ST. PETERSBURG, FL (March 23, 2005) – When the day started this morning at The Poynter Institute for Media Studies, the Best Of Photojournalism 2005 Still Photography judges had already looked at 18,427 images in 22 categories since Sunday. With only three days to go, the good news was that there were only 20,000 images left to view.
There were 3,308 entries in the Feature Picture Story category waiting for judges early this morning. They narrowed those down to eight finalists. "All of the stories that made it to the final round were strong, very powerful," judge Bonnie Jo Mount said. Gary Hershorn agreed. "There's some very good storytelling. Not only that, there are some inventive and creative ideas. The large number of picture stories that made it to the second round was more than I've seen in any contest that I've judged," he said.
And then came the Sports Picture Story category and praise for the first place winner. "The Lance Armstrong story is tight, well shot, and it's a recognizable subject that you don't get to see like this, and it's a nice style of photography. It's the best entry in this category." The consistency of the style of photography in the winning story impressed Hershorn. "It's a different style of photography, and the photographer has shown us a part of Lance Armstrong's life that many of us have not seen before," he said.
"The Domestic News Picture Story winner was a runaway first place," Hershorn said, "because from all of the entries, it told us the best story." The essay was about illegal aliens. Mount said, "There were no gratuitous photographs in this entry. A very clean and complete package." Judge Ruth Fremson said, "The photographs contained a lot of elements, and the photographer did a good job of getting access, of getting photographs we haven't seen before."
When it came to the International News Picture Stories, veteran editor and contest judge Hal Buell said, "This is easily the best category we've judged so far. Easily!"
Winners in more of the categories judged yesterday were announced today and posted online on the NPPA Web site. First, Second, and Third Places images in the categories judged so far, along with any Honorable Mentions, can be seen online on the NPPA Best Of Photojournalism Still Photography contest Web page.
In the Magazine Portrait and Personality category, first place went to Kristina Loggia for an image published in Time magazine of Ada Florence Ashford, 95, photographed in her kitchen wearing the apron she puts on first thing each morning. Second place went to freelancer Francesco Zizola, and third place to freelancer Chris Anderson. Honorable Mentions were awarded to freelancer Gerard Rancinan for a photograph published in Sports Illustrated; Paula Bronstein of Getty Images; and freelancer Michael O'Neill for an image published in Sports Illustrated.
Stay tuned through the week as daily stories are posted on the NPPA Web site with results from the Photography and Web Site judging.
Read Tuesday's story as the categories of Olympics 2004, Feature, Magazine News, General News, Campaign Picture Story, Magazine Nature and Environment Picture Story, and Magazine Portrait and Personality were judged.
Read Monday's story as the first round of winners were announced in Pictorial, Portrait and Personality, The Arts, Nature and Environment, Computer Image Illustration, and Conceptual Illustration.
Read Sunday's story from the first full day of judging, and learn more about the panel of judges.
