Kent, Ohio – Carrie Cochran from the Cincinnati Enquirer and Jessica Phelps from the Newark Advocate have been chosen Ohio News Photographers of the Year for 2015 by the Ohio News Photographers Association. Cochran won in the large market category and Phelps won the small market category and also won the previous year. Finishing second in large market division was Adam Cairns from The Columbus Dispatch.
The James R. Gordon Ohio Understanding Award was awarded to Lynn Ischay for her entry "Distinguished Gentlemen of Spoken Word.”
Isaac Hale from Ohio University won the Student Photographer of the Year award.
Jessica Phelps from the Newark Advocate was awarded Best of Show in the contest for her entry, “Adam Runyons.”
75 visual journalists from across the state submitted 852 entries in the 65th annual news photography contest judged over the last two days at Kent State University.
Judging the competition were: Tim Broekema, professor Western Kentucky University; Melissa Lyttle, independent visual journalist; Jake May, The Flint Journal. Judging multimedia and online entries remotely were: Lauren Frohne, Video Journalist for The Seattle Times; Erin Brethauer, filmmaker and video editor at the San Francisco Chronicle and Kat Duncan, video editor at the San Francisco Chronicle.
Kyle Robertson from The Columbus Dispatch was named Clip Photographer of the Year from points accumulated in the Association’s Monthly Clip Contest. Eamon Queeney from The Dispatch placed second and Andy Morrison from The (Toledo) Blade won third place. Winning images and videos can be viewed on the organization's website at www.onpa.org.
2015 ONPA Annual Contest Winners
for still images click on the category to view the winning images
-for video entries click on the title of the winning entry to view the video
George A. Smallsreed, Jr. Photographer of the Year (Small Market)
1st - Jessica Phelps, Newark Advocate
George A. Smallsreed, Jr. Photographer of the Year (Large Market)
1st - Carrie Cochran, Cincinnati Enquirer
2nd - Adam Cairns, The Columbus Dispatch
Student Photographer of the Year
1st - Isaac Hale, Ohio University
2nd - Eli C. Hiller, Ohio University
Larry Fullerton Photojournalism Scholarship
1st - Sarah Stier, Ohio University
2nd - Alex Driehaus, Ohio University
James R. Gordon Ohio Understanding Award
1st - Lynn Ischay, The Plain Dealer, "Distinguished Gentlemen of Spoken Word"
Award of Excellence - Coty Giannelli, Freelance, "Mental Illness"
Best of Show
Jessica Phelps, Newarl Advocate, "Adam Runyons"
Picture Usage (Large Market)
1st - Akron Beacon Journal
Clip Contest Photographer of Year
1st - Kyle Robertson, The Columbus Dispatch
2nd - Eamon Queeney, The Columbus Dispatch
3rd - Andy Morrison, The (Toledo) Blade
Photography Staff of Year (Small Market)
1st - Newark Advocate
Photography Staff of Year (Large Market)
1st - Cincinnati Enquirer
2nd - The Columbus Dispatch
3rd - The (Toledo) Blade
Feature
1st - Eric Albrecht, The Columbus Dispatch, "Non Stop"
2nd - Karen Schiely, Akron Beacon Journal, "Calendar"
3rd - Isaac Hale, Ohio University, "Movie Night"
Award of Excellence - Meg Vogel, Cincinnati Enquirer, "Penny Tration"
Award of Excellence - Katie Rausch, The (Toledo) Blade, "Bubbles"
Award of Excellence - Meg Vogel, Cincinnati Enquirer, "Bedtime"
Feature Picture Story
1st - Jessica Phelps, Newark Advocate, "Facing Cancer Head On
2nd - Carrie Cochran, Cincinnati Enquirer, "Joe Neyer"
General News
1st - Jessica Phelps, Newark Advocate, "Adam Runyons"
2nd - Jeremy Wadsworth, The (Toledo) Blade, "Protest"
3rd - Scott Heckel, The (Canton) Repository, "Mother's Loss"
Award of Excellence - Jonathan Quilter, The Columbus Dispatch, "Vigil"
Award of Excellence - Carrie Cochran, Cincinnati Enquirer, "Dubose"
Award of Excellence - Andy Morrison, The (Toledo) Blade, "Fire Memorial"
Issue Illustration
1st - Andrea Levy, The Plain Dealer, "Blank Canvas"
2nd - Andrea Levy, The Plain Dealer, "Fans of Thanksgiving"
