Welcome to The Look Around, a photo showcase of people and scenes from our community. Expect beautiful landscapes; the mundanity of daily life; peculiarity that evokes a smile; and moments loud, soft and everywhere in between. Follow along in a visual celebration of the places and people that make our community special.

Is there something you think should be featured in The Look Around? Send me an email at isaac@lookoutlocal.com.

People wait in a line that wraps around the block outside of the McDonald Theater in anticipation to see Ole 60, a country concert in Eugene, March 19, 2026. “I’m pretty sure this is one of the venues that it is just a pit and no seats,” said Norah LaRoche who is attending on her own. “I got here like 4:10ish, and I’m all the way back here.” Kennedy Hester from Canby said the line hasn’t been too bad. “The weather is nice. We’ve been chatting with the people around us. It seems like most of us traveled in.” Isabelle Shaffer and Cami Jepson came all the way from Boise, Idaho. “They are not doing a show in Boise, so of all the places we could go, we chose here,” Jepson said. “We drove like eight hours to the coast, then we drove like an hour in,” Shaffer said. “We made it a little vacation.” Credit: Isaac Wasserman / Lookout Eugene-Springfield / Catchlight / RFA
Amid hundreds dressed in green, Daniel and Alyse Brown play rummy at The Pint Pot St. Patrick’s Day celebration in Eugene, March 17, 2026. The Browns are regulars and play rummy at the same table weekly. “It’s our downtime. Our break from the world,” Alyse said. “The only difference is we’re outside and not in the comfy chairs. And we get to dress up.” Daniel added, “It was kismet. It (the table) was out here waiting for us.” Credit: Isaac Wasserman / Lookout Eugene-Springfield / Catchlight / RFA
Anne Wright of the Oregon Nurses Association participates in a satirical protest, acting as a CEO outside of PeaceHealth Sacred Heart Medical Center at RiverBend in Springfield, March 12, 2026. This comes after PeaceHealth executives moved to end a longstanding contract with local Eugene Emergency Physicians in pursuit of one with Atlanta-based ApolloMD. “Our community is dependent on this hospital system,” Wright said. “It is going to wreak havoc on our community, and we are trying to keep people safe.” Credit: Isaac Wasserman / Lookout Eugene-Springfield / Catchlight / RFA
The colors of springtime in Lane County are on display at Eugene’s Owen Rose Garden as a magnolia tree flowers against an overcast sky on March 10, 2025. Credit: Isaac Wasserman / Lookout Eugene-Springfield / Catchlight / RFA
Janiyah Williams (22) of the Oregon Ducks celebrates with teammates after an 80-76 comeback victory over Nebraska at Matthew Knight Arena in Eugene, Feb. 19, 2026. Williams, who comes off of the bench, hit a three point basket that changed the tide of the game, sparking an 8-0 scoring run by the Ducks. Oregon is now 7-8 with their eyes still on a run in the post-season. Credit: Isaac Wasserman / Lookout Eugene-Springfield / Catchlight / RFA
A worm ventures across a sidewalk in Eugene, Feb. 17, 2026. While many people in Eugene were excited to finally see some rain, worms around town were especially out in droves. Credit: Isaac Wasserman / Lookout Eugene-Springfield / Catchlight / RFA
Izac Gaolardo, 19, skates at Willamalane Park in Springfield, Jan. 21, 2026. “I’ve been skating for only 6 months,” Gaolardo said. “My mom gave me a really old clapped out board. It was just something that me and my friend would mess around with last year. The only thing I don’t like about it is that my ankles are made out of glass.” Credit: Isaac Wasserman / Lookout Eugene-Springfield / Catchlight / RFA
A mural of a blue sky day with white puffy clouds and butterflies can be seen through raindrops on a windshield in the parking lot of Brail’s Restaurant in Eugene, Dec. 18, 2025. Following multiple atmospheric rivers at the end of 2025, Eugene has seen below average precipitation, leading to lower snow retention in the mountains and concerns about drought. Credit: Isaac Wasserman / Lookout Eugene-Springfield / Catchlight / RFA
Bri Wright runs through the fog and past saturated spider webs on the Autzen footbridge in Eugene, Jan. 14, 2026.
