Each year is unique in the joy, wonder, and heartache it can bring. Each year is the same in that our photographers and visual journalists spend it traversing the state to bring you those moments. 

We were on the ground in Los Angeles during the Palisades and Eaton Fires and our reporters warned of the ensuing mudslide risks. We reported on the immigration raids in the Los Angeles area and other parts of the state, as well as the deployment of the national guard and related protests.

We illustrated complex issues such as the use of AI chatbots for counseling at schools, insurance denials related to mental health and life without parole. We reported on the limits of state’s abortion protections and visited Paradise seven years after the fire to speak to young students. 

We took you inside a therapeutic preschool in San Diego serving children affected by domestic violence and into the Central Valley where migrants are avoiding health clinics out of fear of immigration raids. We traveled to Modoc County to hear from residents about Proposition 50 and followed the issue through the statewide vote.

This year also marked CalMatters’ 10th anniversary as a nonpartisan, nonprofit newsroom. Our visual essay reflected on a decade of visual journalism that has helped tell California’s stories with depth and clarity.

Whatever 2026 holds, we look forward to sharing it with you.

A person stands on the side of a road, silhouetted against a fiery orange sky filled with thick smoke. Overhead, power lines stretch across utility poles, and vegetation lines the foreground. The scene evokes a sense of isolation and foreboding amidst a wildfire.
A person is surrounded by wildfire smoke on Pacific Coast Highway during the Palisades Fire in January. The fire devastated the coastal communities of Pacific Palisades and Malibu. Photo by Ted Soqui for CalMatters
Firefighters in bright yellow jackets sprays water onto smoldering debris at the site of a fire. Thick smoke rises into the air, partially obscuring the charred remains of a building’s framework in the background. The scene is surrounded by rubble and burned structures.
Workers in white protective suits and blue helmets place sandbags around a green hose along a wet roadside, with burned trees and debris visible in the background after severe weather and fire damage.
First: Firefighters work to put out a fire in the rubble of a home that burned down on Pacific Coast Highway near Malibu, as a result of the Palisades Fire in January. Last: Workers with the California Conservation Corps carry sandbags and compost filter socks as they work on various erosion, flood and debris control efforts to help mitigate flooding and debris flow ahead of forecasted rain following the Eaton Fire in the Altadena neighborhood of Los Angeles in January. Photos by Ted Soqui and Jules Hotz for CalMatters
A chinook helicopter releases water over the Palisades Fire as it burns in Mandeville Canyon in Los Angeles in January. Photo by Jules Hotz for CalMatters
A portrait of a person wearing a long sleeved pink shirt and blue jeans. The person sits at the edge of a blue and white ceramic wall with patterned tiles.
Dream Resource Center Lead D’arcy Corwin at Pierce College in Woodland Hills near Los Angeles in January. The Dream Resource Center supports undocumented students, providing resources like free legal services, educational workshops, scholarship information, and more throughout their academic journey at the school. Photo by Alisha Jucevic for CalMatters
Illustration of a silhouette of a person in freefall, set against a background of concentric circles composed of insurance health claim forms in bold orange and black
California lawmakers are considering several bills that would lead to more oversight of mental health insurance denials. Illustration by Gabriel Hongsdusit, CalMatters
Two adults stand close together indoors, looking out through partially opened window blinds with serious, concerned expressions, soft light falling across their faces.
An individual wearing glasses and a headband embraces two children on the steps of a home. One child, dressed in a gray shirt, is held in their arms, while the other leans in for the hug. Sunlight highlights their faces, and potted plants decorate the background near the entrance of the house.
A man stands in a softly lit living room, holding a framed portrait of a young woman dressed in a letterman jacket. His expression is somber, and the mood of the scene is reflective and emotional. The warm sunlight filtering through the windows contrasts with the subdued atmosphere inside. The framed photo appears to hold personal significance, suggesting a story of remembrance or loss. The cozy, neutral-toned room and thoughtful composition draw attention to the man’s connection with the portrait he’s holding.
