PHOTOGRAPHY

SMALL/MEDIUM PUBLICATIONS

 (Small - daily and non-daily with circulation up to 35,000, Medium - any publication with circulation up to 75,000))

News photography

14 entries

Judges: The photo staff of the St. Petersburg (Fla.) Times, including Sherman Zent, picture editor; Patty Yabolonski, features picture editor; and Dirk Shadd, photographer

Judges’ note: This was the strongest of the non-metro categories. We are impressed that the small paper photographers are out there chasing spot news and making good photos. Watch out, bigger dailies!”

 

First place

Charlene Hunt

Payson Roundup

“Police chase”

“This is an incredibly emotional and story telling moment that grabs you and instantly makes you want to know the whole story. Unfortunately there was no caption information with the photo, so we didn’t get to satisfy our curiosity.”

 

Second place

Oscar Perez

Casa Grande Dispatch

“Standoff”

“Another good job of capturing a fleeting moment of a difficult situation, but without the emotional and story telling power of the first-place winner.”

 

Third place

Michael Jewart

Ahwatukee Foothills News

“Jump”

“Close call between second and third. Many would have been tempted to zoom in on the interaction between the officer and the man threatening to jump. This photographer correctly went after the entire visually interesting and story telling scene.”

 

Honorable mention

Oscar Perez

Casa Grande Dispatch

“Pursuit aftermath”

“The photographer gets in close — too close — on an officer comforting an injured child. The top and bottom of the photo felt too tightly cropped.”

 

Honorable mention

Joy Lambert-Slagowski

Daily News-Sun

“Praying for a miracle”

“Low side angle captures the moment well and cleans up the background. This one also feels a little too tightly cropped or framed. Want to see a hint more of the scene behind her, which appears connected to the accident that’s prompting her prayer.”

 

 

Sports photography

12 entries

Judges: The photo staff of the St. Petersburg (Fla.) Times, including Sherman Zent, picture editor; Patty Yabolonski, features picture editor; and Dirk Shadd, photographer

 

First place

Oscar Perez

Casa Grande Dispatch

“Eliminated”

“Easy #1. A very emotional moment of two baseball players upon elimination from a tournament. Strong body language and facial expression. Clean long-lens shot from the right angle. An image that will pop off the page.”

 

Second place

U. Frank Williams

Ahwatukee Foothills News

“Soccer tackle”

“Basic frozen action, but captured and cropped well, with a background that doesn’t distract. A little different from typical soccer action images we usually see.”

 

Third place

Steven King

Casa Grande Dispatch

“Rodeo rider”

“There were several rodeo photos in the category. Close call between third and second. Once again basic frozen action photo. We’ve seen similar rodeo photos many times, but captured well from a good angle.”

 

 

 

Portrait/personality photography

7 entries

Judges: The photo staff of the St. Petersburg (Fla.) Times, including Sherman Zent, picture editor; Patty Yabolonski, features picture editor; and Dirk Shadd, photographer

 

First place

Steven King

Casa Grande Dispatch

“Blacksmith”

“Technically well executed, nice light. A good environmental portrait emphasizing the interesting environment surrounding the person.”

 

Second place

Steven King

Casa Grande Dispatch

“Makeup face”

“Not great technical quality, but the composition isn’t bad, and the smiling face kind of catches you.”

 

Third place

Tim Hacker

Scottsdale Views

“Director”

“This one gets the nod for effort; the photographer was attempting to be creative with color.”

 

 

Feature photography

15 entries

Judges: The photo staff of the St. Petersburg (Fla.) Times, including Sherman Zent, picture editor; Patty Yabolonski, features picture editor; and Dirk Shadd, photographer

 

First place

Oscar Perez

Casa Grande Dispatch

“Scary guy”

“Composition and technical quality could be better, but the moment and expression carry the day.”

 

Second place

N. Scott Trimble

Scottsdale Views

“Pony express”

“Creates a mood. Good use of color, and interesting composition of foreground and background elements.”

 

Third place

Amy Ellis

Arizona Daily Sun

“Sunrise sidekicks”

“An event likely to make a good photo. Straight forward, clean and well composed moment between two participants in the fun and games.”

 

 

ANY PUBLICATION

(No circulation restrictions, includes wire services)

 

E1. Spot new photography

29 entries

Judges: Hartford Courant Photography Editors Bruce Moyer and Stephanie Heisler and Hartford Courant Staff Photographer Mark Mirko. The Courant won the 2001 and 2002 Society of News Design’s Angus McDougall Overall Excellence in Photo Editing Award.

 

First place

David Sanders

Arizona Daily Star

“House fire”

“There were many fire pictures entered but first place stood out

for the manner in which the photographer depicted the contrasting stages the fire’s intensity while being fought and the sullen remains of its aftermath.”

 

Second place

Benjie Sanders

Arizona Daily Star

“Trailer fire”

“Showed simply and directly the emotion involved when people lose their homes to fire.”

 

Third place

Michael Chow

The Arizona Republic

“Slurry bomber”

“The photographer, under an obviously difficult and fast-changing situation, managed to bring together the time-honored photographic ingredients of interesting light and aesthetically pleasing composition

 

Honorable mention

Benjie Sanders

Arizona Daily Star

“Trailer explosion”

 

 

E2. General news photography

39 entries

Judges: Hartford Courant Photography Editors Bruce Moyer and Stephanie Heisler and Hartford Courant Staff Photographer Mark Mirko. The Courant won the 2001 and 2002 Society of News Design’s Angus McDougall Overall Excellence in Photo Editing Award.

 

First place

Max Becherer

Arizona Daily Star

“Return trip”

“With its interesting mood and clear storyline, first place was a unanimous choice for the judges.”

