Year in review: Best photos of 2024

Last year — meaning 2024 — was great for photography. The Roaring Fork Valley remains one of the most unique places to be a photojournalist, and the opportunities to create stunning imagery is limitless.

Pairing a year’s worth of images down to only 10 is no easy task, so let’s go over some guidelines on how I picked my favorites from 2024.

First, the photos don’t need to be technically perfect but should provide some legitimate emotional or news value. And second, it’s simply a photo that struck a strong chord with me, for a number of reasons.

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Here’s a rundown of my 10 favorite photos from 2024, in no particular order:

— A teary-eyed and injured Hanna Faulhaber celebrating with her friend and mentor Alex Ferreira after he won his third X Games Aspen gold. Love how the local athletes support each other.

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— The removal of the beloved Coney Glade chairlift via helicopter at Snowmass Ski Area. Have you ridden the new Coney Express chairlift yet?

— A little rain doesn’t stop the music during the Sept. 11 remembrance ceremony.

— Roaring Fork Fire Rescue Authority honors the late Wally Dallenbach Sr.

— The triennial full-scale emergency exercise heats up Aspen Airport.

— Aspen High School golfer Houston Benvenuto delivers at beautiful Snowmass.

— Nashira the wolf-dog visits the children at ACES.

— Basalt High School’s Parker Sims enjoys the snow after a big football win.

— Casey Puckett, a five-time Olympian, gives a hearty laugh ahead of Ajax Cup.

— Day of the Dead in Carbondale makes for haunting, and beautiful, images.

And there are so many more that didn’t make the cut. But here’s to many more photos in 2025.

acolbert@aspentimes.com