It’s the time of year when photographers take stock of what they made during the past 365 days. Here are some of my favorites.

Sonoma County right in the crosshairs of a 5% tornado risk Christmas morning.

‘Firehose’ drifting south now.

Curiosity will be my downfall. At the tail end of the Petaluma Lighted Boat Parade at the turning basin from my second floor vantage point, I noticed a column of smoke and the whoop of fire engines. Decided to check it out. @pressdemo.bsky.social #kentporterphotography #photojournalism

This time of year community gatherings are amazing. It’s spiritual for many, including Guadalupanos who celebrate their Catholic faith during a procession of the Virgin of Guadalupe from Santa Rosa to Windsor early on December 12. #kentporterphotography @pressdemo.bsky.social #photojournalism

If you’re in the mountains of the Bay Area tonight, above the persistent tule fog, it’s quite balmy.

A few from the Calistoga Lighted Tractor Parade, Saturday night in Napa County. #kentporterphoto @pressdemo.bsky.social #photojournalism

With a layer of cirrus clouds and smoke particulates trapped under a stubborn high pressure ridge, the Cold moon rises behind the Mayacamas Mountains, Thursday. #kentporterphotography @pressdemo.bsky.social #photojournalism

In between my daily assignments, I managed to get out and about in the vineyards. For more of these, click the link below : www.pressdemocrat.com/2025/11/26/p... One of the longest vineyard fall color breaks I can remember in Sonoma and Napa County. #kentporterphotography #photojournalism

Organizations already posting their best of year photographs. News flash, it’s not even December yet. Unless you’re a monthly, Wait a couple of weeks.

I’m blessed to be a visual journalist @pressdemo.bsky.social. Make no mistake, I’m as busy now as I was at 30 years-old. Just a sample of one weeks work. There’s two other panels which wouldn’t fit here. #kentporterphotography #photojournalism #commuunity

Those of you who live in Sonoma County and surrounding regions will remember the #TubbsFire and the thousands of structures destroyed. Among them was the Round Barn, now being rebuilt by a local architect. pressdemocrat.com/2025/11/22/san… @pressdemo.bsky.socia#kentporterphotographyhy

Mike McGuire running for congress: exclusive: x.com/murphreports... @pressdemo.bsky.social

The brightest aurora I’ve seen in NorCal. Photograph made along Dry Creek Rd. in Healdsburg, with the iconic Timber Crest Farms barn. #kentporterphotography @pressdemo.bsky.social #substorm #Auroraborealis #northernlights #CME

Heads up SoCal.

Prescribed fire by @CALFIRELNU @SonomaParks at Tolay Regional Park in Lakeville, Friday. @pressdemo.bsky.social #kentporterphotography #photojournalism

#CometLemmon above NE Sonoma County, Sunday, Oct. 19, 2025. #kentporterphotography

The. #NoKings March in Santa Rosa, Ca., Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025. @pressdemo.bsky.social

Petaluma’s Pride festival, Saturday, Oct. 11. #kentporterphotography @pressdemo.bsky.social #photojournalism

The Milky Way, bioluminescence and a visitor to the beach, Wednesday evening along the Sonoma County coastline. #kentporterphotography #photojournalism @pressdemo.bsky.social

Dissipating thunderstorm, Tuesday evening in Santa Rosa, Ca. #kentporterphotography #photojournalism @pressdemo.bsky.social

The graphic below is just a portion of the fire wx forecast for the week. Click on the link for more info. gacc.nifc.gov/oncc/predict...

The #pickettfire in Napa County is nearly 7,000 acres after Saturday’s 2,000 acre push in to Aetna Springs. #kentporterphotography @pressdemo.bsky.social #photojournalism

Last night on the #PickettFire in Aetna Springs and a tanker drop in Dutch Henry Canyon. The Pickett is at 7% containment, and 310 acres shy of 5k. A spot on the north side added acreage yesterday, contingency lines are holding, according to Cal Fire. #kentporterphotgraphy @pressdemo.bsky.social

The #pickettfire in Napa Valley, Thursday afternoon. #kentporterphotography @pressdemo.bsky.social #photojournalism

A few images from the #MedicineFire in Round Valley (Covelo) Sunday, Mendocino County. @pressdemo.bsky.social #kentporterphotography #photojournalism

