2024 ONPA Pictures of the Year

First Place, Photographer of the Year - Large Market - Adam Cairns / The Columbus Dispatch

On the 76th anniversary of the Nakba, the displacement of Palestinian refugees from their homes in Israel, pro-Palestinian protesters march through Downtown, shutting down traffic along High Street in Columbus on May 15, 2024.

First Place, Photographer of the Year - Large Market - Adam Cairns / The Columbus Dispatch

Jul 27, 2024; Columbus, Ohio, USA; A man walks home with a box of fresh produce from the Mid-Ohio Food Collective's South Side pop-up food pantry out of the former Refugee Road Kroger. The pop-up operates with help from the Mauritanian Network for Human Rights in The US. Eventually the Mid-Ohio Food Collective will renovate the building for use as a social services hub.

First Place, Photographer of the Year - Large Market - Adam Cairns / The Columbus Dispatch

Aug 7, 2024; Hartford, Ohio, USA; Sitting behind the wheel of his 1971 Wheel Horse CG-8, John Clark 10, of Pataskala shows off features of the tractor to his friends, Broxton Preston, 8, left, and Brody Bobbs, 9, during the Hartford Independent Fair. The 166th-annual fair runs through Aug. 10.

First Place, Photographer of the Year - Large Market - Adam Cairns / The Columbus Dispatch

May 8, 2024; Columbus, OH, USA; A “smoke signals” old fashioned by bartender Noah Rathnow at Buckeye Bourbon House is created with a private Maker’s Mark Private Select barrel pick bourbon and infused with hickory smoke.

First Place, Photographer of the Year - Large Market - Adam Cairns / The Columbus Dispatch

The Masters Tournament is a PGA golf major held every year in April in Augusta, Georgia. The pristine conditions and exclusive access make the course at Augusta National Golf Club one of the most iconic in the world.

Apr 8, 2024; Augusta, Georgia, USA; John Gillenwater, of Richmond, Va., looks up at the solar eclipse during a practice round for the Masters Tournament golf tournament at Augusta National Golf Club.

First Place, Photographer of the Year - Large Market - Adam Cairns / The Columbus Dispatch

Jul 3, 2024; Columbus, OH, USA; Columbus Crew forward Diego Rossi (10) takes a corner kick during the first half of the MLS soccer game at Lower.com Field.

First Place, Photographer of the Year - Large Market - Adam Cairns / The Columbus Dispatch

Jan 21, 2024; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes forward Cotie McMahon (32) watches the ball go through the basket after she was fouled by Iowa Hawkeyes forward Hannah Stuelke (45) during the NCAA women’s basketball game at Value City Arena. Ohio State won 100-92.

First Place, Photographer of the Year - Large Market - Adam Cairns / The Columbus Dispatch

Apr 18, 2024; Columbus, Ohio, USA; A student plays basketball on the courts outside Ohio State’s Recreation and Physical Activity Center.

First Place, Photographer of the Year - Large Market - Adam Cairns / The Columbus Dispatch

Apr 27, 2024; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Columbus Crew defender Yevhen Cheberko (21) has a head-on-head collision with CF Montreal forward Jules-Anthony Vilsaint (28) during the second half of the MLS match at Lower.com Field. The teams played to a 0-0 draw.

First Place, Photographer of the Year - Large Market - Adam Cairns / The Columbus Dispatch

Jul 23, 2024; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Cucho Hernandez of Columbus Crew competes in the MLS All-Star Skills Challenge at Lower.com Field.

First Place, Photographer of the Year - Large Market - Adam Cairns / The Columbus Dispatch

Ohio State Buckeyes linebacker Cody Simon (0), defensive tackle Ty Hamilton (58) and tight end Patrick Gurd (49) prepare to take the field for warm ups prior to the NCAA football game against the Nebraska Cornhuskers at Ohio Stadium in Columbus on Saturday, Oct. 26, 2024.

