Whether it is tragedy or triumph, pressing issues or community achievements, they are there to capture and share the images of your city and its people - a role made even more important through COVID.

There aren't many people in Ballarat who haven't been in a Lachlan Bence photograph during his decades-long career - he has a veteran's eye for news and sport, and when there's hard news breaking, there's no one else you'd want by your side with a camera, diving into the fray.

Here are some of Lachlan's great images from 2021, and stay tuned for more great galleries from our other photographers later this week - see Luke Hemer's and Adam Trafford's here.

Have you signed up to The Courier's variety of news emails? You can register below and make sure you are up to date with everything that's happening in Ballarat.