantic Owls during the second half at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 21 2015 in Gainesville, Fla. Florida defeated FAU 20-14 in overtime. Matt Stamey/Staff photographer, The Gainesville Sun Florida Gators interim head coach D.J. Durkin is dumped with Gatorade late in the second half of the Birmingham Bowl at Legion Field on Saturday, Jan. 3, 2015 in Birmingham, Alabama. Florida defeated East Carolina Pirates 28-20. (Matt Stamey/Staff photographer) Florida Gators gymnast Kiersten Wang performs on the floor against the Auburn Tigers at the Stephen C. O'Connell Center on Friday, Jan. 16, 2015 in Gainesville, Fla. Florida defeated Auburn 197.2 - 195.65. (Matt Stamey/Staff photographer) An official helps V12 Athletics runner La'Niya Fomby finish the 55 meter dash during the second day of the Jimmy Carnes Indoor Track and Field Meet at the Stephen C. O'Connell Center on Saturday, Jan. 24, 2015 in Gainesville, Fla. Fomby started to cry about half way down the track but was able to finish. (Matt Stamey/Staff photographer) Florida Gators head coach Billy Donovan during player introductions before the first half against the Kentucky Wildcats at the Stephen C. O'Connell Center on Saturday, Feb. 7, 2015 in Gainesville, Fla. Kentucky defeated Florida 68-61. (Matt Stamey/Staff photographer) A flag and large Valentine's Day card are reflected in the glasses of Cody Anderson as he walks outside the Malcom Randall VA Medical Center on Friday, Feb. 13, 2015 in Gainesville, Fla. Anderson started his back-and-fourth walk outside the VA at 9 a.m. and will keep going for 30 hours while collecting Valentine's Day cards. At 3 p.m. on Saturday, he will deliver the cards to veterans in the hospital. (Matt Stamey/Staff photographer) Dan Spangler tests out the Euro Body Shaper during the North Central Florida Home & Garden Show at the Stephen C. O'Connell Center on Saturday, March 7, 2015 in Gainesville, Fla. The show continues Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.(Matt Stamey/Staff photographer) A crew members stands in the smoke after a burnout during the semifinals of the 2015 NHRA Gatornationals at Auto-Plus Raceway on Sunday, March 15, 2015 in Gainesville, Fla. (Matt Stamey/Staff photographer) A players runs a drill during Youth Friday Night Lights at Cone Park on Friday, March 20, 2015 in Gainesville, Fla. The Gainesville Panthers youth football program hosted the event that gave players aged 4-14 to run drills and learn football basics. Members of the Elite Athletics helped coach and played a 7 on 7 scrimmage. (Matt Stamey/Staff photographer) Alabama Crimson Tide infielder Chance Vincent drops the ball in foul territory against the Florida Gators on Saturday, March 28, 2015 in Gainesville, Fla. Florida defeated Alabama 7-4 to win the series. (Matt Stamey/Staff photographer) Buchholz's Wesley Brandenberg gets ready to compete in the boys 110 meter hurdles during the first day of the Florida Relays at the University of Florida on Thursday, April 2, 2015 in Gainesville, Fla. (Matt Stamey/Staff photographer) A hawk sits on a tree branch in southwest Gainesville on Friday, April 17, 2015 in Gainesville, Fla. (Matt Stamey/Staff photographer) Graduates celebrate and hug at the end of commencement ceremonies for the University of Florida at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium on Saturday, May 2, 2015 in Gainesville, Fla. (Matt Stamey/Staff photographer) Florida Gators pitcher Lauren Haeger throws against the Michigan Wolverines during game two of the championship series of the Women's College World Series on Tuesday, June 2, 2015 in Oklahoma City. (Matt Stamey/Staff photographer) Florida Gators pitcher Lauren Haeger and catcher Aubree Munroe celebrate after defeating the Michigan Wolverines 4-1 to win the Women's College World Series on Wednesday, June 3, 2015 in Oklahoma City. (Matt Stamey/Staff photographer) Oliver Keller gets a closer look at a bug on a piece of bark during a night collecting trip by the UF Entomology Field Camp at the Austin Carey Forest on Thursday, June 25, 2015 in Gainesville, Fla. Campers spent the week learning about entomology and spent Thursday evening gathering a variety of bugs using multiple light sources. (Matt Stamey/Staff photographer) Lorelei Esser, left, hugs Corky Culver while Sus Austill, right, hugs a friend during a celebration at the Pride Community Center on Friday, June 26, 2015 in Gainesville, Fla. The center hosted the gathering to celebrate the Supreme Court's ruling that all 50 states must allow same-sex marriage. (Matt Stamey/Staff photographer) Annmarie Harvey concentrates while balancing dice on a popsicle stick in her mouth during a photography session at Herff Jones' The Yearbook Connection Summer Camp on Wednesday, July 22, 2015 in Gainesville, Fla. Other students in the session were taking her photo and trying to capture the moment the dice fell. The three-day camp hosts high and middle school yearbook staffs from around the area and teaches them different aspects of making a yearbook including writing, design, team building and photography. (Matt Stamey/Staff photographer) A meteor streaks across the sky early in the morning on Wednesday, August 12, 2015 in Gainesville, Fla. The Perseid meteor shower happens every year when the earth passes through the orbital path of the comet Swift-Tuttle. You don't need any special equipment to view the meteor shower. The best time to view the meteors are the hours just before sunrise on Thursday and Friday. With no or a crescent moon in the sky, experts predict as many at 50 or more meteors per hour can be seen. (Matt Stamey/Staff photographer) Keith VanLeuven smokes a pipe after the reenactment of the Civil War's Battle of