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First: Sam Strgacich, left, and his wife Rossana Valverde, right, at their home in Pasadena in April. Valverde and Strgacich are working with their home insurance to reach a settlement to cover costs associated with repairing damage caused by smoke from the Eaton Fire earlier this year. Next: Loreal Duran with her children, ages one and seven, in front of her apartment complex in Los Angeles in February. Loreal’s husband, Giovanni Duran, was born in El Salvador and was detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents as part of nationwide operation in late January and is currently being held at the Adelanto ICE Processing Center. Last: Jerrod Tejeda holds a framed photo of his daughter Cassi Tejeda, at his home in Visalia in March. Cassi was killed by a drunk driver with two prior DUIs in January of 2022. Photos by Joel Angel Juarez and Larry Valenzuela for CalMatters
A digital collage that depicts a triangular caution sign made out of digital manila folder and includes a black exclamation point in the middle. The caution sign artwork is set against a multi-colored glitchy background.
A state report provided to CalMatters says 200 agencies reported no automation around sensitive decisions. Some called the report befuddling. Illustration by Adriana Heldiz, CalMatters; iStock
Anna Nusslock at home in Eureka in February. Providence St. Joseph Hospital refused Nusslock an emergency abortion after she had a miscarriage at 15 weeks pregnant, despite serious risks to her health. Photo by Alexandra Hootnick for CalMatters
A person with short hair and headphones around their neck stands outdoors near a chain-link fence, framed by blurred red flowers and lavender plants in the foreground, with sunlight highlighting their face.
A low angle photo of a person wearing a polo shirt standing in a field of green crops with a gray cloudy sky in the background. In the foreground, just out of focus is a close-up view of a worker picking crops in orange overalls and a hoodie.
First: Kenny Michael outside of the Boys & Girls Club of Paradise Teen Center in Paradise in May. Last: At left, Ryan Talley, vice-president and co-owner of Talley Farms, while a worker picks produce in Arroyo Grande in April. Photos by Miguel Gutierrez Jr. and Julie Leopo-Bermudez for CalMatters
A child, wearing a blue graduation gown, smiles in excitement as an teacher adjusts a matching blue graduation cap on their head.
Students prepare for a graduation ceremony at Mi Escuelita, a therapeutic preschool in San Diego for children affected by domestic violence in June. The school provides on-site therapy and social-emotional learning to help students heal from trauma. Photo by Adriana Heldiz for CalMatters
A crowd holds up signs during a demonstration, with one sign in focus reading “KILL THE CUTS, SAVE LIVES” in bold white and yellow lettering against a dark background.
Fireworks explode across a city street at night, sending bright streaks of light and sparks in all directions. Smoke rises near police vehicles in the background, and a long coil of orange barricade fencing stretches across the pavement in the foreground.
An underwater view of golden mussels attached to the bottom of a dock. The mussels are reflected on the surface of the water.
First: Participants of the UCLA “Kill the Cuts” rally march from campus towards the Federal Building in Los Angeles in April. Next: Protesters clash with officers of the Los Angeles Sheriffs Department in Compton in June. Last: An underwater view of golden mussels growing on a dock at a Delta boatyard in Stockton in October. Photos by Jules Hotz, J.W. Hendricks and Fred Greaves for CalMatters
A pixelated 8-bit style illustration in purple, pink and yellow tones that shows a student using a laptop with several icons — a medical bag, a graduation cap, an art color palette and brush, music notes, science testing tubes and a book — around her that represent different careers. Several tex bubbles can also be seen throughout the illustration. Faced with a shortage of counselors, California schools are offering AI chatbots to more students. They're offering advice on college and career options. Illustration by Adriana Heldiz, CalMatters; iStock
Faced with a shortage of counselors, California schools are offering AI chatbots to more students. They’re offering advice on college and career options. Illustration by Adriana Heldiz, CalMatters; iStock
Heavily armed officers in tactical gear and face coverings stand in a line with clear riot shields as protesters confront them in the street. Several protesters gesture and record the interaction with their phones. The scene unfolds in front of a building marked "ambiance" on a bright day.
A line of California National Guard members in full riot gear stand shoulder to shoulder holding transparent shields labeled “CALIFORNIA NATIONAL GUARD.” They wear helmets with face shields and camouflage uniforms. The photo is taken at street level, with tall downtown buildings and an American flag visible in the background on a sunny day.
