Register staff photographer Brian Powers remembers his best images of 2018

The Des Moines Register

Here at the Register, we are always looking toward the next story, the next event or even just the next day, but it’s rare that we have a chance to look back until now, the end of the year.

Cheerleaders from Waukee High School perform at the Iowa Dance State Championships at Wells Fargo Arena on Friday, Nov. 30, 2018, in Des Moines.

I filed more than 3,000 photos from across the state in 2018. Sure, there are the annual events we all know and love like the state tournaments, RAGBRAI and the Iowa State Fair, but it’s the smaller stories — the stories of Iowans' daily life — that make each year different and make this profession so interesting.

President Donald Trump speaks during a rally at JQH Arena on the campus of Missouri State University on Friday, Sept. 21, 2018, in Springfield, Missouri.

I continue to be in awe of people’s strength when faced with disaster and their willingness to have their story heard.

McKenna Haase, 21, of Des Moines works on the car of Garrett Tatnell, 7 of Minneapolis during Nationals at the English Creek Speedway on Tuesday, Aug. 7, 2018, in Knoxville, Iowa. Tatnell is part of Haase's racing development team and makes the trip to Iowa almost weekly to race with her.

So thank you. Thank you for being willing to open up and share your stories with us and in turn, with other Iowans across the state.

LaVern Miller, 12, watches cyclists on RAGBRAI make their way to Kalona, the meeting town of day six, on Friday, July 27, 2018.