2017’s best pictures by our photography pros

After finishing his breakfast, David Black (right), a long-time customer with high praise for the Balas, takes Shabbir Bala’s hand to thank him before leaving Boondocker’s on their final day of operation Sept. 6. (Dan Bates / The Herald)

Friends and family release lanterns during the memorial barbecue for Henry Faison on Alki Beach in Seattle on July 19. Faison died in 2015 after succumbing to injuries from a gunshot wound. (Kevin Clark / The Herald)

Paul Brandal, 64, walks with his 25-year-old bison, “Wobble,” across a portion of his 70-acre farm between Ebey Slough and Sunnyside Boulevard Oct. 16. “He just knows me,” Brandle says of the 1,800-pound animal. “He follows me around like a puppy.” (Dan Bates / The Herald)

Juliana Marlaine is congratulated after receiving a $15,000 scholarship at Marysville Arts & Technology High School on May 24. Sponsored by the Marysville Rotary Club, more than $120,000 in scholarships were awarded during the annual ceremony. (Kevin Clark / The Herald)

Patrick Cooper, 74, lets a large, dominant gull take a slice of bread from his hand while dozens more are gathered around him the morning of June 1, along the Snohomish River in Everett. (Dan Bates / The Herald)

Prince Albert’s Zack Hayes (left) and Everett’s Montana Onyebuchi trade blows at Xfinity Arena in Everett on Nov. 15. Everett won 2-0. (Kevin Clark / The Herald)

In their basement playroom June 15, Alex Clawson, 32, communicates firmly and thoughtfully with his eldest son, Willem, 4, while son Atley (left), 3, plays with 20-month-old daughter Seirsha. Clawson’s wife and the children’s mother, Amy Clawson, 33, and newborn daughter Elayda died May 21 after Amy suffered heart failure. (Dan Bates / The Herald)

Christian Drew kisses his daughter, Jaelyn Drew, with Christina Drew (left) looking during the homecoming of the USS Kidd at Naval Station Everett on Dec 10. (Kevin Clark / The Herald)

Snohomish-area children enjoy watching movies April 3 at the Snohomish Library’s “My First Drive-in” event. The youngsters, age 3 and older, brought cardboard boxes from home and transformed them into cars. (Dan Bates / The Herald)

Curling athletes are introduced during the opening ceremony of the 2017 USA Curling Nationals at Xfinity Arena in Everett on Feb. 11. (Kevin Clark / The Herald)

Just off Paine Field near the Future of Flight Aviation Center, Ben Flores of Mukilteo helps his sons, Vincent, 5, and Benny (back), 9, view the solar eclipse through certified safety glasses on Aug. 21. (Dan Bates / The Herald)

Members of the pitching core warm up during the first day of Aquasox training at Everett Memorial Stadium in Everett on June 11. (Kevin Clark / The Herald)

Mostly middle-school kids enjoy playing games on big-screen TVs Sept. 14 at the new Teen Center at the Lake Stevens Boys & Girls Club. Facing, from left, are Riley Gentry, 12; Ayden Perez, 11; Emma Price, 11; Reegan Pauley, 11; Evan Geil, 11; and his twin brother, Drew Geil, 11. (Dan Bates / The Herald)

Edmonds-Woodway’s Yukon Parle (left) edges out Lake Stevens’ Taylor Roe for a first-place finish during the 34th annual Hole in the Wall Cross Country Invitational at Lakewood High School in Arlington on Oct. 7. (Kevin Clark / The Herald)

A packed crowd at DarAlarquam Mosque received Lynnwood Police Chief Tom Davis warmly Feb. 3 when he spoke about immigration policy and how the police department and Muslim community can work together. (Dan Bates / The Herald)

Southbound drivers get a glimpse Aug. 8 of a new state highway sign near Everett Mall designating it the William P. Stewart Memorial Highway. Last year, Highway 99 was renamed to recognize Stewart, an African-American Civil War veteran who settled in Snohomish County after serving with the Union Army. (Dan Bates / The Herald)

Matt Sevao of Lake Stevens was The Herald’s All-Area Defensive Player of the Year. Sevao set the school record with 18 sacks. (Kevin Clark / The Herald)

Dressed for a big day of space exploration Feb. 16, Highland Elementary principal Ryan Henderson enlists (from left) third-grader Harmony Piffath, second-grader Camrie Ingram and third-grader Makayla Goshorn to help lead the pledge over the intercom for the whole school. (Dan Bates / The Herald)

George Slocum sits on Brandon Edwards’ shoulders as he wipes down a propellor during the Arlington Fly-In at Arlington Municipal Airport in Arlington on July 8. (Kevin Clark / The Herald)

Morgan Allen, a senior at Monroe High, will continue her career at the University of Washington. (Kevin Clark / The Herald)

Archbishop Murphy’s Kyler Gordon makes a reception as North Kitsap’s Josh Steakhouse defends at Veterans Memorial Stadium in Snohomish on Nov. 17. (Kevin Clark / The Herald)

Wrestling at Lake Stevens High School in Lake Stevens on Dec. 21. (Kevin Clark / The Herald)

Seahawks wide receiver Paul Richardson tries to catch a pass under pressure from the Eagles’ Ronald Darby at CenturyLink Field in Seattle on Dec. 3. Seattle won 24-10. (Kevin Clark / The Herald)

Nathan Hale’s Michael Porter Jr. dunks over Stanwood’s Bryson Kelley during the 3A Hardwood Classic state tournament at the Tacoma Dome on March 2. (Kevin Clark / The Herald)