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In the coming year, we the photo staff of the Wyoming Tribune Eagle are hoping to bring about some reform.

Nothing fancy like health care — mostly a few adjustments in the way we produce and provide images for our readership.

Presently, we are working on producing more photo stories, blogs, photo columns and multimedia projects. With the advent of new technology, we are going to try and provide our readers with a more up-to-date photo department. Some ideas being kicked around include a possible Podcast  that will hopefully coincide with published photo stories.

Who knows if that will work, but everyone seems to have an iPod; so maybe it is a good idea to provide our readership with more in their iTunes libraries than Jonas Brothers jams.

Keep checking back and we will try our best to follow through with our lofty plans for reform in 2010.

Thanks for looking.

-WTE Photo Staff

In a year when we were all supposed to be afraid — afraid of the economy, swine flu, health care reform and change — the people of Cheyenne kept moving. Pushing forward and continuing to live in the face of adversity and the unknown.

For every step and breath taken this year by the city’s 50,000-plus — plants and animals, too — we tried to capture the moments that made us realize how undeniable the human spirit can be.

This year we saw the largest deployment of Wyoming Troops ever (900-plus). As a result of one of many deployments, we watched one hopeful family live for 400 days with their father overseas. Michael Smith watched and witnessed as the strength and courage to risk one’s life in uniform was matched by the strength and courage of a family at home wondering and waiting.

It was a year of hope and change for many. Nationally, the United States elected its first black president. We watched along with those we photographed as President Barack Obama gave his inauguration speech as it was broadcast to us all at schools, homes and work. And for a more than a brief moment, we took our eye off of the camera and watched along with the rest of the world as change took shape.

In a year of change, the Wyoming Diocese of the Catholic Church installed Bishop Paul Etienne after the departure of David L. Ricken. And in the very popular world of sports, the  Wyoming Cowboys football team found success under their own first-year man, Dave Christensen, as they captured a bowl victory in New Mexico.

Much like Cheyenne and the rest of the nation, we  faced our own adversity at the WTE. At the beginning of the year, two newsroom staffers — a copy editor and photog/reporter — were laid off.  It was a first in the company’s history. Shortly after, longtime staff photographer Larry Brinlee announced his retirement. It was, to say the least, a very difficult way to start the year.

New staff photographer Jerret Raffety came on board at one of the most trying times of the year and helped as our small staff chugged along. As the final months of 2009 stormed — literally — we did our best to continue watching as our community grew.

In what may have been one of the most trying times in recent memory, both as a nation and within our own piece of the world, we were happy to see the undeniable cycle of life at work. This was quite a year and quite a decade; and we can only hope that 2010 produces another year rife with moments to be captured by our eyes.

As always, thanks for looking and thank you for continuing to be Cheyenne.

-Michael Smith, AAron Ontiveroz, Jerret Raffety, Larry Brinlee and Shauna Stephenson

WTE Photo Staff 2009

November made us fatter, happier and more full of turkey, pies and holiday beverages than at any other point in the year. December looks to provide us many similar opportunities. Staff chief Michael “Stuffin’” Smith boasts that he will break the 300-pound mark by Jan. 1. Good luck to him in his bold endeavor. Meanwhile on the grunt front, Jerret Raffety, Shauna Stephenson and AAron Ontiveroz will work. Not as cool as pushing three bills on a scale, but still noble… in a way.

Thanks for looking and keep an eye out for your Christmas pie as Stuffin’ Smith is on the loose.

Happy holidays/winter.

A few of our favorites from October. Sorry it is late, but no one here likes October. It’s not trustworthy nor is it as fun to say as July.

Thanks for looking.

Looking back on this month, it was not really filled with the ups and downs of previous months. Though nothing stands out above the rest, nothing really falls below either.

Across the boards, it was pretty consistent here. A guy attempted to jump off of a viaduct, the legendary Hitching Post Inn was closed, the Cowboys football team hosted No. 2 Texas and staff chief Michael Smith took a “hands down winner” of water droplets.

Looking back, I’m glad it’s now October; if only for the costume factor and pumpkin bread.

Thanks for looking.

-WTE photo staff