Wright says she runs on the bridge every day. “I think it’s magical,” Wright said. “I just moved here from Seattle so I am getting used to this area. I feel like I’ve just discovered a hidden gem.” Credit: Isaac Wasserman / Lookout Eugene-Springfield / Catchlight / RFA
Odin the poodle enjoys a “pup cup” with whipped cream and a dog treat at the Black Rock Coffee Bar drive-thru in Eugene, Jan. 6, 2025. “I think it’s important, especially during the winter when it’s cold and kind of rainy, to bring our dog anywhere we can,” said Travis Liming who holds Odin in the passenger seat. “He likes to go out on walks, but he can’t go out in the rain. He doesn’t like to, at least.” Credit: Isaac Wasserman / Lookout Eugene-Springfield / Catchlight / RFA
Blue light illuminates a Lane Transit District passenger who rides the bus out of Eugene Station at night, Dec. 22, 2025. Credit: Isaac Wasserman / Lookout Eugene-Springfield / Catchlight / RFA
The jingle bells from Jes Worley’s noise maker could be heard across Coburg Road and in between car horns during the “A Day Without an Immigrant” demonstration in Eugene, Dec. 18, 2025. One by one, bells fell from the stick they were tied to. Each fell with a clank. Silently, tears fell from her eyes. “Seeing people willing to turn a blind eye to it while their neighbors and people in their community, families getting torn apart, people disappearing off the streets. To know that this is going on is a little bit beyond my sphere of comprehension, I guess,” said Worley who runs programs for Latinx youth in the Bethel and Springfield school districts. “Those kids are my life.” Credit: Isaac Wasserman / Lookout Eugene-Springfield / Catchlight / RFA
Christmas music plays from a speaker in the garden as Bob Moore, 78, finishes setting up his Christmas-themed lawn in Oakridge, Dec. 10, 2025. The helicopter on the tip of the roof is his favorite. The rotors spin. “I flew helicopters in Vietnam. We used to fly out to villages and I used to go to the Navy store and I would go around and buy up any kind of ball. We would fly into these villages, and I would throw these balls out there. Soccer balls, basketballs just balls of any kind. We went from village to village. It didn’t matter what time of year it was, I always did that,” Moore said. “So when I wasn’t in combat then I had to do some cheer someplace. I carried it on since I was in the Navy.” Moore served from 1965 to 1988. He has lived in Oakridge since 2000. Credit: Isaac Wasserman / Lookout Eugene-Springfield / Catchlight / RFA
In 61-degree December weather, Claire Lindemann, 19, sits under a willow tree in Washburn Park in Eugene, Dec. 11, 2025. She wears shorts and her shoes are off. “Got the World at Your Fangs” by Frog plays softly from her phone. The willow surrounding her still drops its leaves. “It feels like a hug,” Lindemann said, who finished her final philosophy paper on Tuesday. “I just got this journal a couple of weeks ago and I haven’t been able to write in it, but today just felt like a good day since it was sunny out,” said Lindemann. She’s setting intentions for herself: “I want to do things scared because that’s where growth lies. I want to be honest and tell people how I feel about them. I want to be barefoot more. I want to dance.” The words are doodled all over the page, some big, others small. All in bright pink Sharpie. “A pink Sharpie feels a lot less high stakes.” Credit: Isaac Wasserman / Lookout Eugene-Springfield / Catchlight / RFA
Jackson Shelton, 18, hypes up his teammate Radley Warren, 18, before the Churchill High School duo compete in the Unified Robotics competition with their robot Downtown Girl at South Eugene High School, Dec. 4, 2025. “This is what we have been preparing for,” said Shelton to Warren, waving his hands with excitement. “Nothing will be this important. This is the moment.” Credit: Isaac Wasserman / Lookout Eugene-Springfield / Catchlight / RFA
Rose Volner, 80, receives food at the drive-through Upper Willamette Community Development Corporation Food Pantry in Westfir, on Oct. 7, 2025. Volner, who ran a foster care home, is retired and receives $63 a month in SNAP benefits. Despite the help, she attends the pantry three times a month. “I appreciate the vegetables,” Volner said. “I appreciate the help that I get from these people.” Credit: Isaac Wasserman / Lookout Eugene-Springfield / Catchlight / RFA
The sound of a Korean YouTuber spills from Sa Kim’s shirt pocket as he paints the sign at AceOK 5 Discount Auto Service Center in Eugene, Nov. 18. The shop’s owner, Paul Kim, said the shop specializes in Asian import cars. “Every five to seven years we change a little bit of color. Same sign but a little bit of different design. I like the base color red and blue,” Kim said. “Sometimes strong red sometimes light blue. Just to mix it up a little bit.” Credit: Isaac Wasserman / Lookout Eugene-Springfield / Catchlight / RFA
