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I took this photo during a vigil on the one-year anniversary for the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. This event was the first one I’ve shot with a serious emotional weight behind it. Most of The Alligator’s multimedia team were taking photos, and we all wanted to deliver images that would reflect the somber nature of the event and the palpable emotion in the air. Many attendants at the vigil either knew the victims, attended the school, or were there during the shooting, so the entire staff wanted to have a story and visuals that represented the UF community’s strong connection to those lost. As attendants lit candles and sat down on of Plaza of the Americas to listen to student speakers, I was constantly moving along the sides of the group looking to make some images. Taking these photos, I was forced to get past the social anxiety of being noticed by each person I photograph, especially when my shutter clicks felt deafening during the silent event and focus on completing the task at hand. Finally, I saw this student, Lily Alperstein, sitting near the edge of the crowd. She had a particularly expressive face and I could see the clear emotion she felt as the candlelight highlighted her teary eyes. I laid down on the ground for a few moments and eventually came away with this image, which I felt encapsulated the emotion rippling throughout the crowd.