/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-tbt.s3.amazonaws.com/public/LL53ZJGGQ4I6TCHRIBWI6S7HAY.jpg "Florida Orchestra violinist Ginny Respess, right, hugs student Amberlyn Young, 10, after they performed for a historic home walking tour group in the Kenwood Historic Neighborhood Saturday, Jan. 23, 2016. St. Petersburg Preservation (SPP) gives walking tours every Saturday in the city.")
Each year, Times photographers choose their favorite photos from the past 12 months. These are from Lara Cerri.
LARA CERRI | Times
Allen Johnston takes feed to his pigs by at Johnston's Farm in Myakka City Feb. 15, 2016. He and his wife, Nan Johnston, raise cattle and pigs, and sell their grass-fed beef and their pork products at the Saturday Morning Market. "We try to give them a good life while they're here," said Allen.
LARA CERRI | Times
Allen Johnston takes feed to his pigs by at Johnston's Farm in Myakka City Feb. 15, 2016. He and his wife, Nan Johnston, raise cattle and pigs, and sell their grass-fed beef and their pork products at the Saturday Morning Market. "We try to give them a good life while they're here," said Allen.
LARA CERRI | Times
Little Light of Mine founder and photographer Sheri Kendrick, center, photographs Maggie Hoyle, left, her husband Anthony DeLuna, and their son, Lincoln Avery DeLuna, 2, in their Tampa home Feb. 18, 2016. Maggie's sister, Katie Hoyle-Germann, stands on her toes to coax smiles as volunteer Tim Arruda takes photos for the organization. Their son has X-linked myotubular myopathy, a rare genetic neuromuscular disorder that is characterized by muscle weakness that calls for his 24-hour care. Kendrick is a St. Petersburg photographer who takes photos of families with critically and terminally ill children for free.
LARA CERRI | Times
Little Light of Mine founder and photographer Sheri Kendrick, center, photographs Maggie Hoyle, left, her husband Anthony DeLuna, and their son, Lincoln Avery DeLuna, 2, in their Tampa home Feb. 18, 2016. Maggie's sister, Katie Hoyle-Germann, stands on her toes to coax smiles as volunteer Tim Arruda takes photos for the organization. Their son has X-linked myotubular myopathy, a rare genetic neuromuscular disorder that is characterized by muscle weakness that calls for his 24-hour care. Kendrick is a St. Petersburg photographer who takes photos of families with critically and terminally ill children for free.
LARA CERRI | Times
Duette Elementary School teacher's assistant Lauren Lanier leans in to hear a secret from student Marisa Botello, 12, as students line up to come in after recess, Apr. 28, 2016. Duette Elementary School in Manatee County is the last one-room schoolhouse in Florida, and is closing its doors. The school has 11 students from kindergarten through fifth grade.
LARA CERRI | Times
Duette Elementary School teacher's assistant Lauren Lanier leans in to hear a secret from student Marisa Botello, 12, as students line up to come in after recess, Apr. 28, 2016. Duette Elementary School in Manatee County is the last one-room schoolhouse in Florida, and is closing its doors. The school has 11 students from kindergarten through fifth grade.
LARA CERRI | Times
Child's Park Community Center summer program kids watch chef Edouardo Jordan in the center's kitchen Monday, July 25, 2016, as he prepares chicken and biscuits.
LARA CERRI | Times
Child's Park Community Center summer program kids watch chef Edouardo Jordan in the center's kitchen Monday, July 25, 2016, as he prepares chicken and biscuits.
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/UD4IDQTGHFFUZM43GMJ7RO2ZFE.JPG "Keep up with Tampa Bay’s top headlines")
Keep up with Tampa Bay’s top headlines
Subscribe to our free DayStarter newsletter
You’re all signed up!
Want more of our free, weekly newsletters in your inbox? Let’s get started.
Explore all your options
LARA CERRI | Times
Turtles rest on a log on the Santa Fe River, Nov. 2, 2016.
LARA CERRI | Times
Turtles rest on a log on the Santa Fe River, Nov. 2, 2016.
LARA CERRI | Times
Little League Owlz team manager Geoff LeCain talks to Nevin McLean, 7, about what position to play in a game against the Volcanoes at the Northeast Little League, Sept. 29, 2016 in St. Petersburg.
LARA CERRI | Times
Little League Owlz team manager Geoff LeCain talks to Nevin McLean, 7, about what position to play in a game against the Volcanoes at the Northeast Little League, Sept. 29, 2016 in St. Petersburg.
LARA CERRI | Times
Marisol Ariza, a 14-year employee, sorts sausage in the factory at Uncle John's Pride sausage company on, Oct. 13, 2016. The Tampa company started making country smoked sausage in 1975 and still make it the same way: course grind, naturally smoked (not liquid smoke).
LARA CERRI | Times
Marisol Ariza, a 14-year employee, sorts sausage in the factory at Uncle John's Pride sausage company on, Oct. 13, 2016. The Tampa company started making country smoked sausage in 1975 and still make it the same way: course grind, naturally smoked (not liquid smoke).
LARA CERRI | Times
Erin Boone, left, and Toli Gintoli, both 30, watches election results at Punky's Bar & Grill in St. Petersburg, FL, Nov. 8, 2016. When Florida fell to Trump, the couple got up to leave. "I don't feel like crying in front of other people," said Gintoli. "This is such an emotional election."
LARA CERRI | Times
Erin Boone, left, and Toli Gintoli, both 30, watches election results at Punky's Bar & Grill in St. Petersburg, FL, Nov. 8, 2016. When Florida fell to Trump, the couple got up to leave. "I don't feel like crying in front of other people," said Gintoli. "This is such an emotional election."
