1st Quarter |
| (No comments available) |
2nd Quarter |
| Judged at the Saint Louis Post-Dispatch |
| Judges: J.B. Forbes, Dawn Majors, and Gabriel B. Tait |
News |
| 1st place - Jay Westcott, Corcoran College of Art and Design Secretary of Homeland Security Tom Ridge peeks around a curtain as he enters a press briefing detailing the FY2005 Department of Homeland Security budget, February 2, 2004. This image offered a rare look at the potential apprehension of the Secretary's speech or question. |
| 2nd place - Evan Semon, Metropolitan State College at Denver Glendale Firefighters work to bring a blaze at the Spanish Gate Apartment complex under control, December 29, 2003. Image shows good use of light and composition while documenting a news event. |
| 3rd place - Haraz Ghanbari, Kent State University North Side homicide, relatives of Michael T. Dawson embrace after learning that he was fatally shot in his Linden-area home. Good coverage of spot news event. |
Sports |
| 1st place - Adam Amato, University of Oregon The elite men's race faced extremely muddy conditions, including multiple puddles as deep as six inches in the 2003 U.S. Cyclocross Championships held at Portland International Raceway on December 14. Great use of light and shutter speed to inform the reader of conditions in this championship. |
| 2nd place - Adam Amato, University of Oregon The elite women's race featured stiff competition in very muddy conditions in the 2003 U.S. Cyclecross Championships at Portland International Raceway Sunday, December 14. Good intensity and mud adds to the determination. |
| 3rd place - Evan Semon, Metropolitan State College of Denver Nuggets guard Jon Barry. Good floor action image. |
Feature Single |
| 1st place - Kevin Nibur, Washington State University "Snow Day" - Daniel Motley catches air while sledding at the WSU golf course. Very good lens choice and light. The image makes the reader want to try the experience. |
| 2nd place - Evan Semon, Metropolitan State College of Denver Two-week party enters full gallop. A contestant in the quarter horse reining competition rides in patterns around the arena floor Sunday during the second day of the National Western stock Show. Great light, gives the reader a feeling of entering the stage. |
| 3rd place - William Moore, Metropolitan State College of Denver A horse trainer looks out from behind a stable at a horse training facility outside of Aurora Feb 23. Captivating and mysterious image. |
Picture Story |
| 1st place - Michael Schennum, San Francisco State University "Living among the Dead" - Very good story, makes the reader want to know more about the subjects. Would like to see different times of day, this would offer a different mood. What does the family do at night? |
| 2nd place - Evan Semon, Metropolitan State College at Denver Jim Eisenacher and wife story. Good story. Given the competition, would work better with a tighter edit. |
| 3rd place - Haraz Ghanbari, Kent State University Lifelong Devotion. Very strong lead image, would like to see more on their relationship. |
3rd Quarter |
| Judged at The Olympian, Olympia, Washington |
| Judges: Tony Overman, staff photographer; Ron Soliman, photo editor; Steve Bloom, staff photographer; Toni Bailey, staff photographer; Chester Allen, outdoors reporter/photographer; Mark Brunton, graphics editor. |
News |
| 1st place - Kevin Nibur Washington State University "Comfort After a Scare" "Selective focus draws your eye right to the mother and son amid the tangle of wreckage. Nice framing and awareness by the photographer to make an emotional photo." |
| 2nd place - Adam Amato University of Oregon "Dancing with Mom" "The best moment in the bunch. The mom sticking out her tongue as her son laughs made us connect with the lighthearted nature of the event." |
| 3rd place - Jennifer Meyers Rochester Institute of Technology "Controlled Burn" "The prettiest news photo, and would have been first place if it wasn't a controlled burn. Good perspective on the size of the fire using the trees and firefighter. And the sparks streaking skyward gave the photo a feeling of beauty." |
Sports |
| 1st place - Jon Woods Western Kentucky University "Soccer Header" "Simply the cleanest, best peak action photo in the bunch. Low depth of field keeps the background clean and the beautiful shadowless light makes the key players pop." |
| 2nd place - Max Bittle Southern Illinois University Carbondale "Tornado Tag Out" "Nice low angle helps obscure the sliding runner in the tornado (pun intended) of dust. The legs sticking out of the ball of dust like a modern-day "Pig Pen" gave us reason to chuckle." |
| 3rd place - Adam Amato University of Oregon "Celebration Leap" "Nice moment of exultation. Great expressions and body language all around." |
Feature Single |
| 1st place - Jay Westcott Corcoran College of Art and Design "British Sailors" "Ok, we all agree that many news editors would hate this photo because of it's severly tilted angle. Our executive editor would probably ban this photo from even running in our newspaper. But, the lines and shapes fit together so nicely. Also has good use of color, but this photo would be equally as nice in black and white." |
| 2nd place - Haraz Ghanbari Kent State University "Goose Herd" "Clean, simple, pretty. Nice repetition of shapes with the baby geese and their reflections." |
| 3rd place - Adam Amato University of Oregon "(Moto)-Cross Eyed" "Interesting sunglass reflection that takes awhile to read. But once you do read it, you can't help but like it. The hill crest makes for nice composition within the sunglasses." |
Picture Story |
| 1st place - Adam Amato University of Oregon "A Nanny's Life" "Well-composed photos, well-edited package, well-conceived story. Each photo added to the story." |
| 2nd place - Adam Amato University of Oregon "(Moto)-Cross Eyed: Trackside Views" "Neat idea to look at a motocross race without actually shooting the racing. The photographer used creative lens and angle selections that are rarely seen from such action-oriented events." |
| 3rd place - Jay Westcott Corcoran College of Art and Design "9-11 Commission Hearings" "Creative angles from a stagnant event made this a winner. However, there were too many weak photos. We would have whittled this entry down the best five photos, and it would have had a shot at second place." |
4th Quarter |
News |
| Weeks of debate went into this category: judges received input from other various editors and newspaper employees. Eight to ten photos received votes and consideration in this category. |
| 1st place - Sarah Nix, University of Georgia/Ohio Univ, "Kenosha Sheriff's Dept./ Husband's Death" Very emotional moment, excellent spot news photo. |
Sports |
| 1st place - William Moore, Metropolitan State College of Denver, "Boxing Champ" "Boxing Champ" got two of 3 first place votes. Great lighting and composition. |
| 2nd place - Matt Slaby, University of Denver, "Bull Rider's Flight" This vaquero is on the brink of being sore. Notice the spit coming for the mouth of the bull. |
| 3rd place - Max Bittle, Southern Illinois University, "New Lions Hungry/Football" Nice feature photo. |
Feature Single |
| Several deserving and again, much debate. In the end, hard to just nail it down to 3 after receiving input from several outsiders. |
| 1st place - Max Bittle, Southern Illionois University, "Fireman in Smoke" Nice composition. |
Picture Story |
| 1st place - Haraz Ghanbari,Kent State University,"Tough Man" "Tough Man" was the clear champ for two of the three judges. |
| 2nd place - Valerie Roche, Corcoran College of Art and Design, "DNC/Kerry/Edwards" Received a first place vote and praise for "cool composition" |
| 3rd place - Molly Corfman, Kent State University, "Vampire Girl" Photog spent necessary time to allow telling story. |