First: Federal immigration authorities face off against protesters during an ICE raid at Ambiance Apparel in Downtown Los Angeles in June. Last: California National Guard soldiers stand with shields outside the Federal Detention Center in downtown Los Angeles in June. Photos by J.W. Hendricks and Ted Soqui for CalMatters
A canister laying in the middle of a freeway road releases fire and clouds of smoke towards law enforcement officers dressed in riot gear during a protest.
California Highway Patrol troopers attempt to clear demonstrators from the 101 freeway in downtown Los Angeles in June. Photo by Ted Soqui for CalMatters
The silouhette of a person, illuminated by the soft light of a morning sunrise, as they carry a large bucket of banana peppers that rests on their right shoulder for support.
A farmworker harvests banana peppers at a farm near the town of Helm in July. Photo by Larry Valenzuela, CalMatters/CatchLight Local
A person is seen through a window, their face softly lit as reflections overlay the glass. They look directly ahead with a calm, introspective expression, and the blurred background creates a layered, contemplative mood.
A person tilts their head up as pockets of lights illuminate parts of their face in between the shadows of leaves from a nearby tree.
First: Mayra Lara, director of Southern California partnerships and engagement for EdTrust-West, in Long Beach in September. Last: Maximilian Raphael Rose in San Pedro in October. The 29-year-old is wrestling with loneliness, a feeling many men across the country are increasingly experiencing. Recently, Rose joined a men’s walking group in hopes of building friendships. Photos by Zaydee Sanchez for CalMatters/Catchlight
Mauricio Oropeza hugs his daughter inside his home in Santa María Ajoloapan, Mexico, in September. Photo by Christopher Rogel Blanquet for CalMatters
A person, wearing a beige blazer, a plaid red shirt and standing in front of a huge American flag , side-eyes a crowd of people as they hold up green and red pieces of paper during a town hall meeting.
U.S. Rep. Doug LaMalfa listens to a comment from an attendee during a town hall meeting at the Chico Elks Lodge in August. Photo by Salvador Ochoa for CalMatters
A collage-style illustration in maroon, pink and beige tones that includes three cut-out images. The image on the right shows a Black man holding a shovel while mining for gold. The center image shows the back of an incarcerated person while their hands are handcuffed. The image on the left shows two construction workers wearing hard hats and jumpsuits with the text “CDCR Prisoner” on the back. Cut-outs of white barbed wire can be seen on the upper right and center of the illustration.
Illustration of several panels; the main panel is of Nathan Gould, a man in his fifties wearing a light blue inmate uniform; the other panels show a vertical prison window, a closeup of an open Bible, Nathan sitting cross-legged while reading the Bible, a hand holding a gavel, and clouds in the sky
First: Californians rejected the anti-slavery ballot measure Proposition 6, which would have forbid forced prison labor. Reparations advocates want to try again in 2026. Illustration by Adriana Heldiz, CalMatters; California State Library, California Prison Industry Authority Last: California made it easier for young people convicted of serious crimes to get a second chance, except for those sentenced to life without parole. New legislation could change that. Illustration by Gabriel Hongsdusit, CalMatters
A person holds a purple flower from a nearby bush.
Maximilian Raphael Rose grabs a flower during a walk around his neighborhood in San Pedro in October. The palm trees and flowers remind him of the beauty that still exists, he says. Photo by Zaydee Sanchez for CalMatters/Catchlight
Close-up of a person wearing a large, ornate belt buckle engraved with “2022 Rancher’s Day” and decorative scrollwork, fastened to a tooled leather belt. The person’s hands rest on either side of the buckle, with rings visible on their fingers, and denim jeans are partly visible.
Emma Harris holds a belt buckle she was awarded as a prize for winning a branding competition, at the Brass Rail Bar & Grill in September. Photo by Miguel Gutierrez Jr., CalMatters
A ground-level view of a man dressed in a cowboy hat and a button-down shirt standing in a watermelon field. The vines from the field are visible in the lower portion of the frame, with a part of a mountain range peaking out in the background and a blue sky as the backdrop.
Various fairgoers walk through a fair group with a giant Ferris wheel in the background and multiple booths selling food. The photo depicts a busy scene of fairgoers enjoying various activities at a fair.