Elias Wolf conducts the Queer Choir at the city of Eugene’s inaugural transgender day of remembrance candlelight vigil at the Farmers Market Pavilion, Nov. 20, 2025. The lyrics from Alexandra Blakely’s “One Body” rang through the pavilion. “I don’t know if we were meant to carry so much grief,” sang the choir. “Yet we are not alone.” According to the Advocates for Trans Equality report, 27 transgender people died due to violence in 2025. “We’re here to grieve together but then through expressing that grief and being able to remember that we’re not alone in it, we get to access more joy,” Wolf said. Credit: Isaac Wasserman / Lookout Eugene-Springfield / Catchlight / RFA
Dressed in a pink frog costume, David O’Day, 38, walks back to work from the weekly protest against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement at the Federal Building in downtown Eugene, Nov. 18, 2025. He carries a sign that says “Shame on ICE.” On the other side, it reads “Immigrants! F*** Yeah!” Credit: Isaac Wasserman / Lookout Eugene-Springfield / Catchlight / RFA
A group of musicians play traditional Irish music in a dim, lamp-lit corner of The Pint Pot Public House in Eugene, Nov. 13, 2025. The group is preparing for a performance at the annual St. Patrick’s Day block party. “We like to practice together in a place where we can share it,” Jessica LaMotte said. “People like to hear this music.” Credit: Isaac Wasserman / Lookout Eugene-Springfield / Catchlight / RFA
Frank Blair, 78, commander for the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 93, stands for a portrait in Eugene, Nov. 11, 2025. Blair served two extended tours in Vietnam and earned three Purple Hearts for his service. “We’re just like everybody else. We put our pants on one leg at a time,” said Blair about the veteran community. “We hold each other in a special place in our hearts because we’ve been there and done that.” Credit: Isaac Wasserman / Lookout Eugene-Springfield / Catchlight / RFA
Special education teacher Lina Korican, left, calls for a fair contract with her Springfield Public School colleagues in Springfield, Nov. 5, 2025. “I already work above and beyond my contract hours, and for them to require that for us to work a longer day without additional pay is not sustainable for teachers,” Korican said. “If they want to continue to say that they support education, they need to actually show they support education.” The mural behind Korican, “Labor Builds Community,” by Alejandro Sarmiento, is a celebration of labor and unions in the Springfield area according to a plaque. Credit: Isaac Wasserman / Lookout Eugene-Springfield / Catchlight / RFA
U.S. Army veteran and German immigrant George Schaefer inspects ballots on the evening of the Nov. 4 special election in Eugene. “When there was election workers that were actually threatened and terrified I decided that it was something that I was going to do. Basically stepping up for democracy and doing it right. That matters to me,” said Schaefer over the sound of Yacht Rock radio playing in the background. Credit: Isaac Wasserman / Lookout Eugene-Springfield / Catchlight / RFA
Diane Baird dances in a “Thriller”-themed flash mob at the Shelton McMurphey Johnson House in Eugene. The group, Thrill the World Eugene, has been flash mobbing for 13 years as a fundraiser for ShelterCare. Credit: Isaac Wasserman / Lookout Eugene-Springfield / Catchlight / RFA
College Hill is illuminated by the setting sun in Eugene, Oct. 28, 2025. Credit: Isaac Wasserman / Lookout Eugene-Springfield / Catchlight / RFA
Ducks fan and sports collector Michelle Bralley (center) had been waiting in line for about an hour outside of the Nike store in Eugene to get the new tie-dye Ducks merchandise that was released for this week’s Grateful Dead themed matchup against Wisconsin. “I am here to pick up some memorabilia for my daughter for Christmas. She is a sports collector. She’s been collecting since she was 4 and she’s 37 now,” said Bralley, who wanted to surprise her daughter, but got busted when her daughter checked Bralley’s location on her phone. “She calls me the G.O.A.T. You know, who is in line today? Not her! I am!” Credit: Isaac Wasserman / Lookout Eugene-Springfield / Catchlight / RFA
Lisa Wagner, Freyja Wagner-Ortega, 16 months, and Camille Wagner pick apples at ME and Moore Farm in Eugene, Oct. 17, 2025. “It’s just a tradition. It’s crazy to see that continue. I used to bring Camille,” said Lisa. Moments later Freyja picked her first ever apple. “Mom, she picked one!” said Camille. Credit: Isaac Wasserman / Lookout Eugene-Springfield / Catchlight / RFA
“Maybe three to eight.” That’s how many goals Sangi Adkins, 20, thought she would score at Wednesday’s Unified Soccer Jamboree. She scored four before transferring to goalkeeper in North Eugene High School’s 10-6 win over Sheldon. The Unified Soccer Jamboree is a Special Olympics event that brings together people with a variety of intellectual and physical abilities on the same team. Credit: Isaac Wasserman / Lookout Eugene-Springfield / Catchlight / RFA
Connor Nelson, 19, walks past Actors Cabaret of Eugene on 10th Avenue in Eugene, Oct. 14, 2025. “It’s a beautiful fall day. It’s sunny. The leaves are gorgeous. I’m loving it,” Nelson said. Credit: Isaac Wasserman / Lookout Eugene-Springfield / Catchlight / RFA