The third drowning in two weeks along the Russian River in Sonoma County. Saturday, a dive team with Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office was called in to locate a missing swimmer at Hacienda Bridge in Forestville. #KentPorterPhotography @pressdemo.bsky.social

Red flag conditions justified today as NorCal, Nevada and Oregon being assaulted by lightning strikes. @pressdemo.bsky.social

Red flag warnings now until this evening for dry lightning strikes in NorCal (first panel) another red flag will take effect Friday for Lake and portions of Mendo County, Friday for lightning. @nws.noaa.gov and @watchduty.org with graphics.

Updated fire weather..yesterday’s FWW for lightning has expanded to Lake and Mendo counties (Friday). Red flags up for Thurs, NE of Mendo. Expect these to go RF. @pressdemo.bsky.social @watchduty.org

Visual journalists, it’s so important to keep this organization alive. If you haven’t upped your dues, please take a moment to read the story and subscribe. I’m a 40 year member and have used @nppa.org services time and again.

I was on assignment in the Sac Valley today, headed back to Santa Rosa via Hwy 16 to Hwy 20, when I was about 30 miles from Esparto a fireworks warehouse caught fire. Big explosion about 15 minutes after I arrived. @pressdemo.bsky.social #kentporterphotography #photojournalism

The #RidgeFire in the old #RockyFire burn scar in Lake County, Calif., Wednesday. The fire burned less than an acre, but curiosity got the best of me, detouring from another assignment. Always pays to follow instincts in photography. @pressdemo.bsky.social #photojournalism

Wasn’t sure what to expect after we got a tip @pressdemo.bsky.social about a house lifting, Thursday afternoon. #kentporterphotography #photojournalism

Analy High School graduation, Thursday evening in Sebastopol. @pressdemo.bsky.social #kentporterphotography

Red flags up for northern Sac Valley beginning early Monday (2am) running through 8pm, very low RH, strong winds, warm temps. Today in Nevada and eastern Sierras, strong winds to 50mph and very low RH.

The aurora borealis over Clear Lake and Geyserville early this morning in NorCal. @pressdemo.bsky.social

But still, it’s the people you meet along the way which make storm chasing more of a common bond with interests in seeking out otherworldly weather phenomena. #kentporterphotography

Potent storms nearly everyday led to interesting moments in Texas. #kentporterphotography

Last couple of weeks storm chasing on the southern plains. #Kentporterphotography

First fire weather watch of the season in the Sac Valley Sunday night through Monday evening. Expect these to go red flag and most likely an expansion further west of the watch area. Below AFD is outlined by Sacramento NWS.

The #CougarFire on Los Alamos Road in east Santa Rosa burned less than an acre in the #GlassFire scar. The amount of slash and regrowth of invasive species, coupled with very steep terrain led to a large response @calfirelnu.bsky.social Santa Rosa Fire, Valley of the Moon and SoCo Fire District.

Going to be toasty around the Bay Area today. Red flag criteria in the hills this morning.

The first real offshore wind event is underway in upper elevations of NorCal this AM, first frame is to the Oregon border, 2nd and 3rd are generally greater Bay Area. Red flag conditions are being met, especially from mid coast to Mendocino, where areas are beginning to cure.

Twilight time, my favorite time of the year as seasonal transitions begin. Uptown Theatre in Napa and the Geysers region of Sonoma County’s Mayacamas Mountains. #kentporterphotography

Guru Nanak Darbar Gurdwara opens in Santa Rosa www.pressdemocrat.com/article/news... @pressdemo.bsky.social #kentporterphotography #photojournalism

Best Buddies prom, last weekend in Santa Rosa. More from colleague Kerry Benefield www.pressdemocrat.com/article/news... @pressdemo.bsky.social #photojournalism

Casa Grande beats Vintage of Napa, Friday afternoon in Petaluma. @pressdemo.bsky.social #kentporterphotography #photojournalism

Baseball, Santa Rosa Junior College style, Saturday, against American River. #kentporterphotography @pressdemo.bsky.social #photojournalism

Biella Elementary School color run, Friday in Santa Rosa. #kentporterphotography @pressdemo.bsky.social #photojournalism