Lucy Riding, 5, peers up at her father, David, as he reads a scripture from the Book of Mormon as her mother, Becca, looks on while the family readies their kids for school at their home in American Fork on Wednesday, December 13, 2017.

For me, December was a pretty colorful end to 2017.

I spent the majority of the past month photographing two main things: holiday events and features, and Brigham Young University men's basketball. That was a pretty enjoyable mix for me, though. I enjoy photographing holiday-related events, and upping the quality and quantity of pictures I pump out during sporting events is something I'm constantly trying to improve upon (I may make learning remotes for sporting events a New Year's resolution if I can get the gear).

December was another month of flux. I was excited to welcome my new boss, Evan Cobb, to the Daily Herald as our photo editor. It's a relief that I'm no longer be a one-man band photo staff, and I'm excited to see some new blood pump into the Herald's veins. In terms of work flow, the start of the month was much busier than the end. Omitting the fact that I was alone for the first part of December, there were simply more assignments at the start of the month. December post-Christmas feels as if things have almost stopped (seeing as the majority of people/events we cover are on vacation, out of town, etc), and now begins the slowest time of the year. Though, the slowdown has come at a decent time. My parents flew out from Ohio to be with me for the holidays, and I'm happy I'm not swamped with assignments during their entire visit.

As I assume many of the coming years of my life will be, 2017 was a year of change. By hitting the one-year mark at the Herald I've become extremely comfortable with covering the ins and outs of Utah County and my duties as a daily newspaper photographer. It's been tough seeing my two friends and photo co-workers move on from the paper and adjusting to work without them, but that's also taught me the importance of being flexible to change. I think I've improved my photography gradually from month-to-month throughout the year. Though, I'll stay hungry for personal improvement in 2018. I hope to achieve that by surrounding myself with creative people, checking out more photojournalism work to think of ways to improve my own shooting, going to a photo conference or two, and not forgetting to better myself personally. 

Erik Pearson, of Pleasant Grove, portrays a shepherd during a scene from the biblical Christmas story where an angel of the lord appears to shepherds during the Night in Bethlehem live Nativity Friday, Dec. 1, 2017, at Stone Gate Weddings and Events in Pleasant Grove.

Mike Downey poses for a portrait in the yard of his home among his holiday light display Friday, Dec. 1, 2017, in Lehi.

Men of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir sing during the 2017 Christmas Concert on Thursday, Dec. 14, 2017, at the LDS Conference Center in Salt Lake City.

Audience members make their way to their seats before the 2017 Christmas Concert on Thursday, Dec. 14, 2017, at the LDS Conference Center in Salt Lake City.

Weber State Wildcats head coach Randy Rahe talks with center Jordan Dallas (3) during a game between Brigham Young University and Weber State University on Saturday, Dec. 9, 2017, at Vivint Smart Home Arena in Salt Lake City.

Brigham Young Cougars forward Payton Dastrup (15) lays the ball up during a game between Brigham Young University and University of Utah on Saturday, Dec. 16, 2017, at the Marriott Center in Provo.

Brigham Young Cougars guard Jahshire Hardnett (0) looks to an official after fouling Utah Utes guard Justin Bibbins, background, during a game between Brigham Young University and University of Utah on Saturday, Dec. 16, 2017, at the Marriott Center in Provo.

A BYU fan points to the boundary line of the court as Idaho State Bengals guard Geno Luzcando (1) throws the ball back in bounds during a game between Brigham Young University and Idaho State University on Thursday, Dec. 21, 2017, at the Marriott Center in Provo.

Brigham Young Cougars guard McKay Cannon (24) points toward the Cougars' offensive side of the court after the ball went out of bounds during a game between Brigham Young University and University of Utah on Saturday, Dec. 16, 2017, at the Marriott Center in Provo.

Illinois State Redbirds guard Keyshawn Evans (3) retrieves the ball after losing control of it as he's chased by Brigham Young Cougars guard Jahshire Hardnett (0) during a game between Brigham Young University and Illinois State University on Wednesday, Dec. 6, 2017, at the Marriott Center in Provo.

Brigham Young Cougars guard Elijah Bryant (3) goes up for a heavily contested layup against Texas Southern Tigers center Trayvon Reed (5) during a game between Brigham Young University and Texas Southern University on Saturday, Dec. 23, 2017, at the Marriott Center in Provo.

From left, Estelle Stevens, 13, Brea Norton, 12, and Havyn Watterson, 7, portray as craftspeople in a street scene depicting old-time Jerusalem on Monday, Dec. 4, 2017, at the Living Nativity in Alpine. “When you’re up here during the day it just seems like a typical old farm, but when the sun goes down the lanterns turn on, it feels like you’re in some old village and really back in time,” said Nativity co-founder, Alison Larsen. See more about this Monday Close-Up here: provodh.com/xitww.

Visitors walk about viewing the ice structures at the Midway Ice Castles on Thursday, Dec. 28, 2017, at Homestead Resort in Midway.

Caleb Oborn, 5, looks up at his mother as he and his sister, Reagan, 2, play in the dirt after a groundbreaking for the new Pleasant Grove Public Safety Building on Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2017, in Pleasant Grove.

Clockwise, Timpview juniors Sarah Chamberlain, Lizzie Hall and Katie Austin compare shoe sizes as they and other students shop for Sub for Santa families Wednesday, Dec. 13, 2017, at Walmart in Orem.

Traffic flows along Interstate 15 as an inversion, created from a top layer of warm air that keeps pollutants trapped in the cold air beneath, hangs over Utah County on Saturday, Dec. 9, 2017, as seen from Point of the Mountain in Lehi.

Abby Heywood, who will play Jack's mother, secures a hair cap before putting on a wig as she and other cast members ready themselves backstage before a sensory-friendly production of Jack and the Beanstalk on Saturday, Dec. 2, 2017, at Utah Valley University's Noorda Theatre in Orem.

Steve Nelson, director and "mayor" of the village, watches as a small fire in one of the buildings is quickly extinguished during the Pioneer Christmas Celebration on Friday, Dec. 15, 2017, at the Provo Pioneer Village.

Camille Leishman, 5, of Pleasant Grove, weaves fabric at one of the interactive stations during the Night in Bethlehem live Nativity on Friday, Dec. 1, 2017, at Stone Gate Weddings and Events in Pleasant Grove.