In Focus: Staff photos from May 25 - May 31
When the Lakers needed a big basket, Kobe Bryant usually delivered, in this case over Spurs defensive specialist Bruce Bowen on Thursday. The Los Angeles Lakers now advance to the NBA Finals to face either the Boston Celtics or the Detroit Pistons. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
Lakers center Pau Gasol raises his arms in celebration after his team defeated the San Antonio Spurs on Thursday in Game 5 of the NBA Western Conference championship at Staples Center. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
Mission scientists at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, from left, Fuk Li, Barry Goldstein, Ed Sedivy and Peter Smith celebrate on Sunday the Phoenix spacecraft’s landing on Mars. (Lawrence K. Ho / Los Angeles Times)
Country music singer Kenny Chesney performs at Staples Center as part of his “Poets & Pirates” tour. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
On Memorial Day, Santino Toiney is held by his friend Crystal Ries near the grave of Toiney’s mother, Mary Ellen Toiney, who died in 2004. (Rick Loomis / Los Angeles Times)
Marcus Harris, a cemetery caretaker and Vietnam War veteran, prepares a burial vault for one of several people who were interred at Riverside National Cemetery recently. The cemetery is the country’s busiest national cemetery, averaging about 35 memorial services each day with over 180,000 people already buried there. Many of the workers at the cemetery are veterans and Harris says he feels privileged to work with deceased military personnel. (Rick Loomis / Los Angeles Times)
The Santa Monica Pier is aglow with fireworks Wednesday evening as the city celebrates the opening and lighting of the new $1.5-million solar-powered Ferris wheel at Pacific Park. The previous wheel was sold on EBay. The new ride is more energy-efficient than its predecessor. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
Valencia High’s Skyler Seymour, Jim Baughman and Derrick Trent celebrate in a match against Santa Barbara High during the Southern Section boys Division II volleyball championship game at Cal State Dominguez Hills in Carson. (Lori Shepler / Los Angeles Times)
The Ellinopoula Dancers get ready to perform at the Valley Greek Festival in Northridge, an event that drew more than 50,000 people last weekend. The vibrant event included traditional Greek foods, dances and songs. (Liz O. Baylen / Los Angeles Times)
Descanso Beach Ocean Sports guide Micah Phillips sorts through kayaks in preparation for a wildlife tour of Catalina Island. (Bob Chamberlin / Los Angeles Times)