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All Eyes gallery: Cherie Diez's favorite photos of 2017

As a photojournalist my job varies so much from assignment to assignment that the only constant is that the moments, good or bad, large or small, always tell a story.
 
Palm trees in the wind at the Tampa Premium Outlets at 2300 Grand Cypress Drive, Lutz, FL as Hurricane Irma arrives Sunday evening, Sept. 10, 2017.
Palm trees in the wind at the Tampa Premium Outlets at 2300 Grand Cypress Drive, Lutz, FL as Hurricane Irma arrives Sunday evening, Sept. 10, 2017.
Published Dec. 28, 2017|Updated Dec. 29, 2017
National Signing Day at Pinellas Park High, Pinellas Park, FL, Wednesday, February 1, 2017.  Zamari Maxwell hugs his mom, Danzee Maxwell,left, and sisters Nyah Maxwell, 14, 2nd from right,  and Chyna Maxwell, 16, after signing with University of Central Florida.
National Signing Day at Pinellas Park High, Pinellas Park, FL, Wednesday, February 1, 2017. Zamari Maxwell hugs his mom, Danzee Maxwell,left, and sisters Nyah Maxwell, 14, 2nd from right, and Chyna Maxwell, 16, after signing with University of Central Florida.

Take these photos together and you have a snapshot of life in 2017, whether it be Florida palm trees going horizontal to brace against Hurricane Irma’s wrath, a high school football player squeezing his mom and sisters tight for a photo on National Signing Day or a defense attorney trying to convince his client to take a chance on a murder trial.

Internationally renowned artist Alex Katz  previews the new exhibit of his work with his wife and muse,  Ada,  at the Tampa Museum of Art Wednesday, February 22, 2017. The exhibit presented a survey of black and white works by Katz, featuring Katz's signature portraits of family and friends, renderings of Maine's countryside, and ephemeral still life's.
Internationally renowned artist Alex Katz previews the new exhibit of his work with his wife and muse, Ada, at the Tampa Museum of Art Wednesday, February 22, 2017. The exhibit presented a survey of black and white works by Katz, featuring Katz's signature portraits of family and friends, renderings of Maine's countryside, and ephemeral still life's.

I’m still in awe of the power of a still image, able to stop time for eternity then reflect back a new enlightenment years later. And I continue to be honored of all those willing to share their lives with me.