First Place, Photographer of the Year - Large Market - Adam Cairns / The Columbus Dispatch

Michigan Wolverines defensive lineman Kenneth Grant (78) and Ohio State Buckeyes linebacker Gabe Powers (36) fight as teams break out into a brawl following the NCAA football game at Ohio Stadium in Columbus on Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024. Michigan won 13-10.

First Place, Photographer of the Year - Large Market - Adam Cairns / The Columbus Dispatch

On Aug. 29, Columbus Blue Jackets forward Johnny Gaudreau and his brother, Matthew, were killed by a drunk driver while riding their bicycles home from their sister's wedding rehearsal dinner near their hometown of Oldmans Township, New Jersey, just outside of Philadelphia. An outpouring of grief and support from the Blue Jackets community resulted in memorials and vigils at Nationwide Arena as well as the site of the crash. Teammates and numerous friends from around the NHL attended the funeral in Media, Pennsylvania.

Aug 30, 2024; Columbus, OH, USA; Hylas Steman of Grove City gets a consoling hug from Shiloh Rivera, 7, alongside Amanda Rivera, also of Grove City as mourners gather outside Nationwide Arena at a makeshift memorial for Columbus Blue Jackets forward Johnny Gaudreau.

First Place, Photographer of the Year - Large Market - Adam Cairns / The Columbus Dispatch

Sep 4, 2024; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Mourners gather for a candlelight vigil to remember Columbus Blue Jackets forward Johnny Gaudreau at Nationwide Arena. Gaudreau, along with his brother, Matthew, died after being hit by a drunk driver while riding bicycles on Aug. 29.

First Place, Photographer of the Year - Large Market - Adam Cairns / The Columbus Dispatch

Sep 4, 2024; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Columbus Blue Jackets players attend a candlelight vigil to remember their teammate Johnny Gaudreau at Nationwide Arena. Gaudreau, along with his brother, Matthew, both died after being hit by a drunk driver while riding bicycles on Aug. 29.

First Place, Photographer of the Year - Large Market - Adam Cairns / The Columbus Dispatch

Sep 8, 2024; Oldmans Township, New Jersey, USA; A cyclist rides on Pennsville Auburn Road past a roadside memorial near the site where Columbus Blue Jackets hockey player Johnny Gaudreau and his brother, Matthew Gaudreau, were killed. The brothers died after being hit by a drunk driver while riding bicycles on Aug. 29.

First Place, Photographer of the Year - Large Market - Adam Cairns / The Columbus Dispatch

Sep 9, 2024; Media, Pennsylvania, USA; The Gaudreau family arrives at St. Mary Magdalen Parish for the funeral service for Columbus Blue Jackets hockey player Johnny Gaudreau and his brother, Matthew Gaudreau. The brothers died after being hit by a drunk driver while riding bicycles on Aug. 29.

First Place, Photographer of the Year - Large Market - Adam Cairns / The Columbus Dispatch

Sep 9, 2024; Media, Pennsylvania, USA; Pall bearers carry out the caskets of Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau from St. Mary Magdalen Parish following the funeral service for the brothers who died after being hit by a drunk driver while riding bicycles on Aug. 29.

First Place, Photographer of the Year - Large Market - Adam Cairns / The Columbus Dispatch

Sep 24, 2024; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Followed by a 13-second moment of silence, signifying his jersey number, a video tribute to Matthew and Johnny Gaudreau is played on the video board prior to the first NHL preseason hockey game between the Columbus Blue Jackets and the St. Louis Blues at Nationwide Arena. The brothers died after being hit by a drunk driver while riding bicycles on Aug. 29.

First Place, Photographer of the Year - Large Market - Adam Cairns / The Columbus Dispatch

Nicole Robinson, the narrative medicine coordinator in the Expressive Therapy Center at Akron Children’s Hospital walks through her colorful office. Narrative medicine is a discipline of healthcare that helps patients, families and professionals unearth and process their feelings. Robinson is one of only three full-time narrative medicine specialists in the country – and the only one at a children's hospital. Her busy daily routine keeps her on the move through the hospital meeting with colleagues and patients in addition to her home visits with outpatients.

