My best photos of 2020

Alix Gadd transports Nuance Chocolate from the small factory to the café in Old Town Fort Collins on Wednesday, February 5, 2020. (Valerie Mosley/Special to the Colorado Sun)

Russell Wilson relaxes on a sleeping mat at The Journey on Tuesday, February 25, 2020. The Journey is one of two Longmont churches that provide overnight shelter for people experiencing homelessness, or HOPE. (Valerie Mosley/Special to the Colorado Sun)

Dartanian Dawson gets a change of clothes out of his car on his way into Planet Fitness in Longmont on Friday, March 6, 2020. Dawson has lived in his car for about a year and said he tries to keep an open mind and keeps himself busy job hunting and working out so he can better his living situation. “I’m not sitting at the park all day. I actually try to do stuff that’s constructive,” he said. (Valerie Mosley/Special to the Colorado Sun)

Sam Schoenhals tends the counter at Starbucks in Old Town Fort Collins, Colo., on Monday, March 16, 2020. The store had already complied with the statewide order that took effect the next morning to close all dine-in services in restaurants and bars in the state of Colorado for 30 days. The next day it was closed. Valerie Mosley (@valmosley) is a freelance photojournalist and documentary photographer based in Fort Collins, Colorado.

Cindy Kroeger, Brian Kraus and their son Oliver Kraus, 6, look at a bird in Red Fox Meadows Natural Area in Fort Collins on Wednesday, March 18, 2020. Kroeger said that other than cancelling their spring break trip to Missouri, things have seemed pretty normal for them because they’re used to spending a lot of time together. They own a business and have been working from home and trying to get out as much as possible. (Valerie Mosley/Special to the Colorado Sun)

Fylesha Martinez helps her daughter Monica Martinez, 7, reach the monkey bars at City Park in Fort Collins on Wednesday, March 18, 2020. “We’re being more cautious with hand sanitizer, but we’re not going to live in fear,” Martinez said. (Valerie Mosley/Special to the Colorado Sun)

Cecilia Maldonado pauses on her back patio in Timnath, Colo., during a day of homeschooling her 8-year-old twins because school’s are closed to limit the spread of coronavirus on Wednesday, March 25, 2020. Maldondo has never homeschooled before. “These are just boring days, honestly,” Maldonado said. Valerie Mosley (@valmosley) is a freelance photojournalist and documentary photographer based in Fort Collins, Colorado.

Cecilia Maldonado hugs her son, Ruben, 8, in their kitchen in Timnath on Wednesday, March 25, 2020. Maldonado is especially concerned with keeping her son, Ruben, safe from COVID-19 because he has asthma. (Valerie Mosley/Special to The Colorado Sun)

Ruben and Cecilia Maldonado, 8, look at horses outside from their home in Timnath, Colo., on Wednesday, March 25, 2020. With schools closed to limit the spread of coronavirus their mother, Jacqueline Maldonado, has been homeschooling them. Valerie Mosley (@valmosley) is a freelance photojournalist and documentary photographer based in Fort Collins, Colorado.

My city is so empty. Though I’ve passed by this public artwork many times, it took the quiet stillness to notice my reflection in part of it. The piece by Joe McGrane is called “Alley Views.” The photo was taken in Old Town Fort Collins, on April 7, 2020. Valerie Mosley (@valmosley) is a freelance photographer based in Colorado.

Ansel Watrous Campground

Fort Collins Mural Project 2020,

What a year, huh? From trying to show what Fort Collins looked like when the world shut down, to documenting the Fort Collins Black Lives Matter demonstrations, to the apocalyptic skies created by historic Colorado wildfires, to the impact of the pandemic on local business, families and teachers, here’s my “unprecedented” year in photos.

In this round-up of my favorite images of 2020, I mixed personal photos with work for clients and publications and kept myself to a limit of 100 images (which still seems like a lot!). Many of the scenic photos are available in my gallery of prints for sale. If you’re interested in purchasing prints or a usage license for any of these photos just get in touch.

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