Photographer

Helen H. Richardson

Helen H. Richardson has been a staff photographer at The Denver Post since 1992. She has covered large breaking news stories, including the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, the 2004-05 tsunami in Indonesia and Thailand; the death of Pope John Paul II in Rome; and the effects of AIDS and lack of water in African nations. She covered the Olympic Games in Turin, Italy, in 2006 and the summer games in Beijing in 2008. In Colorado, she regularly photographs news, features and sports, with a particular interest in wildfire coverage. She also seeks out stories that converge with her interests, which include rock and ice climbing, extreme sports, nature, animals and the environment.

Waves of runners take off from the start line of the Bolder Boulder citizen’s race along 30th street in Boulder, Colorado on May 26, 2025. This year marks the 45th year of the popular road race. Officials said 1.5 million runners have crossed the finish line since the race started in 1979. 52,000 runners took part in this year’s race. (Photo by Helen H. Richardson/The Denver Post)

PHOTOS: Bolder Boulder 2025

May 27, 2025 at 2:52 p.m.

The 45th annual Bolder Boulder took place on May 26, 2025. Officials said 52,000 runners took part in this year’s race, while 1.5 million runners have crossed the finish line...

Lee Stephens kisses her hand to leave on the gravestone of her son Dane Stephens at Fort Logan National Cemetery in Denver on May 25, 2025. Stephens was killed, at the age of 19, when the plane he was aboard crashed in Gander Newfoundland on Dec. 12, 1985. The plane was carrying U.S. Army personnel from Cairo, Egypt, to their home base in Fort Campbell, Kentucky, via Cologne, West Germany, and Gander, Newfoundland. On the morning of Thursday, 12 Dec. 1985, shortly after takeoff from Canada's Gander International Airport en route to Fort Campbell, the McDonnell Douglas DC-8 serving the flight stalled, crashed, and burned about half a mile from the runway, killing all 248 passengers and 8 crew members on board. (Photo by Helen H. Richardson/The Denver Post)

PHOTOS: Memorial Day at Fort Logan National Cemetery

May 26, 2025 at 11:23 p.m.

Visitors pay their respects for loved ones at Fort Logan National Cemetery in Denver.

Mexico Lindo Folkloriko dancer Jimena Lopez, 9, had her sister do her makeup before performing during Cinco De Mayo celebrations at Civic Center Park in Denver on May 4, 2025. (Photo by Helen H. Richardson/The Denver Post)

PHOTOS: Denver Cinco de Mayo Festival 2025

May 4, 2025 at 6:34 p.m.

The Denver Cinco de Mayo Festival takes place at Civic Center Park in Denver, Colorado on Saturday and Sunday, May 3-4, 2025. The annual celebration featured a parade, lowrider car...

A young boy asks The Reverend Jack Karn questions during communion at Easter services at Saint John’s Cathedral in Denver on April 20, 2025. The church had over 2,000 attendees for its Easter services for Easter Sunday.

PHOTOS: Easter services at Saint John’s Cathedral including an egg hunt

April 23, 2025 at 8:57 a.m.

Saint John’s Cathedral had over 2,000 attendees for its Easter services on Easter Sunday.

Francesca Bonomo dances as C2 Mass Choir performs during the 78th annual Easter sunrise service at Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Morrison, Colorado on April 20, 2025.

PHOTOS: 78th annual Easter sunrise services at Red Rocks Amphitheatre

April 21, 2025 at 10:00 a.m.

The 78th annual Easter sunrise service was held at Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Morrison, Colorado on the morning of April 20, 2025.

Dancer Lara Lasley, Meskwaki and Ojibwe, competes in the fancy shawl division during the 49th annual Denver March Powwow at the Denver Coliseum in Denver on March 23, 2025. (Photo by Helen H. Richardson/The Denver Post)

PHOTOS: 49th annual Denver March Powwow at the Denver Coliseum

March 29, 2025 at 7:08 p.m.

This year’s Powwow featured more than 1,500 dancers from close to 100 tribes from 38 states and three Canadian provinces.

Reverend John-James Arcidiacono, center, puts ashes on the forehead of Jenisa, 1, while her mother Silla Edward holds her during Ash Wednesday services at the Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception in Denver on March 5, 2025. (Photo by Helen H. Richardson/The Denver Post)

PHOTOS: Ash Wednesday at the Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception in Denver

March 8, 2025 at 8:00 p.m.

The Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception in Denver held Ash Wednesday services on March 5, 2025.

Apprentices Ruby Dunbar, left,and Dylan Taylor, Grace Phillips and Madi Philips, holding her daughter Dean, 4, cried and embraced one another as the final bull was loaded onto a large semi-truck to be sold on the family’s final day on the Chico Basin Ranch, Dec. 30, 2024, near Hanover, Colorado. (Photo by Helen H. Richardson/The Denver Post)

After a quarter of a century, family’s tenure of running one of Colorado’s largest ranches comes to a close

March 2, 2025 at 6:00 a.m.

As the last Beefmaster bull left Chico Basin Ranch, tears rolled down the checks of Phillips family members as they closed not only a huge part of their heritage, but...

Greer Lone, 9, pets her white standard poodle Bizcaya, 11 months, before competing at the Colorado Kennel Club dog show at the National Western Complex in Denver on Feb. 16, 2025. Her father Cole Lone waits with their other standard poodle Nixon, right. (Photo by Helen H. Richardson/The Denver Post)

PHOTOS: 2025 Colorado Kennel Club dog show

February 17, 2025 at 4:15 p.m.

The Colorado Kennel Club dog show featured more than 200 breeds, about 2,000 dogs, seminars for becoming a better pet parent and kids being introduced to dog sports.

Artist Thomas “Detour” Evans, poses for a portrait in front of his newly unveiled “It’s Not What You Take, It’s What You Bring Back” piece that is now on display next to gate B60 on concourse B at Denver International Airport in Denver on Jan. 22, 2025. Evans, who works under the name of Detour, has received dozens of commissions for color-splashed paintings and building-sized murals around the country. In Denver he is known for his murals depicting George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and Elijah McClain. The piece at the airport has over 180 pieces of luggage collected by Evans and is rainbow-colored in a figure-eight design. It is 30 feet long, 20 feet wide and 10 feet high. Evans says the colors were inspired by the sunrises and sunsets of Colorado. (Photo by Helen H. Richardson/The Denver Post)

Through the Lens: Thomas “Detour” Evans dishes on 3-D work at DIA, his inspiration and what’s next

January 27, 2025 at 6:00 a.m.

Thomas "Detour" Evans recently unveiled his large-scale work, "It’s Not What You Take, It’s What You Bring Back.” The piece is the newest addition to DIA's permanent public art collection.