Top Photos of 2023

Staff photographer Zack Berlat reflects on documenting life at Gonzaga and shares some favorite shots from the past year.

As I comb through our 2023 photo collection, I’m reminded of all the extraordinary and transformative moments that happen in this community every year. That I get to document this place and the lives lived and changed here is a privilege I try not to take for granted.

From new students moving into residence halls and those extra-long hugs that come with their families’ goodbyes to the celebrations and even longer hugs of commencement, I have the opportunity to capture all of it. These same students are the ones who bring our campus to life in the moments I capture between move-in and graduation. As they forge their paths here, I get to meet and photograph them for their accomplishments and community impact. Podcasters. Sports consultants. Debate team finalists. Business owners. I frame my shots as they work on projects for Boeing, rock climb in our region’s most beautiful locations and dance with the stars. There are the warm summer evenings shooting campus scenes at sunset and the 4 a.m. wakeups for College Gameday madness in the Kennel. This job is never the same as it was the day before.

So, here’s a look back at 2023. I hope it does justice to this vibrant community.

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