Gainesville on Saturday, August 15, 2015 in Gainesville, Fla. The battle took place on August 17, 1864 in downtown Gainesville. Confederate forces, led by Capt. J.J. Dickison, a.k.a. "Swamp Fox, defeated the Union army, led by Col. Andrew L. Harris. (Matt Stamey/Staff photographer) Taiko Keck, 5, shouts into the bell of a sousaphone during camp for the University of Florida Marching Band on Thursday, August 20, 2015 in Gainesville, Fla. The band started its camp this week and it runs from 8 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. every day with outdoor marching sessions, indoor music sessions and meal breaks. (Matt Stamey/Staff photographer) The Florida Gators take the field before the game against the New Mexico State Aggies on Saturday, Sept. 5, 2015 in Gainesville, Fla. (Matt Stamey/Staff photographer) Florida Gators wide receiver Brandon Powell (4) dives for a touchdown past New Mexico State Aggies defensive back Winston Rose (4) during the first half on Saturday, Sept. 5, 2015 in Gainesville, Fla. (Matt Stamey/Staff photographer) Scenes from the sidelines during the game between the Florida Gators and East Carolina Pirates at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 12, 2015 in Gainesville, Fla. Florida defeated the East Carolina Pirates 31-24. (Matt Stamey/Staff photographer) A cardboard cutout of Pope Francis in the hallway as students eat lunch after Mass at St. Francis Catholic High on Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2015 in Gainesville, Fla. The school hosted students from area Catholic schools for a Mass and lunch to celebrate the arrival of Pope Francis to the United States. (Matt Stamey/Staff photographer) Titus O'Neil introduces the team during Gators Madness at the Stephen C. O'Connell Center on Friday, Oct. 2, 2015 in Gainesville, Fla. The Florida basketball teams opened practice today. The event featured a dunk and three-point contest, the Florida Drum Line, cheerleaders and Dazzlers. Matt Stamey/Staff photographer Florida Gators wide receiver Brandon Powell (4) scores a touchdown past Mississippi Rebels linebacker Denzel Nkemdiche (4) during the first half at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 3, 2015 in Gainesville, Fla. Matt Stamey/Staff photographer Florida Gators wide receiver Antonio Callaway (81) reacts after dropping a pass in the end zone against the LSU Tigers during the second half at Tiger Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 17, 2015 in Baton Rouge, La. LSU defeated Florida 35-28. Matt Stamey/Staff photographer Florida Gators midfielder Liz Slattery celebrates after scoring the game-winning goal in the last second of double overtime against the South Carolina Gamecocks on Thursday, Oct. 22, 2015 in Gainesville, Fla. Matt Stamey/Staff photographer Florida Gators wide receiver Antonio Callaway (81) catches a pass in front of Georgia Bulldogs safety Johnathan Abram (25) and runs for a touchdown during the first half at Everbank Field on Saturday, Oct. 31, 2015 in Jacksonville, Fla. Florida defeated Georgia. Matt Stamey/Staff photographer Florida Gators head coach Jim McElwain and wide receiver Antonio Callaway (81) celebrate on the sidelines late in the second half at Everbank Field on Saturday, Oct. 31, 2015 in Jacksonville, Fla. Florida defeated Georgia 27-3. Matt Stamey/Staff photographer Buchholz Bobcats running back Torrey Richardson, left, and Luke Whittemore celebrate after Richardson scored a touchdown to take the lead late in the fourth quarter against the Santa Fe Raiders on Thursday, Nov. 5, 2015 in Alachua, Fla. Buchholz defeated Santa Fe 18-14. Matt Stamey/Staff photographer, The Gainesville Sun Florida Gators running back Jordan Cronkrite (32) catches a pass before running for a touchdown past South Carolina Gamecocks cornerback Chris Lammons (3) during the first half at Williams-Brice Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 14, 2015 in Columbia, SC. Matt Stamey/Staff photographer Santa Fe Raiders player Jawan Lee celebrates near the end of the game against the Dunnellon Tigers during the class 4A region 2 finals on Friday, Nov. 20 2015 in Alachua, Fla. Santa Fe defeated Dunnellon 15-14. Matt Stamey/Staff photographer, The Gainesville Sun A young Gator fan chomps down on cotton candy during the game against Florida Atlantic on Saturday, Nov. 21 2015 in Gainesville, Fla. Florida defeated FAU 20-14 in overtime. Matt Stamey/Staff photographer, The Gainesville Sun Florida Gators defensive lineman Bryan Cox (94) sacks and forces Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback Jake Coker (14) to fumble during the first half of the SEC Championship at the Georgia Dome on Saturday, Dec. 5, 2015 in Atlanta, Ga. Matt Stamey/Staff photographer Florida Gators head coach Jim McElwain walks off the field after the SEC Championship against the Alabama Crimson Tide at the Georgia Dome on Saturday, Dec. 5, 2015 in Atlanta, Ga. Alabama defeated Florida 29-15. Matt Stamey/Staff photographer Veterinarians work to collect data and insert a tag during the USGS manatee captures and health assessments on Wednesday, Dec. 9, 2015 in Crystal River, FL. A team of scientists, veterinarians and volunteers spent two days capturing manatees to gather health data. This was the 10th year of the assessments. The program monitors the status of the regional population of Florida manatees. Matt Stamey/Staff photographer Shaun Whitmer holds Panda, a miniature pig, during the Christmas Festival and Parade on Saturday, Dec. 12, 2015 in Hawthorne, FL. Matt Stamey/Staff photographer

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This entry was posted on Wednesday, December 30th, 2015 at 11:40 pm

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