Our creative director’s annual showcase of the past year’s beautiful, meaningful moments captured on camera by local photographers. 
by Laura Wall

---

As we look at this year’s best photos, I am struck immediately by the contrast between them –– stillness/movement, decay/blooms, solitude/togetherness, youth/age, darkness/light, historic/contemporary, seeing/feeling, the list goes on. What a great example of what makes Raleigh unique- the contrast between the newest bars and the stalwarts, the historic homes and modern ones, the height of summer and the depths of winter. Raleigh doesn’t fit into one mold but it’s a product of the people from all over the world that live here, homes of all styles, cuisines of all cultures, varied indoor and outdoor experiences and more that make it home. These photos capture just a fraction of that but do it so beautifully. As always, I am incredibly thankful for our outstanding team of photographers who help make the pages of WALTER something to be proud of.

---

Up in Line: Chatham County Line’s New Sound | photo by Eamon Queeney (January)

Raising the Barre: Ballet Trailblazer Debra Austin | photograph by Justin Kase Conder (February)

Pattern Play: Assemblage Artist Davis Choun | photograph by Eamon Queeney (March)

Stewards of the Land: The History of the Joslin Garden | photograph by Liz Condo (March)

Pretty in Pink: An Appreciation for the Eastern Redbud | photograph by Mike Dunn (March)

Let’s Play Ball: The Carolina Sandlot Revival | photograph by Alex Boerner (April)

The Long Run: NC State’s Rollie Geiger | photograph by Alex Boerner (May)

Cut & Shave: Barbershops Through the Lens | photograph by Rob Hammer (June)

Pride of Place: Dustin Smith and Burton Buffaloe’s Stylish Sanctuary | photograph by Catherine Nguyen (June)

Lavender Blues: A Hydrangea-Filled Garden | photograph by Juli Leonard (June)

InterDisciplinary: Isabel Lu’s Expressive Paintings | photograph by Joshua Steadman (June)

Off Kilter with Artist Jen Matthews | photograph by Geoff Wood (July)

Hangin’ In the Pines at The Duke Lemur Center | photograph by Bob Karp (July)

Alia El-Bermani’s Cabinet of Curiosities | photograph by Joshua Steadman (August)

Book of Wonder: A New Feature at the Walnut Creek Wetland Park | photograph by Justin Kase Conder (August)

Feathered Friends: A Trip to the Sylvan Heights Bird Park | photograph by Juli Leonard (August)

Savoring the Sea: The NC Oyster Trail | photograph by Justin Kase Conder (September)

A Layered Approach from Martha Thorn | photograph by Joshua Steadman (November)

Shared Passion: A Garden that Showcases Japanese Maples | photograph by Juli Leonard (November)

Opening Doors of Happiness at Governor Morehead School | photograph by S.P. Murray (November)

Get it on Vinyl: Pour House Pressing | photograph by Taylor McDonald (November)

Shaping Traditions at Figulina | photograph by Forrest Mason (November)

Worth the Wait: Oakwood’s Unique Singing Group | photography by Liz Condo (December)

This article was originally published on December 26, 2024 on waltermagazine.com