CP photographers' favorite shots of 2014

All year long, the talented photographers who freelance for City Paper accept our assignments to tell stories in a different — visual — way.

On Their Own

All year long, the talented photographers who freelance for City Paper accept our assignments to tell stories in a different — visual — way. In this photo essay, we turned the tables and asked them to submit their favorite photos, images that were taken when they were off pursuing their own interests. The criteria for submission was pretty loose. The images had to have been taken this year, have a Philly subject and had not been published in City Paper before. You’ll see from the work we chose on this page and the ones that follow the wide variety of their responses. From gritty street scenes to the grace of a swan to the wonder of a vulnerable new life, their choices amazed and surprised us and reminded us why we are so fortunate to work with them. Here are some faves shared by Charles Mostoller, Hillary Petrozziello, Maria Pouchnikova, Neal Santos and Mark Stehle.

And on pages 12 and 13, you will find our New Year’s gift to readers, a 2015 calendar with Maria Pouchnikova’s glowing skyline image. We hope you’ll post it on your wall for an elegant reminder of the opportunity for progress in this city we call home.

—Lillian Swanson

Neal Santos

Easter Sunday, April 20, was a great day to walk around Point Breeze and see parishioners put on their Sunday best. As a photographer, I particularly enjoy springtime: The light is rich and steady, the days are longer. People generally dress for warmer, pleasant weather and shed the layers of winter. This photo shows two men, one sitting, the other standing, in conversation as the seated gentleman gestures while holding a walking cane in between light and shadow. I’m drawn to scenarios like these because of the timelessness of the image.

In the second photo, taken just outside the City Paper offices, at 15th and Ranstead, is a scene I like to call “a receding line.” Everything about this scene stood out to me: the spacing of the foot traffic, the harsh light hitting the side of the building, and the overall composition that pushed three quarters of the frame into shadow — giving a heavy emphasis to the lighted areas of the photo.

Hillary Petrozziello

The whole day, Aug. 25, slowed down until I found myself on the banks of the Schuylkill River looking for nothing in particular, except for a place of reverie away from the traffic, the angry motorists honking at cyclists and the hot, hot city. This beautiful creature seemed so out of place as he circled below us, maybe hoping for scraps or company or to fulfill his curiosity about us, as we wondered about him. Clouds perfectly mimicked nature versus man, and I was ready with my iPhone to capture the surreality of the scene.

Charles Mostoller

Abdurrahman “Man-Man” Early, 16, sits on Shadow, after washing, brushing, and saddling the horse before a day of riding. Man-Man goes to a humble stable in Southwest Philadelphia every other day in the winter, and practically every day in the summer, to tend to the horses and clear his mind. “Sitting up top of there, taking your mind off things, it’s like meditation,” he says. This image is special to me because it shows Man-Man in his element as a rider. He is both confident and relaxed, which can be hard for teens. Horses seem to help center and focus him, and in this image I think that comes through.

Mark Stehle

The fear and anxiety that come with a 6-weeks-premature first child is hard to put into words. At only 4.25 pounds, our baby, Anna, withstood many ordeals during the two and a half weeks she spent in the neonatal intensive care unit, days that my wife and I found hard to endure. Tiny Anna’s strength carried us through the painful poking, prodding and insertion of tubes and wires that were always attached to her during those first days of her life. The intensive care unit photo was taken within hours of her birth, and the current photo was taken at seven months. Healthy and happy, Anna continues to inspire!

Maria Pouchnikova

On Dec. 3, I parked my car facing the Delaware River and watched as the fluffy clouds above me turned a violent gray, and the sky unleashed a waterfall.

I was a half hour early for an assignment, so I spent 10 minutes in my car listening to the storm. Then I leaned my head on the driver’s side window, and saw the trees reflected in each raindrop. I couldn’t help myself. I reached for a mid-range lens and captured this enchantment.

This photo reminds me that if you take the time to be still, you will always see something new and beautiful.