Check out our OC photographers’ favorite images from September 2024

Four-year-old Sonny Estrada cools off at a splash pad at Heritage Park in Irvine, CA on Monday, Sept. 9, 2024. (Photo by Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register/SCNG)

A cyclist rides on the Bayview Trail at the back bay in Newport Beach, CA on Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024. (Photo by Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register/SCNG)

John John Florence of Hawaii is carried up the beach after beating Italo Ferreira of Brazil to win the World Surf League championship held at Lower Trestles at San Onofre State Beach south of San Clemente on Friday, Sept. 6, 2024. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Italo Ferreira of Brazil gets some air as the best surfers in the world compete in the World Surf League Finals held at Lower Trestles at San Onofre State Beach south of San Clemente on Friday, Sept. 6, 2024. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Sawyer Kuntz checks out the Barbie Dream House at the Irvine Spectrum in Irvine, CA on Friday, Sept. 6, 2024. Five homebuilders created themed playhouses that will be auctioned off to raise funds for HomeAid Orange County. (Photo by Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Emily Knepp holds Howlite, a ball python, during snake yoga at LXRYOGA in Costa Mesa, CA, on Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

The La Raza Murals on Civic Center Drive in Santa Ana were restored to their natural state with the help of some of the original artists and the Artesia Pilar Neighborhood Association. The artwork, inspired by the Chicano Mural Movement, was painted in 1991. The restoration project was celebrated by the community on Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, original artists Orange County Register/SCNG)

The Huntington Beach marching band and color guard perform on the football field at sunset prior to the football game against Capistrano Valley at Huntington Beach High School in Huntington Beach on Friday, Sept. 6, 2024. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Members of the Magnolia High School band play under a mirrored walkway during the grand opening of the Jan and Ross Billings Innovation Center in Anaheim, CA, on Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024. The two-story building spans 22,161 square feet and includes an additional 8,200 square feet of covered outdoor walkways, bringing the total footprint to 30,181 square feet. The center is equipped with five general classrooms and four cybersecurity classrooms, part of a broader Cybersecurity Pathway. The centerpiece of this facility is the 6,700-square-foot Cybersecurity Project-based Learning Center, which comprises four dedicated cybersecurity classrooms, an instructional server room, and two workrooms. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Smoke rises from the Airport Fire as Cizar Moon works out at the driving range at Eagle Glen Golf Club in Corona, CA, on Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2024. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Northwood’s Jack Schultz (11) catches a pass in the end zone over the defense of Pacifica’s Max Salas (14) for a touchdown in the third quarter in a game at Irvine High School in Irvine on Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)

The Chinese Dance Company of Southern California performs during the fourth annual Mid-Autumn Festival at the Great Park in Irvine on Friday, Sept. 13, 2024. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)

A vendor at the La Raza Murals restoration celebration keeps colorfully cool in Santa Ana on Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)

With her cheeks flush from the heat, 4-year-old Adelina Rodarte sheilds herself from the sun in Santa Ana on..Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024. She was at a community event celebrating the restoration of murals on Civic Center Drive, one of which was painted by her dad, Gilbert Rodarte. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)

California State University Fullerton President Ronald S. Rochon, center, greets members of the faculty and staff following his first convocation address since becoming CSUF’s 10th president at the Meng Concert Hall on the campus of Cal State Fullerton on Thursday, Sept. 19, 2024, in Fullerton. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Robinson Ranch residents, Pete Fankhauser, left, and Ken Motonishi watch a jet drop fire retardant on the Airport Fire from the driveway of Fankhauser’s home on Meander Lane in Trabuco Canyon on Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2024. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Dominic, front, and Sebastian Carrillo relax and their mom Naomi picks up food at a mobile school pantry at Oak View Elementary School in Huntington Beach, CA on Sept. 11, 2024. Second Harvest Food Bank is celebrating 10 years of bringing fresh food pantries to local communities. (Photo by Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Firefighters monitor the Airport Fire from a ridge near Porter Ranch in Trabuco Canyon, CA on Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2024. (Photo by Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Former President Donald Trump holds a press conference at Trump National Golf Club in Rancho Palos Verdes, CA, on Friday, Sept. 13, 2024. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Daisy Ortiz, left, cheers on Orange County MORE THAN PINK walkers in Newport Beach on Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Ducks hand out in Lake Elsinore as smoke rises from the Airport Fire in Lake Elsinore, CA, on Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2024. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Smoke from the Airport Fire billows high into the sky in eastern Orange County as viewed from a parking structure above the 22 freeway in Orange on Tuesday afternoon, Sept. 10, 2024. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Rhys Meyer, left, and his mother, Erin Meyer of Huntington Beach pet Pongo as his handler Olivia Carlucci, right, holds him still during the 35th anniversary celebration of Centennial Farm at the OC Fair and Event Center on Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024, in Costa Mesa. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Former President Donald Trump answers questions as he leaves a press conference at Trump National Golf Club in Rancho Palos Verdes, CA, on Friday, Sept. 13, 2024. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Brianna joins other members of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Capistrano Valley as they are welcomed by the Dana Point Surf Club at Doheny State Beach in Dana Point, CA, on Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Arms reach out to congratulate finishers of the Orange County MORE THAN PINK Walk in Newport Beacch on Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)

