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Chris Urso - Photo Director/News and Sports
Chris Urso

Photo Director/News and Sports

Growing up in Southern California was great but in 2005 I needed to make a drastic move. This move was not caused by my fear of earthquakes but my fear of not having a career in the vocation I adored. Family in tow we trekked cross country, on a plane, and landed at The Tampa Tribune. I am lucky to be one of the few who were plucked by the Tampa Bay Times after the purchase of the Tribune in 2016. My family and I have grown to love the Tampa Bay area. We spend off times floating on the intercostal and biking along the Pinellas Trail. I am extremely passionate about photojournalism and a strong advocate of photojournalism ethics. When asked, I tell people I am just a SoCal expat attempting to live the Florida lifestyle and I make visuals awesome.

  1. Dunedin’s Casa Tina celebrates Día de Muertos
    • Photos
    A crowd gathers holding puppets during a Día de los Muertos procession Saturday in Dunedin.
  2. ‘No Kings’ protest in Clearwater joins demonstrations nationwide
    • Photos
    Protesters wave to traffic along Gulf-to-Bay Boulevard during a 'No Kings' protest Saturday in Clearwater.
  3. Wednesday night tornado confirmed, damaged up to 65 homes in Largo
    • Environment
    A home collapsed after a tornado went through Ranchero Village, a mobile home neighborhood, on Wednesday night in Largo.
  5. Tampa Bay residents gather in 1,000s at ‘No Kings’ protests across region
    • The Buzz on Florida Politics
    Thousands of protesters take to the streets in front of City Hall during the nationwide "No Kings" protest on Saturday in Tampa.
  6. Protesters rally across Tampa Bay
    • Photos
    Thousands of protesters take to the streets in front of City Hall during the nationwide "No Kings" protest on Saturday in Tampa.
  7. Photos: Messi, Inter Miami play Orlando City in exhibition in Tampa
    • Photos
    Inter Miami’s Lionel Messi, left, smiles at Orlando City’s Cesar Araujo during a break in play in the first half of Friday's exhibition game at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa.
  8. Onlookers celebrate as green sea turtle is released at Fred Howard Park
    • Photos
    Ashley Riese, director of sea turtle conservation with The Florida Aquarium, left, and Paiton Krebs, a sea turtle rehabilitation biologist, carry Buckley into the water as onlookers watch along the beach of Fred Howard Park.
  9. World War II, Pearl Harbor veteran celebrates 108
    • Photos
    William Monfort, 108, center, blows out candles on a birthday cake as Courtney Holland, 45, of Clearwater, left, and Florida State Representative Adam Anderson look on Tuesday in Clearwater.
  10. Pictures that defined the year in Tampa Bay
    • Photos
    Times photographer Dirk Shadd on assignment at City Hall in St. Petersburg.
  11. Photos: Tampa’s St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital celebrates Halloween
    • Photos
    Lily Mansour, 11, of Port Richey, dresses as a princess, while she participates in the parade collecting treats during a Halloween event at St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital on Thursday in Tampa.
  12. Crane that crashed into downtown St. Petersburg building is removed
    • News
    A welder works on a construction crane that was removed from the side of a downtown building on Wednesday where it crashed during Hurricane Milton in St. Petersburg.
  13. ‘Not even 2 weeks’: In Siesta Key, first Helene then Milton’s landfall
    • Hurricane
    Debris along Commonwealth Drive clogs the roadway after Hurricane Milton made landfall nearby Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024 in Siesta Key.
  14. Photos: Hurricane Milton aftermath in Florida
    • Hurricane
    In the aftermath of Hurricane Milton, a building loses its front side around the Palmetto Beach neighborhood on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, in Tampa.
  15. Crane collapses into Times’ office building amid thrashing Milton winds
    • Hurricane
    A crane falls onto a building along 1st Avenue South in St. Petersburg as Hurricane Milton's strong winds tore through the area Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024. The building houses several businesses, including the Tampa Bay Times. (Chris Urso/Tampa Bay Times via AP)
  16. Hurricane Milton tears open Tropicana Field’s roof
    • Hurricane
    The roof of Tropicana Field is torn as Hurricane Milton passes Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024 in St. Petersburg.
  17. Inside a NOAA hurricane hunter
    • News
    Flight crews navigate into Tropical Storm Debby during sunset on Aug. 4 over the Gulf of Mexico.
  18. See photos of Hurricane Helene aftermath in Florida
    • Breaking News
    Jamir Lewis wades through floodwaters with his two daughters, Nylah and Aria, on Friday, Sept. 27, 2024, in Crystal River. The area flooded due to storm surge from Hurricane Helene.
  19. Clearwater Threshers’ new bat dog has a messy start
    • Life & Culture
    Lucy pauses at a bat she is supposed to retrieve during the end of the third inning during a Clearwater Threshers game Friday.
  20. Steven Stamkos through the years with the Tampa Bay Lightning
    • Lightning
    Tampa Bay Lightning center Steven Stamkos waves to fans during a ceremony commemorating his 1000th point in 2022.
  21. See photos of President Joe Biden’s visit to Tampa
    • News
    Spectators cheer as President Joe Biden speaks during a campaign stop at Hillsborough Community College on Tuesday, April 23, 2024 in Tampa.
  22. Did you see the giant inflatable colon in Tampa?
    • Things to Do
    First graders from Lakewood Elementary school, in St. Petersburg, walk through an inflatable colon at the Museum of Science & Industry, Friday in Tampa.
  23. See photos of Billy Joel and Sting in Tampa
    • Life & Culture
    Billy Joel performs to a sold-out crowd at Raymond James Stadium Saturday. Sting opened the show.
  24. How Valentine’s Day and Ash Wednesday were celebrated around Tampa Bay
    • Entertainment
    James Lint, 75, left, kisses his wife, Joanne Lint, 75, of Cleveland, OH, while renewing their vows during Pinellas County's 18th annual mass wedding ceremony at the Florida Botanical Gardens in Largo. The couple have been married for 53 years.