Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady (12) holds the Lombardi Trophy while celebrating the Buccaneers 31-9 win over the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl 55 on Sunday, Feb. 7, 2021 in Tampa.

A Tampa Bay Times photographer’s year in photos: Douglas R. Clifford

Moments large and small mark his favorite images from 2021.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady (12) holds the Lombardi Trophy while celebrating the Buccaneers 31-9 win over the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl 55 on Sunday, Feb. 7, 2021 in Tampa. [ DOUGLAS R. CLIFFORD | Times ]
 
Moments large and small mark his favorite images from 2021.
Published Dec. 7, 2021

The year 2021 was remarkable, with unparalleled news headlines spanning the attack on the U.S. Capitol, the end of Donald Trump’s presidency, the continuation of the pandemic and acute manifestations of climate change.

Here in Tampa Bay, we wrestled with our own iterations of news spanning the amazing, bizarre, curious and exceptional. Bubbling to the top of my mind are the number of remarkable sports moments, but there were also quiet moments that remind me of why I love living here.

My opportunity is unique because I can help people to reflect and remember.

Here are a few of my pictures from 2021.

Cameron Herrin reacts the moment he hears his sentence — 24 years in prison — at the conclusion of his sentencing hearing on Thursday, April 8, 2021, at the Hillsborough County Edgecomb Courthouse before 13th Judicial Circuit Court judge Christopher Nash in downtown Tampa. Herrin was the driver of a Ford Mustang that collided with a mother and daughter on Bayshore Boulevard in 2018, as Herrin, who was then 18, was racing another driver, John Barrineau. The Mustang hit David’s wife, Jessica Reisinger-Raubenolt, who was pushing thier 21-month-old daughter, Lillia, in a stroller across the iconic Tampa roadway. Both Herrin and Barrineau pleaded guilty late last year to vehicular homicide. Barrineau made a plea deal and was sentenced to six years in prison. Herrin has left it up to judge to decide what his penalty should be. He faced a maximum of 30 years in prison. Sentencing guidelines suggested about 18 years.
Cameron Herrin reacts the moment he hears his sentence — 24 years in prison — at the conclusion of his sentencing hearing on Thursday, April 8, 2021, at the Hillsborough County Edgecomb Courthouse before 13th Judicial Circuit Court judge Christopher Nash in downtown Tampa. Herrin was the driver of a Ford Mustang that collided with a mother and daughter on Bayshore Boulevard in 2018, as Herrin, who was then 18, was racing another driver, John Barrineau. The Mustang hit David’s wife, Jessica Reisinger-Raubenolt, who was pushing thier 21-month-old daughter, Lillia, in a stroller across the iconic Tampa roadway. Both Herrin and Barrineau pleaded guilty late last year to vehicular homicide. Barrineau made a plea deal and was sentenced to six years in prison. Herrin has left it up to judge to decide what his penalty should be. He faced a maximum of 30 years in prison. Sentencing guidelines suggested about 18 years. [ DOUGLAS R. CLIFFORD | Times ]

Read more: Cameron Herrin went to prison for a Tampa crash. Were the tweets that followed real?

Madison DeSantis, left, stands by her father, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, as he speaks during a news conference at Pasco County’s Mike Fasano Regional Hurricane Shelter in Hudson on Thursday, Aug. 19, 2021, where monoclonal antibody treatments are scheduled to begin for patients as an early treatment to prevent hospitalizations and to save lives as the COVID-19 Delta variant continues to spike infection rates in Florida, and across the United States.
Madison DeSantis, left, stands by her father, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, as he speaks during a news conference at Pasco County’s Mike Fasano Regional Hurricane Shelter in Hudson on Thursday, Aug. 19, 2021, where monoclonal antibody treatments are scheduled to begin for patients as an early treatment to prevent hospitalizations and to save lives as the COVID-19 Delta variant continues to spike infection rates in Florida, and across the United States. [ DOUGLAS R. CLIFFORD | Times ]
Pre-k student Mattheo Sanchez, 3, attempts to escape the grasp of his father, Armando Sanchaez, at Skycrest Elementary School during first day of school on Wednesday, Aug, 11, 2021, in Clearwater.
Pre-k student Mattheo Sanchez, 3, attempts to escape the grasp of his father, Armando Sanchaez, at Skycrest Elementary School during first day of school on Wednesday, Aug, 11, 2021, in Clearwater. [ DOUGLAS R. CLIFFORD | Times ]
An ant crawls across the remains of a black racer which lay below a large osprey nest on Wednesday, June 2, 2021, on the Osprey Trail at Honeymoon Island State Park in Dunedin. A vast majority of the osprey's diet is fish, but when fish aren't available osprey will eat small mammals, birds, or reptiles, including snakes.
An ant crawls across the remains of a black racer which lay below a large osprey nest on Wednesday, June 2, 2021, on the Osprey Trail at Honeymoon Island State Park in Dunedin. A vast majority of the osprey's diet is fish, but when fish aren't available osprey will eat small mammals, birds, or reptiles, including snakes. [ DOUGLAS R. CLIFFORD | Times ]

