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Photos: WTOP picks its top 2016 DC-area images

Lightning captured over the Washington Monument on Aug. 21, 2016. (WTOP/Dave Dildine) — Lightning captured over the Washington Monument on Aug. 21, 2016. See more storm photos here. (WTOP/Dave Dildine)

Pedestrians on Wisconsin Avenue in Glover Park on Jan. 23, 2016, during the blizzard that dumped feet of snow on the D.C. area. (WTOP/Dave Dildine) — Pedestrians on Wisconsin Avenue in Glover Park on Jan. 23, 2016, during the blizzard that dumped feet of snow on the D.C. area. See more photos from the snow event. (WTOP/Dave Dildine)

Katie Pohler, 25, of Glen Burnie, Maryland, reflects on a nearly fatal crash in 2014 that involved a drunken driver. Read more about her story and road to recovery. (WTOP/Kate Ryan)

There were plenty of breathtaking sunsets this year, but on Sept. 21, 2016, a sunset cast shades of yellow, purple and orange over the Potomac River. Craving more sunset photos? Check some out here. (WTOP/Dave Dildine)

Ty Gruszewski begins the effort to heal the nation's wounds one hug at a time. He stands with Bernice Yalley, right, who took him up on the offer. (WTOP/Kate Ryan) — After the election, Ty Gruszewski begins the effort to heal the nation’s wounds one hug at a time. He stands with Bernice Yalley, right, who took him up on the offer for a free hug. Read more about this story and see more photos here. (WTOP/Kate Ryan)

Meet Nugget, one of the kittens in need of a foster family at a Montgomery County Animal Services and Adoption Center event on June 4, 2016. See more images from the event. (WTOP/Kate Ryan)

A person passes in front of a Freddie Gray mural in his Sandtown neighborhood of Baltimore. (WTOP/Kate Ryan) — A person passes in front of a Freddie Gray mural in his Sandtown neighborhood of Baltimore. See more images from Baltimore during the Freddie Gray trials here. (WTOP/Kate Ryan)

Visitors to the Lincoln Memorial peer out at snow in February. See more snow photos here. (WTOP/Kate Ryan)

At 8-months-old, Bei Bei weighed about 45 pounds and is much larger than his siblings were at this age. Here he is with his mom Mei Xiang. (WTOP/Kristi King) — At 8 months old, Bei Bei weighed about 45 pounds and was much larger than his siblings were at this age. Here he is on May 2, 2016, with his mom, Mei Xiang. See more Bei Bei photos here. (WTOP/Kristi King)

Rich Leotta discusses the death of his 24-year-old son, Noah Leotta, who was killed last December while on DUI patrol in Rockville, Maryland, during an event in March. Read more. (WTOP/Kate Ryan)

Queen Anne Bridge – Queen Anne, Md.
The rusty and rickety Queen Anne Bridge has withstood generations of flooding, graffiti and neglect above the Patuxent River. The historic bridge was built at the end of the nineteenth century at a time when Queen Anne was a bustling port town. Today, its truss spans - bolted to rusted cast-iron girders - manage to support a crumbling bridge deck. (WTOP/Dave Dildine) — The rusty and rickety Queen Anne Bridge has withstood generations of flooding, graffiti and neglect above the Patuxent River. The historic bridge was built at the end of the 19th century at a time when Queen Anne was a bustling port town. Today, its truss spans — bolted to rusted cast-iron girders — manage to support a crumbling bridge deck. See more “ghost bridges” here. (WTOP/Dave Dildine)

A volunteer signs the unfinished wall of what will become the Avila family's new home on Monday, June 6, 2016. The home is being built with help from the Gary Sinise Foundation's RISE program, (Restoring Independence, Supporting Empowerment), to give Army veteran Luis Avila, who was injured in 2011, the ability to easily move around his own home. He is an amputee and now needs a wheelchair. (WTOP/Kate Ryan) — A volunteer signs the unfinished wall of what will become the Avila family’s new home on Monday, June 6, 2016. The home was built with help from the Gary Sinise Foundation’s RISE program, (Restoring Independence, Supporting Empowerment), to give Army veteran Luis Avila, who was injured in 2011, the ability to easily move around his own home. He is an amputee and needs a wheelchair. Read more about the house’s construction. (WTOP/Kate Ryan)

Army veteran Luis Avila, who was injured in 2011, looks around the house being built for him and his family on Monday, June 6, 2016. See images from the house dedication and unveiling later in 2016. (WTOP/Kate Ryan)

Summer 2016 was a hot one. A man pour water over his head on July, 24, 2016. (WTOP/Dave Dildine) — Summer 2016 was a hot one. A man pours water over his head on July, 24, 2016. See more images from the heat wave here. (WTOP/Dave Dildine)

Six-year-old Eloie was inspired by a book on fairy gardens and started making a little house for them out of pumpkins. (WTOP/Kate Ryan) — This “fairy pumpkin” is the work of Scott Homolka and his 6-year-old daughter, Eloie. The little girl had been given a book on fairy gardens. She said she was especially intrigued by the notion of building a little house for the creatures and hoped to catch sight of one. Read more about the pumpkins and see photos here. (WTOP/Kate Ryan)

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Lightning captured over the Washington Monument on Aug. 21, 2016. (WTOP/Dave Dildine)

Pedestrians on Wisconsin Avenue in Glover Park on Jan. 23, 2016, during the blizzard that dumped feet of snow on the D.C. area. (WTOP/Dave Dildine)

Ty Gruszewski begins the effort to heal the nation's wounds one hug at a time. He stands with Bernice Yalley, right, who took him up on the offer. (WTOP/Kate Ryan)

A person passes in front of a Freddie Gray mural in his Sandtown neighborhood of Baltimore. (WTOP/Kate Ryan)

At 8-months-old, Bei Bei weighed about 45 pounds and is much larger than his siblings were at this age. Here he is with his mom Mei Xiang. (WTOP/Kristi King)

Queen Anne Bridge – Queen Anne, Md.
The rusty and rickety Queen Anne Bridge has withstood generations of flooding, graffiti and neglect above the Patuxent River. The historic bridge was built at the end of the nineteenth century at a time when Queen Anne was a bustling port town. Today, its truss spans - bolted to rusted cast-iron girders - manage to support a crumbling bridge deck. (WTOP/Dave Dildine)

A volunteer signs the unfinished wall of what will become the Avila family's new home on Monday, June 6, 2016. The home is being built with help from the Gary Sinise Foundation's RISE program, (Restoring Independence, Supporting Empowerment), to give Army veteran Luis Avila, who was injured in 2011, the ability to easily move around his own home. He is an amputee and now needs a wheelchair. (WTOP/Kate Ryan)

Summer 2016 was a hot one. A man pour water over his head on July, 24, 2016. (WTOP/Dave Dildine)

Six-year-old Eloie was inspired by a book on fairy gardens and started making a little house for them out of pumpkins. (WTOP/Kate Ryan)

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WASHINGTON — Snow, sunsets, pandas and pumpkins — this past year has been full of memorable images from around the D.C. area.

As 2017 approaches, here’s a look back at some of WTOP’s favorites on WTOP.com from our photographers.

Sarah Beth Hensley

Sarah Beth Hensley is the Digital News Director at WTOP. She has worked several different roles since she began with WTOP in 2013 and has contributed to award-winning stories and coverage on the website.

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