LARA CERRI | Times
"I think you just found your forever home," says Sylvia Slone to Sara, a 3-year-old "Heinz 57," as the dog climbed atop Slone and kissed her face at the SPCA Tampa Bay, Dec. 2, 2016. Slone, of Pinellas Park, said "I lost my husband last January... and I lost my mom the June before, so the house is really, really quiet. Everybody tells me I need a dog."
LARA CERRI | Times
"I think you just found your forever home," says Sylvia Slone to Sara, a 3-year-old "Heinz 57," as the dog climbed atop Slone and kissed her face at the SPCA Tampa Bay, Dec. 2, 2016. Slone, of Pinellas Park, said "I lost my husband last January... and I lost my mom the June before, so the house is really, really quiet. Everybody tells me I need a dog."
TED MCLAREN | Special to the Times
Lara Cerri has been a Tampa Bay Times photojournalist since 2001. She formerly worked at the Evansville (IN) Courier and San Francisco Chronicle. She grew up in the desert suburbs of Phoenix, where she had her first photo published in the Scottsdale Progress while on her high school yearbook staff. When she moved to Florida, she instantly fell in love with with area's pink flowers and teal waters. When not behind the camera, you'll find her kayaking, singing and playing guitar with friends, walking her dog through historic neighborhoods, planning a trip, volunteering for a non-profit, or eating her husband's amazing home-cooked meals.People often ask me what's the coolest or most interesting thing I've ever photographed. To me, nothing is "cooler" than witnessing the in-between moments that make up everyday life: the parental hug after a violin performance, the coach consoling a kid after a poor play, the disappointment felt after election results.I often get attached to my "subjects." They become friends, kayak partners, dinner guests. One of the greatest joys of my job is making those human connections.Recently, I got a text from a woman whose child has a terminal condition. After the reporter and I spent a day in their house, interviewing and making pictures, we got home to find this text from the mother: "Thank you guys for today... I am so blessed that higher powers allowed for our paths to cross and I think we make a dynamite team. I love you both so much. You feel like family."It doesn't get any cooler than that.
TED MCLAREN | Special to the Times
Lara Cerri has been a Tampa Bay Times photojournalist since 2001. She formerly worked at the Evansville (IN) Courier and San Francisco Chronicle. She grew up in the desert suburbs of Phoenix, where she had her first photo published in the Scottsdale Progress while on her high school yearbook staff. When she moved to Florida, she instantly fell in love with with area's pink flowers and teal waters. When not behind the camera, you'll find her kayaking, singing and playing guitar with friends, walking her dog through historic neighborhoods, planning a trip, volunteering for a non-profit, or eating her husband's amazing home-cooked meals.
People often ask me what's the coolest or most interesting thing I've ever photographed. To me, nothing is "cooler" than witnessing the in-between moments that make up everyday life: the parental hug after a violin performance, the coach consoling a kid after a poor play, the disappointment felt after election results.
I often get attached to my "subjects." They become friends, kayak partners, dinner guests. One of the greatest joys of my job is making those human connections.
Recently, I got a text from a woman whose child has a terminal condition. After the reporter and I spent a day in their house, interviewing and making pictures, we got home to find this text from the mother: "Thank you guys for today... I am so blessed that higher powers allowed for our paths to cross and I think we make a dynamite team. I love you both so much. You feel like family."
It doesn't get any cooler than that.
Instagram: Instagram-@yayadoog
e-mail: lcerri@tampabay.com
/www.tampabay.com/resizer/0QBkb81-EP2h9KSFkhzf6qjzcVg=/1200x675/smart/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/HBP4VOUVLFFPBLTDAXFINRRV7Q.jpg "Top Tampa Bay area events for the week of June 5-11")
/www.tampabay.com/resizer/ygHSaj4RfcjcOzbcumBAumJXrkM=/1200x675/smart/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/7C5YQ52GRVFFRHUJULJQNNADLU.jpg "‘Inconvenient truths’ is letter of the month | Letters")
/www.tampabay.com/resizer/hPs6vfY0cNkKTTk1ZDSkAT_SV74=/1200x675/smart/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/C7S4HNKXHJHIBIQAEFARBSHG4Q.jpg "St. Pete Yacht Club to be torn down, rebuilt in 5 years. Here’s why.")
/www.tampabay.com/resizer/LrDHyvWgydp2f3MXLif9TAXaegY=/1200x675/smart/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/H2RJDYRQ6JDSVHYKFDKHYDSG5U.jpg "USF lab will be the first in Florida to create human trafficking database")
/www.tampabay.com/resizer/mIMObw5P4FzvLhMEccAyqKiSON4=/1200x675/smart/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/4X2L3JAFQ5BXHDAMKYSC2PDNBI.jpg "Small fire outside Amalie Arena blankets area in smoke")
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/YYDAINSNTVENXBUOS3FATPZHYU.JPG "USF receives $10 million donation for entrepreneurship center")
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/RSOMVZBYSVGF5DX64Y3OX7UG7E.jpg "Fewer ‘Tiger Kings’? Carole Baskin celebrates law requiring big cat pet registry")
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/J2MVYPN5IQORQF5QYG7F3RHDK4.jpg "Trump described Pentagon ‘plan of attack,’ shared classified map, indictment says")
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/BT626EBF4ZBRBKK3MNUSTKN73Q.JPG "DeSantis approves $1.85 million for wrongfully convicted Tampa man")
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/IQDN4XDUXVBODIT7I5FLEBFVHI.JPG "DeSantis says he would end legal ‘bias.’ 3 times he’s leveraged the law as governor.")