UC Riverside began the return to normalcy in 2021 as the campus returned to mostly in-person instruction. Students were happy to see their friends again, families celebrated commencement, and instructors continued to be recognized for their achievements.

Stan Lim, UCR photography manager, shares his favorite images from the past year and the stories behind the photos below:

Living the Promise

For the closing of the Living the Promise fundraising campaign, a company was hired to illuminate the bell tower and Rivera Library arches for a video.  I originally went to shoot some behind-the-scenes photos of the night but when I saw how it all looked, I decided to change my focus and get photos of the dramatic lighting instead. 

Commencement

I knew commencement would look different this year due to the pandemic and social distancing guidelines. It was interesting to watch as students split off from their families as they funneled into the gym of the Student Recreation Center. From there, the students lined up to walk onto the stage as the families get into a position to take photos of their loved ones.  

Bike giveaway

The genuine reaction from Jet Wilbur, 6, made this shot special after officer Paul Dombrowski with the UC Riverside Police Department arrived at Oban Family Housing to deliver bikes to the children living at the family housing apartment complex.  

Filipino rondalla music lecturer recognized

One of the great parts of my job is photographing the faculty members and instructors that are doing such great work. This is rondalla instructor Tagumpay Mendoza De Leon, who was selected as a National Endowment for the Arts fellow.

Plant Research I

After the Plant Research I building was constructed, I knew I wanted to get a shot of it in the evening since it had so much glass. While scouting for a shot I noticed I could see a part of the bell tower but needed an elevated spot to make it stand out.  I stood on the bed of my pick-up truck to get this shot. The sunset was a bonus!

Women's volleyball

Getting a good action shot during a sporting assignment can be great but my favorite shot is a reaction. This is Mylei Vargas-Deason celebrating with teammates after the women’s volleyball team scores against Hawaii during a Big West conference game on Sept. 23 at the Student Recreation Center. 

First day of instruction

It was so nice to be on campus on the first day of instruction and capture moments like this, where students were happy to see each other again after 18 months of remote instruction during the pandemic. 

Honoring veterans

I arrived early to photograph a flag-raising ceremony to commemorate Veterans Day. Sometimes the best image, like this photo, happens before the event starts. This is Highlander Army ROTC cadet Shaoxuan Lou holding a flag while waiting for the ceremony to begin on a foggy morning. 

Homecoming

Throughout this pandemic I wanted to photograph as many milestones as I could. So when I heard the campus approved the first large live in-person event, I knew I had to shoot it.  Here are students dancing and enjoying the music from one of the DJs performing at homecoming bonfire night. 

Crystal ball

I had received a crystal ball as a gift and instantly thought to shoot the bell tower through it. When shooting through a sphere, the image inside will always appear upside down. This image is rotated 180 degrees so the bell tower appears normal.