Kevin Thomas Monroe shakes hands during the graduation procession at the Nina Harris Exceptional Student Education Center in Pinellas Park, FL,  Tuesday,  May 24, 2017. Kevin graduated with 25 other special needs students.
Kevin Thomas Monroe shakes hands during the graduation procession at the Nina Harris Exceptional Student Education Center in Pinellas Park, FL, Tuesday, May 24, 2017. Kevin graduated with 25 other special needs students.
Before dress rehearsal for "Evita" at the Pinellas County Center for the Arts magnet program at Gibbs High School, Monday, April 24, 2017, the five actresses playing Eva Peron put on their makeup. Seniors front to back, Justine Nelson as the young Eva, Mia Strickland as the social climbing Eva, Amanda McAllister as the "Don't Cry for Me, Argentina" Eva and Michelle Helmus as the political wife Eva,  and junior Taylor Aronson as the dying Eva.
Before dress rehearsal for "Evita" at the Pinellas County Center for the Arts magnet program at Gibbs High School, Monday, April 24, 2017, the five actresses playing Eva Peron put on their makeup. Seniors front to back, Justine Nelson as the young Eva, Mia Strickland as the social climbing Eva, Amanda McAllister as the "Don't Cry for Me, Argentina" Eva and Michelle Helmus as the political wife Eva, and junior Taylor Aronson as the dying Eva.
Retiring musical theatre teacher Karen Bail warms up seniors Jonathan O'Brien, left, as Juan Peron and Addam Setzer as Che Guevara before the dress rehearsal of Pinellas County Center for the Arts (PCCA) magnet program's production of "Evita" at Gibbs High School in St. Petersburg, FL, April 24, 2017.
Retiring musical theatre teacher Karen Bail warms up seniors Jonathan O'Brien, left, as Juan Peron and Addam Setzer as Che Guevara before the dress rehearsal of Pinellas County Center for the Arts (PCCA) magnet program's production of "Evita" at Gibbs High School in St. Petersburg, FL, April 24, 2017.
Matty Shaw, 30, of St. Petersburg entertains the crowd at the Canopy at the Birchwood on Beach Drive with his "Baby Trump Hand" during the 2017 St. Pete Pride parade in St. Petersburg, FL, June 24, 2017. Shaw said he purchased the hand online.
Matty Shaw, 30, of St. Petersburg entertains the crowd at the Canopy at the Birchwood on Beach Drive with his "Baby Trump Hand" during the 2017 St. Pete Pride parade in St. Petersburg, FL, June 24, 2017. Shaw said he purchased the hand online.
Feliciano Delfino, 7, of Bradenton says hello to "Nurse Piper" a rescue mixed breed, who visited with her owner, Denny Stypinski of St. Petersburg as part of the Child Life Pet Therapy Dog Parade at Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital, St. Petersburg, Fla.,  Monday, Oct. 30, 2017.  Pet therapy dogs and their owners dressed in costume and walked through the units to spread Halloween cheer to the young patients.
Feliciano Delfino, 7, of Bradenton says hello to "Nurse Piper" a rescue mixed breed, who visited with her owner, Denny Stypinski of St. Petersburg as part of the Child Life Pet Therapy Dog Parade at Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital, St. Petersburg, Fla., Monday, Oct. 30, 2017. Pet therapy dogs and their owners dressed in costume and walked through the units to spread Halloween cheer to the young patients.
Asst. State Attorney Scott Rosenwasser, left, watches as attorney Lee Pearlman, facing camera,  tries to impress upon his client, Anthony Roy, the merits of going to trial in a hearing in front of Judge Nancy Moate Ley at the Pinellas Criminal Justice Center, Clearwater, FL, August 10, 2017. Roy is charged with murdering Bernard Richards on July 9, 2016 in Clearwater.
Asst. State Attorney Scott Rosenwasser, left, watches as attorney Lee Pearlman, facing camera, tries to impress upon his client, Anthony Roy, the merits of going to trial in a hearing in front of Judge Nancy Moate Ley at the Pinellas Criminal Justice Center, Clearwater, FL, August 10, 2017. Roy is charged with murdering Bernard Richards on July 9, 2016 in Clearwater.
Crowd erupts while watching TV as mayoral candidate Rick Baker took the stage for his concession speech and St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Kriseman was named the winner at his watch party at Nova 535, St. Petersburg, Fla., Nov. 7, 2017.
Crowd erupts while watching TV as mayoral candidate Rick Baker took the stage for his concession speech and St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Kriseman was named the winner at his watch party at Nova 535, St. Petersburg, Fla., Nov. 7, 2017.

Cherie Diez is a 3rd generation Tampa native and has been at the Times since graduating from the University of South Florida, immersing herself in numerous award-winning documentary projects. As a narrative photojournalist and video producer, she uses the camera to capture fleeting moments that reveal so much about a life and our world. Most recently, she collaborated with writer Lane DeGregory on the “House on the Corner” project http://www.tampabay.com/projects/2017/features/house-on-the-corner/clearwater-shooting-defense-anthony-roy/.

CHERIE DIEZ   |   Times
Mug of Tampa Bay Times staff photographer Cherie Diez in St. Petersburg, Monday, Dec. 5, 2016. Staffer mugshot.
CHERIE DIEZ | Times Mug of Tampa Bay Times staff photographer Cherie Diez in St. Petersburg, Monday, Dec. 5, 2016. Staffer mugshot.

Email: cdiez@tampabay.com

Twitter: @CherieDiez

Instragram: cheriediez