Tom Hawley’s Timeless Lens: Capturing Moments from 2024

MONROE — As the year 2024 comes to an end, Monroe News photographer Tom Hawley is presenting some of his most unforgettable photographs.

The seasoned photographer has transitioned from developing monochrome photos in a darkroom to editing images digitally on a computer.

Throughout his vast career, Hawley has worked with The Monroe Evening News, Monroe County Community College, and other regional media organizations.

Hawley’s passion for community journalism ignited with a photographic internship at The Morning Sun while he was enrolled at Central Michigan University.

“Fifty years ago, I purchased my first camera. I was a freshman at CMU in 1974,” stated Hawley. “Did I anticipate back then that my profession would be photojournalism? No. But I realized I had a passion for creating and designing pages. It was during the fall of 1976 that I started to seriously contemplate this as a career. So, it all commenced 48 years ago.”

Hawley mentioned that the obstacles he faced this past year have been distinct.

“I cherish community journalism, but I needed to reinvent myself,” he said. “Capturing portraits of business proprietors or providing imaginative images, such as the photo depicting feet in sunlight for a feature on summer foot care, galleries are receiving a much larger focus. This is the reason we launched ‘Monroe in Pictures,’ which has generated some of my finest feature photographs.”

After reviewing a year’s collection of pictures, Hawley picked out 50 significant instances from 2024.

From the thrill of Bendal Flora achieving a touchdown to Virginia Emerson softly kissing her horse, Deliglah, Hawley’s photographs encapsulate moments and convey authentic feelings.

“I enjoy capturing faces. The top photo of the year for me featured a young girl during Victory Days. It was an invaluable shot,” he remarked.

Hawley developed a passion for photography and narrating tales through images.

For the individual behind the camera, it’s a romance that has never dulled — even after five decades.