Read more: A detailed look at Honeymoon Island’s natural wonders

Tampa Bay Lightning center Blake Coleman (20) slides on the ice with Montreal Canadiens left wing Phillip Danault (24) while chipping a shot over the stick side to beat Montreal Canadiens goaltender Carey Price (31) to score a key goal during the second period of the game between the Tampa Bay Lightning and the Montreal Canadiens in Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Finals on Wednesday, June 30, 2021, at Amalie Arena in Tampa. The goal gave Tampa Bay a 2-1 lead in an eventual 3-1 victory over the Montreal Canadiens.
Tampa Bay Lightning center Blake Coleman (20) slides on the ice with Montreal Canadiens left wing Phillip Danault (24) while chipping a shot over the stick side to beat Montreal Canadiens goaltender Carey Price (31) to score a key goal during the second period of the game between the Tampa Bay Lightning and the Montreal Canadiens in Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Finals on Wednesday, June 30, 2021, at Amalie Arena in Tampa. The goal gave Tampa Bay a 2-1 lead in an eventual 3-1 victory over the Montreal Canadiens. [ DOUGLAS R. CLIFFORD | Times ]
Tampa Bay Lightning left wing Pat Maroon (14) chugs a couple beers from a rendition of the Stanley Cup while attending the Championship Celebration to celebrate the Lightning’s second consecutive Stanley Cup championship on Monday, July 12, 2021, at Julian B. Lane Riverfront Park in Tampa.
Tampa Bay Lightning left wing Pat Maroon (14) chugs a couple beers from a rendition of the Stanley Cup while attending the Championship Celebration to celebrate the Lightning’s second consecutive Stanley Cup championship on Monday, July 12, 2021, at Julian B. Lane Riverfront Park in Tampa. [ DOUGLAS R. CLIFFORD | Times ]
Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans (13) celebrates his touchdown (and Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady’s (12) 600th touchdown pass) by giving the ball to fan Byron Kennedy (who eventually gave it back) during the first quarter of the game between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Chicago Bears on Sunday, Oct. 24, 2021, at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans (13) celebrates his touchdown (and Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady’s (12) 600th touchdown pass) by giving the ball to fan Byron Kennedy (who eventually gave it back) during the first quarter of the game between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Chicago Bears on Sunday, Oct. 24, 2021, at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa. [ DOUGLAS R. CLIFFORD | Times ]
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Winter the bottlenose dolphin swims in a tank at Clearwater Marine Aquarium. Winter became widely known for having a prosthetic tail after being found entangled in a crab trap line in Mosquito Lagoon near Cape Canaveral on Florida’s east coast on Dec. 10, 2005. Winter, who starred in 2011′s “Dolphin Tale” movie, died from twisted intestines at the aquarium in November.
Winter the bottlenose dolphin swims in a tank at Clearwater Marine Aquarium. Winter became widely known for having a prosthetic tail after being found entangled in a crab trap line in Mosquito Lagoon near Cape Canaveral on Florida’s east coast on Dec. 10, 2005. Winter, who starred in 2011′s “Dolphin Tale” movie, died from twisted intestines at the aquarium in November. [ DOUGLAS R. CLIFFORD | Douglas R. Clifford ]
An afterglow from daylight fades in the sky on the western horizon over St. Joseph Sound off Crystal Beach an hour after sunset on Aug. 21, 2021.
An afterglow from daylight fades in the sky on the western horizon over St. Joseph Sound off Crystal Beach an hour after sunset on Aug. 21, 2021. [ DOUGLAS R. CLIFFORD | Times ]