 

Second place

Mark Henle

The Arizona Republic

“Tragic death”

“What second-place lacked in context, it more than made up for it in its depiction of raw and awful emotion.”

 

Third place

Darryl Webb

East Valley Tribune

“Dang”

“As was the case in ‘Return trip,’ third-place had a clear storyline and great emotion.

 

Honorable mention

Michael Chow

The Arizona Republic

“Rainbow of hope”

 

 

E3. Portrait/personality photography

48 entries

Judges: Hartford Courant Photography Editors Bruce Moyer and Stephanie Heisler and Hartford Courant Staff Photographer Mark Mirko. The Courant won the 2001 and 2002 Society of News Design’s Angus McDougall Overall Excellence in Photo Editing Award.

 

Judges’ note: Portrait/personality was the most fun to judge. So many photographers were showing a variety of creative approaches to their subjects. Despite all the great lighting and interesting angles of the entrants, first and second place served as poignant examples of how effective available light can be. ‘Deathrow’ and ‘The Temptor’ were probably the judges favorite pictures of the entire contest. All three photographers simply and effectively documented mystery, humor and determined-strength with a skill for blending the obvious and the subtle.”

 

First place

Tim Koors

The Arizona Republic

“Deathrow”

 

Second place

Christine Keith

The Arizona Republic

“The temptor”

 

Third place

Ralph Freso

East Valley Tribune

“Ramsay’s will”

 

Honorable mention

Michael Chow

The Arizona Republic

“Freedom”

 

 

E4. Feature photography

50 entries

Judges: Hartford Courant Photography Editors Bruce Moyer and Stephanie Heisler and Hartford Courant Staff Photographer Mark Mirko. The Courant won the 2001 and 2002 Society of News Design’s Angus McDougall Overall Excellence in Photo Editing Award.

 

Judges’ note: Judges were unanimous about their choice of first place for its clean construction and strong moment, second-place for its humor and third place for its intensity.”

 

First place

Ralph Freso

East Valley Tribune

“Bull Run”

 

Second place

Jack Kurtz

The Arizona Republic

“Apartment”

 

Third place

Ian Wingfield

The Arizona Daily Star

“Soccer Mania”

 

Honorable mention

Francisco Medina

Tucson Citizen

“Bored Grad”

 

 

E5. Picture story

18 entries

Judges: Hartford Courant Photography Editors Bruce Moyer and Stephanie Heisler and Hartford Courant Staff Photographer Mark Mirko. The Courant won the 2001 and 2002 Society of News Design’s Angus McDougall Overall Excellence in Photo Editing Award.

 

Judges’ note: Hardest of all the categories to judge. All entries need tighter editing and stronger story lines.

 

First place

Mark Henle

The Arizona Republic

“Health”

 

Second place

Max Becherer

Arizona Daily Star

“La Perra Flaca”

 

Third place

Aaron J. Latham

Arizona Daily Star

“Rodeo Chediski fire”

 

 

E6. Illustration photography

16 entries

Judges: Hartford Courant Photography Editors Bruce Moyer and Stephanie Heisler and Hartford Courant Staff Photographer Mark Mirko. The Courant won the 2001 and 2002 Society of News Design’s Angus McDougall Overall Excellence in Photo Editing Award.

 

Judges’ note: The three winning photographs exhibited technical proficiency and graceful lighting skills.

 

First place

Ron Medvescek

Arizona Daily Star

“That old feeling”

 

Second place

Ralph Freso

East Valley Tribune

“Fall fashion”

 

Third place

David Sanders

Arizona Daily Star

“Gallery of life”

 

 

E7. Sports action photography

33entries

Judges: Hartford Courant Photography Editors Bruce Moyer and Stephanie Heisler and Hartford Courant Staff Photographer Mark Mirko. The Courant won the 2001 and 2002 Society of News Design’s Angus McDougall Overall Excellence in Photo Editing Award.

 

Judges’ note: Along with sports feature, one of the more enjoyable categories to judge. Lots of great images but the winners earned their place with their technically proficient delivery of strong moments and interesting angles.

 

First place

Michael Chow

The Arizona Republic

“Charge”

 

Second place

Rob Schumacher

The Arizona Republic

“Ski jump”

 

Third place

Michael Chow

The Arizona Republic

“Sack”

 

Honorable mention

Rick Wiley

East Valley Tribune

“Faceful”

 

 

E8. Sports feature photography

29 entries

Judges: Hartford Courant Photography Editors Bruce Moyer and Stephanie Heisler and Hartford Courant Staff Photographer Mark Mirko. The Courant won the 2001 and 2002 Society of News Design’s Angus McDougall Overall Excellence in Photo Editing Award.

 

First place

David Sanders

Arizona Daily Star

“Which way?”

“It was an obvious first place. A good moment with humor.

 

Second place

Sherrie Buzby

The Arizona Republic

“Bulging biceps”

“Again, just another funny moment.”

 

Third place

Darryl Webb

East Valley Tribune

“AHHHHHH!!”

“Nice strong emotion.”

 

 

 

E9. Pictorial photography

28 entries

Judges: Hartford Courant Photography Editors Bruce Moyer and Stephanie Heisler and Hartford Courant Staff Photographer Mark Mirko. The Courant won the 2001 and 2002 Society of News Design’s Angus McDougall Overall Excellence in Photo Editing Award.

 

First place

Rob Schumacher

The Arizona Republic

“Neon splash”

“It fits the definition of the category perfectly.”

 

Second place

David Sanders

Arizona Daily Star

“Backyard inferno”

“The photographer was looking for different angles.”

Third place

David Sanders

Arizona Daily Star

“Sunrise”
“It was just zen-like. Very simple, very moody, very effective.”