Trent Nelson

(Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) A sign reads “Jesus Saves” at the Rescue Mission of Salt Lake after an earthquake knocked loose a cascade of bricks from the building’s roof on March 18.

(Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) Photographed at her Springdale home on May 19, Sunny Lee works to bring the families of MIA Korean War veterans to South Korea, where they are honored for their family member’s service. Lee died in August.

We run into all kinds of people on assignment. Sunny Lee was a precious one: a saint. I was lucky to photograph her in 2015 and again this year. Hearing of her death in August was a shock. Sitting with Sunny in Springdale and hearing about her efforts to honor Korean War veterans while eating her wonderful fried rice is one of my treasured memories.

(Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) Lt. Gov. Spencer Cox greets supporters arriving at an election night event in Mount Pleasant on June 30. Cox won the race and is now the governor-elect.

(Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) A window washer hangs high on the World Trade Center in Salt Lake City on July 16.

(Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) A red sun sets over Salt Lake City on Sept. 21.

(Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) Annie Esposito speaks at a news conference on Oct. 21 about how her son Jason was shot and killed by police in 2018.

The power and love of people like Annie Esposito overwhelms me. What courage it must take to recount the biggest tragedy of your life, in the hope that it doesn’t happen to someone else.

COVID-19

(Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) Negative-pressure tents are set up outside University of Utah Hospital in preparation for COVID-19 patients on March 9.

(Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) An empty classroom at Northwest Middle School in Salt Lake City is photographed on Dec. 4.

(Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) A pedestrian wearing a mask walks a pair of dogs in Salt Lake City on April 6.

As we were all getting used to wearing masks back in April, one person’s attempt to liven the mood while walking through a Sugar House neighborhood brought me immense joy.

(Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) The marquee at The Depot in Salt Lake City references both the COVID-19 pandemic and Wu-Tang Clan on May 2.

(Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) Children play “Pin the Mask on Gov. Gary Herbert” during a rally protesting government mask mandates at the Utah Capitol on Sept. 5.

(Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) An umbrella is marked with flags and signs during a rally protesting government mask mandates at the Utah Capitol on Sept. 5.

Black Lives Matter

(Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) Protesters against police violence face a line of officers while marching through Salt Lake City after Salt Lake City’s mayor instituted a curfew on June 1.

(Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) Protesters march against police violence in Salt Lake City on June 2.

(Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) Protesters kneel in an intersection during a march against police violence in Salt Lake City on June 4.

(Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) A woman is overcome with emotion during a protest against police violence at the Public Safety Building in Salt Lake City on June 1.

(Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) Protesters fill State Street in downtown Salt Lake City as they march against police violence on June 4.

The photo above shows you how many people were marching for civil rights on that night in June. But the camera could not capture the electricity in the air. It was something you could feel coming from the crowd.