“Just catching up. I haven’t seen her for a month,” said Logan Debusk, sitting on top of Spencer Butte with his sister Lauren Debusk, as the moon rises over the Cascades. Lauren is a second-year student at University of Oregon. Logan lives in Portland. “I am actually living in his old apartment,” said Lauren. They both said they miss living in the same place. Credit: Isaac Wasserman / Lookout Eugene-Springfield / Catchlight / RFA
“Enjoy it while it lasts,” said Andrew Miller, 29, of the Region Five Hotshot Crew, based out of the Lake Tahoe area. Miller eats gyro meat on rice with dolmas in Eugene during a lunch stop, as his crew made their way to the Lower Sugarloaf Fire in Washington. “On big fires there’s usually a fire camp, and they provide food for us. Sometimes it’s better than others. When we do what’s called spiking out, and that’s when we camp up by the fire in the wilderness, that’s when we eat Meals Ready-to-Eat or MREs.” Credit: Isaac Wasserman / Lookout Eugene-Springfield / Catchlight / RFA
Sheldon High School marching band sousaphonist Wil Heward, 14, plays a note while Thomas Follett, 18, holds his phone up to check tuning. “My personality changes a little when I put it on,” said Follett, who said that the sousaphone players pride themselves on being the most visible, dancey and energetic group in the band. Heward said he has named his instrument “Suzie … S-U — however you spell Suzie. I don’t know.” The Sheldon High School Marching Band & Color Guard was established in 1963 and is the only competitive marching band in Lane County, band director Julie Bounds said. Credit: Isaac Wasserman / Lookout Eugene-Springfield / Catchlight / RFA
“My wife had dementia, and I was the primary caregiver,” said Roger Canady, 84. “I took up pop art.” That was four years ago. Now, a mannequin named Roxanne, which Canady got from the Kohl’s in Eugene, stands in a phone booth wearing a life jacket and a pink wig. It sits along the highway in McKenzie Bridge, Sept. 24, 2025. Credit: Isaac Wasserman / Lookout Eugene-Springfield / Catchlight / RFA
Incoming University of Oregon freshman Annalise Gazda, 18, and her dad, Ken Hey, look at Ducks merchandise while shopping at Hirons for dorm supplies in Eugene, September 25, 2025. “I’m mostly just excited. This school has a lot of spirit, and I think it’s just going to be really fun,” Gazda said. “I know everyone is in the same boat, but it’s still kind of scary putting yourself out there. And I’m also like weirdly nervous for my classes,” added Gazda, who is from Seattle. Asked if they were Husky fans, Hey said, “Not anymore. I’ve got a Husky degree but now I’m a Duck.” Credit: Isaac Wasserman / Lookout Eugene-Springfield / Catchlight / RFA
Shayla Aceti and her daughter Arya, 8, feed birds bread at Alton Baker Park in Eugene, Aug. 15, 2025. “We usually go with bird seed, but we forgot today,” Shayla said. Arya said her favorite part of the activity is, “Running away from the birds after they scare me.” Credit: Isaac Wasserman / Lookout Eugene-Springfield / Catchlight / RFA
A cyclist competes in a cyclocross race on the grounds of Oak Hill School in Eugene, Sept. 10, 2025. The races, organized by a group called Twilight Operations, are held every Wednesday evening in September for all ages and skill levels. The final event in the series will be Sept. 24. Credit: Isaac Wasserman / Lookout Eugene-Springfield / Catchlight / RFA
“When they nod their head you have to slam it, and then they go,” said JT Farmer, 9, who watches ropers chase a calf after releasing it from the chute at the Cottage Grove Rodeo Grounds, Aug. 20, 2025. “We just do this every Wednesday,” said Farmer, who doesn’t get to work the chute at “real” rodeos yet. “I’m not practicing anything. They’re just roping so they can get practice, because they are actual rodeo people. And we are really good friends with them.” Credit: Isaac Wasserman / Lookout Eugene-Springfield / Catchlight / RFA
“Are we ready?” shouted fifth-grade teacher Pete Wergeland on Sept. 12, 2025. A loud, resounding chorus of “Yes!” was yelled back by about 100 fifth-graders at Gilham Elementary School in Eugene. With a crowd of parents and other students cheering, fifth-graders sent their rockets high into the air, chasing after them in desperate attempts to catch them before they hit the ground. Bradley Hurn, 10, dives for his bottle rocket. “I thought I would get it,” said Hurn who has been excited for this day since he was in the first grade. Credit: Isaac Wasserman / Lookout Eugene-Springfield / Catchlight / RFA
Listening to “Hootie Hoo” by Outkast, Ethan Hairgrove, 17, rides his bike on the structures under the DeFazio Pedestrian/Bike Bridge at Alton Baker Park in Eugene, Aug. 15, 2025. “I usually go to the skatepark, but Eugene’s architecture is pretty cool,” Hairgrove said. “I feel like riding bikes is a good way to enjoy the gift that we have. Maybe not God or anything, but we all have a gift — living.” Credit: Isaac Wasserman / Lookout Eugene / Lookout Eugene-Springfield / Catchlight / RFA