A supporter of the pro-Palestinian encampment at UC Irvine lays flowers in the path of police officers and Orange County sheriff’s deputies on May 15. Leonard Ortiz — Staff Photographer

Jose Ledesma kissses his bride, Taylor Yeadon, during their Leap Day nuptials Feb. 29 at the Old Orange County Courthouse in Santa Ana. Their dog Rooney, dressed for the ceremony with a tuxedo bib, looks on. Jeff Gritchen — Staff Photographer

Aquiles Garcia and his mother, Ixa Valenzuela, greet Gunnery Sgt. Michael Garcia at Camp Pendleton on Oct. 16, when the Marines’ Amphibious Combat Vehicles had returned. Paul Bersebach — Staff Photographer

Cynthia “the Dog Lady” Lopez holds her pooch, Lulu, as they perform a duet Oct. 20 during the Silverado Days Mutt Show in Buena Park. Mindy Schauer Staff Photographer

An orca surfaces on Jan. 9 off of the Orange County coastline as the sun sets behind Catalina Island in the background. For nearly a month, orcas have been swimming off Southern California, preying on dolphins and attracting whale-watchers to see these majestic mammals in nature. Mark Rightmire — Staff Photographer

The aptly named Beckham Beauchemin, top, of San Clemente High, goes over the back of Mater Dei High’s James Obleda on Feb. 16 during the CIF-SS Open Division boys soccer semifinals at Mater Dei. Leonard Ortiz — Staff Photographer