David Bradford and Ali Ghanbari of WJW-TV in Cleveland were among the winners in NPPA’s 2012 Best of Photojournalism contest.
Bradford won first place in the Photo Essay category of video editing for his entry “Lets Roll”, a story about the annual pumpkin roll on Grove Hill in Chagrin Falls.
Judges commenting on Bradford’s entry said, “the story was the clear favorite for number one. It had everything it needed from start to finish being a super solid nat sound story.” Bradford’s story placed first in General News in the ONPA year-end contest.
Ghanbari was a first place winner in the General News category for his story, “Walking With Unknown”. The story about those who stand guard at the Tomb of the Unknowns in Arlington National Cemetery was the Best of Show winner in the ONPA year-end contest.
Judges said of Ghanbari’s entry, “Watching “Walk with Unknowns” was like getting an education in visual storytelling. The story, pace, reverence, and feel – that is so hard to teach – was perfect. The art of editing is in the pace and this photographer nailed it. The ending put the icing on the cake and obviously took some forethought.”
Ghanbari also won an honorable mention in the 48 Hour Feature category for his story Faces Of Freedom, about northeast Ohio Veterans who served our country during WWII, Korean war, Vietnam,Iraq and Afghanistan.
Judges picked Nathan Thompson of WTVF-TV in Nashville, as this year’s Ernie Crisp Television News Photographer of the Year. Anne Herbst of KUSA-TV in Denver was the runner-up for the Ernie Crisp title. They also picked Amanda Dennis, from News 12 Connecticut, as the Video Editor of the Year.
Station of the Year honors went to WBFF-TV in Baltimore (Large Market), WAVY-TV in Portmouth, VA (Medium Market) KCCI-TV in Des Moines, IA, (Small Market). This is the fourth time in five years KCCI-TV has won the title, winning Small Market honors in 2011, 2007, and 2009.
Complete contest results can be found here.