First: Joe Del Bosque, owner of Del Bosque Farms, stands in one of his melon fields as they are being harvested outside of Firebaugh in September. Last: Fairgoers walks around the Kern County Fair in Bakersfield in September. Photos by Larry Valenzuela, CalMatters/CatchLight Local
A person wearing a glove reaches into a large pile of red bell peppers, with bright red mesh produce bags scattered among the vegetables.
National Guard troops sort fresh produce at Los Angeles Regional Food Bank in preparation for the end of SNAP benefits in Los Angeles in October. Photo by J.W. Hendricks for CalMatters
Illustration of side-by-side posters contrasting 1960s California culture; on the left is a red-toned collage of campaign stickers for Ronald Reagan's 1966 gubernatorial run; on the right is a blue-toned psychedelic concert poster for The Grateful Dead at the Avalon Ballroom
Illustration by Gabriel Hongsdusit, CalMatters
A person, wearing a pink respiratory filter mask and with their arms crossed, stands near a flooded area.
San Diego County Supervisor Paloma Aguirre wears a respiratory filter mask while standing near a section of the Tijuana River in San Diego in November. Photo by Adriana Heldiz, CalMatters
A person sits indoors, seen through a window with soft reflections of trees and foliage overlaying the glass, looking slightly downward with a quiet, contemplative expression as warm autumn colors fill the background.
Ronda Deplazes, who feels CARE Court has let her son down and is fighting for him to be released from the program, at her home in Concord in October. Deplazes’ son has been on the streets of Concord for years, and she thought CARE Court would finally be a program that could help. Photo by Florence Middleton for Catchlight/CalMatters
The light from a laptop illuminates the face of a person wearing a lavender sweater and sitting on a couch during an evening.
Jodeah Wilson, 22, on his laptop at his off-campus apartment near Sacramento State in October. Wilson, a former Sacramento State student, left school this semester after being unable to afford tuition. Photo by Felix Uribe for CalMatters/Catchlight
A person wearing sunglasses and a light shawl walks beside another person in a suit outside a courthouse, surrounded by reporters and TV crews holding microphones and cameras.
Gov. Gavin Newsom’s former chief of staff, Dana Williamson, exits the Robert T. Matsui Federal Courthouse in Sacramento after her arraignment in November. Photo by Miguel Gutierrez Jr., CalMatters
A person wearing a sweatsuit and sneakers is sitting on a set of bleachers in a dark gym, with light coming from one side of the room, creating a silhouette of the person and darkening their face to protect their identity.
A side view of a person, wearing a blue suit, speaks while standing in front of a microphone. Another person, standing on the right and wearing a purple blazer, looks up towards the person in front of the microphone. An American flag can be seen nearby.
First: H.R., a physical education teacher at a high school in the West Contra Costa Unified School District , in November. H.R., who immigrated to the U.S. two years ago, may have to return to his home country due to a new H-1B visa fee implemented by the Trump administration. Left: Gov. Gavin Newsom speaks to the press after Proposition 50 was passed by California voters, at the California Democratic Party headquarters in Sacramento in November. Photos by Manuel Orbegozo and Jungho Kim for CalMatters
A small group of people stands outdoors at night, singing from printed sheets during a candlelit gathering. One person holds a flashlight to read, while others hold colorful paper lanterns. Warm light from candles and nearby decorations illuminates their faces against a dark street background, creating a communal, festive atmosphere.
A small group of people sing during a gathering of the Universidad Popular Posada in San Marcos, in December, 2025. Photo by Zoë Meyers for CalMatters
A blurred view of a person's silhouette as they look out a window.
C.M., who prefers to not use her full name, sits in her bedroom at a transitional home provided through CARE Court after receiving treatment for schizophrenia in Oakland in December. She now lives in a single-occupancy room and is preparing to begin classes at Chabot College in January. Photo by Florence Middleton for CalMatters/Catchlight
A person in glasses holds a wooden-framed black-and-white photograph to her chest while standing by a window in a dark room. The woman is looking outside of the window while she and the picture are reflected on the glass window.
Kelly Frost holds a photograph of her father, Jeffrey Butler, in Douglas City in December. Photo by Salvador Ochoa for CalMatters

The CalMatters visuals team produces photos, illustrations and video for the organization. The team is composed of Miguel Gutierrez Jr., Adriana Heldiz, Larry Valenzuela and Gabriel Hongsdusit.