3rd - Andrea Levy, The Plain Dealer, "Put Your Feet Up"
News Picture Story
1st -
Carrie Cochran, Cinciannti Enquirer, "The Death of Samuel Dubose"
Pictorial
1st - Andy Morrison, The (Toledo) Blade, "Foggy Fishermen"
2nd - Brooke LaValley, The Columbus Dispatch, "Life is Beautiful"
3rd - Jonathan Quilter, The Columbus Dispatch, "Skyway"
Award of Excellence - Ed Suba Jr., Akron Beacon Journal, "Mirrored"
Award of Excellence - Brooke LaValley, The Columbus Dispatch, "Solo"
Portrait Personality
1st - Logan Riely, Ohio University, "Mermaids"
2nd - Joshua A. Bickel, ThisWeek Community News, "Edna"
3rd - Isaac Hale, Ohio University, "White Pride"
Product Illustration
1st - Chris Russell, The Columbus Dispatch , "Harvest"
2nd - Courtney Hergesheimer, The Columbus Dispatch, "Dad's Sandwich"
Ron Kuntz Sports Photographer of the Year
1st - Barbara Perenic, The Columbus Dispatch
2nd - Logan Riely, Ohio University
Sports Action
1st - Ed Suba Jr., Akron Beacon Journal, "Eye on the Ball"
2nd - Jeremy Wadsworth, The (Toledo) Blade, "Finish Line"
3rd - Sam Greene, Cincinnati Enquirer, "Saved"
Award of Excellence - Barbara J. Perenic, The Columbus Dispatch, "Facemask"
Award of Excellence - Kyle Robertson, The Columbus Dispatch, "Hit"
Sports Feature
1st - Meg Vogel, Cincinnati Enquirer, "Mud-Stash Splash"
2nd - Bob DeMay, Akron Beacon Journal, "Cheerleader"
3rd - Leah Klafczynski, Kent State University, "Pee Wee Boxing"
Award of Excellence - Leah Klafczynski, Kent State University, "Hockey Reflection"
Award of Excellence - Eamon Queeney, The Columbus Dispatch, "Pile"
Award of Excellence - Kareem Elgazzar, Cincinnati Enquirer , "Dunk Reaction"
Sports Picture Story
1st - Logan Riely, Ohio University," Secret of the Southeast"
2nd - Barbara Perenic, The Columbus Dispatch, "NHL All Star Game"
Spot News - Large Market
1st - Marshall Gorby, Dayton Daily News, "My Baby"
2nd - Sam Greene, Cincinnati Enquirer, "Peace March"
3rd - Lisa DeJong, The Plain Dealer, "Grief"
Spot News - Small Market
1st - Patricia Schaeffer, The (Lisbon) Morning Journal, "Close Call"
2nd - Patricia Schaeffer, The (Lisbon) Morning Journal, "Home Destroyed"
Team Picture Story
1st - The (Toledo) Blade, "Toledo Mayor Dies"
Best Feature Video
1st - Carrie Cochran, Cincinnati Enquirer, "Joe Neyer: My Way to Die"
2nd - Meg Vogel, Cincinnati Enquirer, "Raising Zay"
3rd - Courtney Hergesheimer, The Columbus Dispatch, "Silent Suffering"
HM - Carrie Cochran, Cincinnati Enquirer, "Eli Comes to America"
Isaac Hale, Ohio University, "Keeping Sight"
News Video
1st - Carrie Cochran, Cincinnati Enquirer, "Pride Parade"
2nd - Carrie Cochran, Cincinnati Enquirer, "Lauren Hill"
3rd - Meg Vogel, Cincinnati Enquirer, "Military Mom"
Sports Video
1st - Logan Riely, Ohio University, "Secret of the Southeast"
2nd - Carrie Cochran, Cincinnati Enquirer, "A Land of Dream Come True"
3rd - Kareem Elgazzar, Cincinnati Enquirer, "West End Reds"
Best Team Video
1st - Meg Vogel & Amanda Rossmann, Cincinnati Enquirer, "Transgender Series"
Transgender: Raising Zay
Transgender: Big Man on Campus : http://bcove.me/6mfomlec
Transgender Religion
2nd - Carrie Cochran, Liz Dufour and Glenn Hartong, Cincinnati Enquirer, "Samuel Dubose"
3rd - Carrie Cochran and Meg Vogel, Cincinnati Enquirer, "Death of Walter Smith"
HM - Carrie Cochran, Liz Dufour, Meg Vogel and Chrissie Thompson, Cincinnati Enquirer, "Abortion Series"
Elizabeth
Brianne
Brittany
Aleisa
Meg
Kelly
2015 Contest Judges
Still Catagories judged by Tim Broekema, professor Western Kentucky University; Melissa Lyttle, independent visual journalist; Jake May, The Flint Journal
News Video and Team Video judged by Lauren Frohne, Video Journalist for The Seattle Times
Feature Video judged by Erin Brethauer, filmmaker and video editor at the San Francisco Chronicle and Kat Duncan, video editor at the San Francisco Chronicle
Sports Video judged by Erin Brethauer, filmmaker and video editor at the San Francisco Chronicle