A helicopter makes a water-drop on the Airport fire in the Trabuco Canyon area on Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024. Cooler temperatures and higher humidity helped firefighters battle the blaze. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Kevin Donahue, left, of Mission Viejo congratulates Brad Bledsoe of Fort Collins, Colorado with his winning 1955 pound pumpkin at Irvine Park Railroad’s Great Pumpkin Weigh-Off held at Irvine Regional Park in Orange on Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024. Bledsoe’s winning pumpkin weight is a new Colorado state record. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Donald Trump supporters crowd the intersection of Trump National Road and Palos Verdes Drive South after they watched the former President’s motorcade leave Trump National Golf Club in Rancho Palos Verdes, CA, on Friday, Sept. 13, 2024. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Corona del Mar students, Meg Vanis, left, and Anita Oranghi take a selfie during a game against Trabuco Hills at Newport Harbor High School in Newport Beach on Friday, Sept. 27, 2024. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Two-year-old Julian Salinas of Westminster is captivated by bubbles backlit by the sun during the third annual Fall Festival at the Westminster Civic Center on Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Frank Vatrano (77) of the Ducks and Alex Turcotte (15) of the Kings collide battling for the puck during a preseason game at the Honda Center in Anaheim on Monday, Sept. 30, 2024. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Fernando Galindo and Katy Purmort have a laugh while exercising Luke at the OC Fair & Event Center Equestrian Center in Costa Mesa, CA on Wednesday, Sept. 11, 2024. Luke was evacuated from the Rancho Carrillo neighborhood off Ortega Highway because of the Airport Fire. (Photo by Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register/SCNG)

An airplane drops fire retardant on the Airport Fire near Porter Ranch in Trabuco Canyon, CA on Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2024. (Photo by Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Danny Flores operates a hydraulic forging press at Independent Forge Co. in Orange, CA on Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2024. The company, which makes aluminum parts for the Boeing 737-MAX, has been affected by the strike of more than 30,000 workers with the machinists union at the Seattle-based aerospace company. (Photo by Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Neighbors watch as Kevin Donahue loads his squash onto a trailer at his home in Mission Viejo, CA. Donahue was transporting it on Friday, Sept. 20, 2024 from his backyard to the Irvine Regional Park Railroad’s Great Pumpkin Weigh-Off. (Photo by Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register/SCNG)

The new 16-foot public art installation by local artist Hiromi Takizawa, “Make a House a Home” is located in Old Town Tustin and was dedicated in Tustin on Thursday, Sept. 19, 2024. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Annelie Roche, 5, of San Clemente has a dramatic ride on the kiddie roller coaster during Westminster’s third annual Fall Festival at the Civic Center on Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)

With the summer crowds gone and coastal temperatures in the 60’s, people stroll through a small grove of trees along a walkway adjacent to the channel leading to Dana Point Harbor in Dana Point on Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)

William Beauchemin gets some love from his dog Toby while on an outing to the beach in Dana Point Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024. When Toby isn’t resting inside Beauchemin’s van, he can be seen sitting atop the roof, attracting adoration from passersby. Beauchemin calls his easy-going pup “a blessing.” (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Waffle’s boots are made for scorching hot pavement as owner Esmeralda Hernandez walked him in Santa Ana last month. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Waffle’s boots are made for scorching hot pavement as owner Esmeralda Hernandez walks him in Santa Ana on Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024. Orange County is in the throes of a triple digit heat wave with relief expected by the middle of the week. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Waffle’s boots are made for scorching hot pavement as owner Esmeralda Hernandez walks him in Santa Ana on Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024. Orange County is in the throes of a triple digit heat wave with relief expected by the middle of the week. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Waffle’s boots are made for scorching hot pavement as he walks with owner Esmeralda Hernandez in Santa Ana on Saturday, September 7, 2024. Orange County is in the throes of a triple digit heat wave with relief expected by this week. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)