![Laura Oda, chief photographer for the Bay Area News Group, is photographed for a Wordpress profile in Oakland, Calif., on Wednesday, July 27, 2016. (Anda Chu/Bay Area News Group)](https://www.mercurynews.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/Oda_Laura_2016.jpg?w=85)
Senior Photo Editor
Laura A. Oda
Laura A. Oda is the Bay Area News Group's Senior Photo Editor for The Mercury News and East Bay Times. She has covered mostly the East Bay as a photojournalist for over 20 years prior to becoming a photo editor. She graduated from UC Berkeley with a BS in Mass Communications and also holds a BA degree in Photography from the Academy of Art in San Francisco.
Location: San Francisco Bay Area
All Stories
![This photo gallery shows the damage from the Thompson Fire and the ongoing efforts to contain the blaze near the Oroville community in Butte County. This photo gallery shows the damage from the Thompson Fire and the ongoing efforts to contain the blaze near the Oroville community in Butte County.](https://www.mercurynews.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/SJM-L-OROVILLEFIRE-9.jpg?w=132)
Photos: Firefighters battle Thompson Fire as 28,000 Oroville residents evacuate
This photo gallery shows the damage from the Thompson Fire and the ongoing efforts to contain the blaze near the Oroville community in Butte County.
![The work is part of a $2.3 billion project to bring the dam, which was built in 1950 and holds back Santa Clara County's largest reservoir, up to modern earthquake standards. The work is part of a $2.3 billion project to bring the dam, which was built in 1950 and holds back Santa Clara County's largest reservoir, up to modern earthquake standards.](https://www.mercurynews.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/SJM-L-DAMTUNNEL-05XX-28.jpg?w=132)
Photos: Tour of the 1,732-foot-long tunnel at the Anderson Dam project
The work is part of a $2.3 billion project to bring the dam, which was built in 1950 and holds back Santa Clara County's largest reservoir, up to modern earthquake...
![Eclipse photos: 'Most viewed astronomical event in history' Eclipse photos: 'Most viewed astronomical event in history'](https://www.mercurynews.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/SJM-L-ECLIPSE-0409-200c.jpg?w=140)
Eclipse photos: ‘Most viewed astronomical event in history’
The full effect of Monday’s total eclipse could only be experienced in what’s known as the path of totality — a 115-mile-wide band that ran northeast from Mexico’s Pacific coast...
![The chaos wrought by the atmospheric river lingered, with hundreds of thousands of customers lacking power, and authorities cleaning up trees that fell across the region. The chaos wrought by the atmospheric river lingered, with hundreds of thousands of customers lacking power, and authorities cleaning up trees that fell across the region.](https://www.mercurynews.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/SJM-L-MORERAIN-0205-12.jpg?w=132)
Photos: Bay Area storm topples trees, leaves thousands without power
The chaos wrought by the atmospheric river lingered, with hundreds of thousands of customers lacking power, and authorities cleaning up trees that fell across the region.
![A new mural, a parade, and the Celebration Train all to honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s legacy of non-violent activism in the Civil rights movement A new mural, a parade, and the Celebration Train all to honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s legacy of non-violent activism in the Civil rights movement](https://www.mercurynews.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/EBT-L-MLKMURAL-0115-6.jpg?w=132)
Photos: The Bay Area Honors Martin Luther King Jr. on his day
A new mural, a parade, and the Celebration Train all to honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s legacy of non-violent activism in the Civil rights movement
![SJC's Happy Tails Program delivers Halloween fun and comfort to travelers. SJC's Happy Tails Program delivers Halloween fun and comfort to travelers.](https://www.mercurynews.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/SJM-L-TRAVREAT-1101-1.jpg?w=132)
Photos: A furry, tail wagging Halloween parade welcomes travelers at San Jose Mineta International Airport
SJC's Happy Tails Program delivers Halloween fun and comfort to travelers.
![49er's now sit in second place in the NFC West behind Seattle. 49er's now sit in second place in the NFC West behind Seattle.](https://www.mercurynews.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/BNG-L-49ERS-1009-2-2.jpg?w=124)
Photos: 49ers’ third straight loss, 31-17 fall to the Cincinnati Bengals at Levi’s Stadium
49er's now sit in second place in the NFC West behind Seattle.
![Friday Night Lights across the Bay Area Friday Night Lights across the Bay Area](https://www.mercurynews.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/BNG-L-DLSSERRA-0902-1.jpg?w=132)
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Photos: Bay Area high school football Week 2, 2023
Friday Night Lights across the Bay Area
![Flooding, downed trees, power outages and a soggy 49ers game summed up a wet Sunday Flooding, downed trees, power outages and a soggy 49ers game summed up a wet Sunday](https://www.mercurynews.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/SJM-L-STORM-1025-11-1.jpg?w=132)
Photos: Atmospheric river continues to pummel the Bay Area
Flooding, downed trees, power outages and a soggy 49ers game summed up a wet Sunday
![Free game tickets were given to anyone that received a COVID-19 vaccine. Free game tickets were given to anyone that received a COVID-19 vaccine.](https://www.mercurynews.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/SJM-L-FUTBOLFEST-0709-10.jpg?w=132)
Photos: ‘Let’s Get to Immunity’ message delivered to soccer fans at PayPal Park
Free game tickets were given to anyone that received a COVID-19 vaccine.