This week’s top photo comes from visual journalist Candace Dane Chambers.
What makes this photo important?
Happy New Year! We’re ringing it in with love.
The Cook County Clerk’s Office does an annual lottery to select one lucky couple to receive the first marriage license of the year. This year, Humboldt Park couple Melissa Nunez and Elizabeth Branske made history as the first lesbian couple to win the lottery. Following the tense news cycle at 2025’s year end, staring anew with a small spotlight on warmth and progress feels worth celebrating.
How I got this picture
The actual ceremony had ended a few minutes before, and this loving look between the newlyweds followed the signing of their marriage license. Seeing the license in front of them — an actual, material manifestation of their vows — seemed to spur a new well of emotion. There were many cameras in the room and the couple, though happy and at ease, seemed very aware of the heavy media presence throughout the ceremony. But in this moment their awe and joy seemed to take over and I was able to snap this exchange.
Technical details:
- Equipment: Canon EOS R5 with an RF 28-70mm f/2 L USM lens
- Focal length: 135mm
- Aperture: f/2.8
- Exposure: 1/250
- ISO: 1600
Plus, 13 more powerful photos from Sun-Times photographers:
Hamna Amin, daughter of Asif Amin Cheema, sobs as she speaks to reporters during a press conference at the kiss and ride parking lot outside the Rosemont Blue Line station on Thursday. Cheema, a Humboldt Park restaurant owner, is set to be deported after the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that his deportation order could proceed.
Tyler Pasciak LaRiviere/Sun-Times