First Place, Photographer of the Year - Large Market - Adam Cairns / The Columbus Dispatch

Nicole Robinson keeps a color-coordinated chart of patient visits in her office as the narrative medicine coordinator in the Expressive Therapy Center at Akron Children’s Hospital.

First Place, Photographer of the Year - Large Market - Adam Cairns / The Columbus Dispatch

Nicole Robinson, the narrative medicine coordinator in the Expressive Therapy Center at Akron Children’s Hospital, works with 6-year-old Liam Whitworth to help write an ongoing story. Whitworth has a rare cancer called Rhabdomyosarcoma.

First Place, Photographer of the Year - Large Market - Adam Cairns / The Columbus Dispatch

Nicole Robinson, the narrative medicine coordinator in the Expressive Therapy Center at Akron Children’s Hospital, works with 6-year-old Liam Whitworth to help write an ongoing story. Whitworth has a rare cancer called Rhabdomyosarcoma. Whitworth's story features hospital soldiers fighting the antagonist named King Rhabdo.

First Place, Photographer of the Year - Large Market - Adam Cairns / The Columbus Dispatch

In between patient visits, Nicole Robinson decompresses with some sunlight on the roof of the Akron Children’s Hospital parking garage.

First Place, Photographer of the Year - Large Market - Adam Cairns / The Columbus Dispatch

Nicole Robinson, the narrative medicine coordinator in the Expressive Therapy Center at Akron Children’s Hospital, visits 19-year-old Madelyne Williams at her home in Kent. Williams, has cerebral palsy and chronic lung issues, writes stories about her numerous paintings with the help fo Robinson.

First Place, Photographer of the Year - Large Market - Adam Cairns / The Columbus Dispatch

The National Weather Service confirmed that an EF3 tornado hit the Indian Lake region about 70 miles northwest of Columbus in the early hours of March 15. The tornado killed two people and destroyed numerous homes and businesses in the heart of the town.

Mar 15, 2024; Lakeview, Ohio, USA; Greg McDougle cleans up after a tornado struck the Lakeview, Ohio community. He survived the tornado while sheltering in the bathtub of the home along with his dog and housemate Blaine Schmitt.

First Place, Photographer of the Year - Large Market - Adam Cairns / The Columbus Dispatch

Mar 15, 2024; Lakeview, Ohio, USA; Neighbors Mary Baker, left, and Missy Watt hug as they survey the damage from a tornado that struck the Lakeview, Ohio community.

First Place, Photographer of the Year - Large Market - Adam Cairns / The Columbus Dispatch

Mar 15, 2024; Lakeview, Ohio, USA; Drone footage shows the damage after a tornado struck the Lakeview, Ohio community.

First Place, Photographer of the Year - Large Market - Adam Cairns / The Columbus Dispatch

Mar 15, 2024; Lakeview, Ohio, USA; A stuffed toy hangs several hundred feet from the nearest home after an overnight tornado caused significant damage to the Lakeview, Ohio community.

First Place, Photographer of the Year - Large Market - Adam Cairns / The Columbus Dispatch

Mar 15, 2024; Lakeview, Ohio, USA; First responders search for victims or survivors using a cadaver dog after a tornado strucks the Lakeview, Ohio community.

First Place, Photographer of the Year - Large Market - Adam Cairns / The Columbus Dispatch

Mar 15, 2024; Lakeview, Ohio, USA; An overnight tornado caused significant damage to the Lakeview, Ohio community.

First Place, Photographer of the Year - Large Market - Adam Cairns / The Columbus Dispatch

Mar 15, 2024; Lakeview, Ohio, USA; Blaine Schmitt gets a hug from his brother in law, Michael Golden as residents clean up from the tornado that struck the Lakeview, Ohio community. Schmitt survived the tornado by sheltering in the home’s bathtub along with Greg McDougle, left.

First Place, Photographer of the Year - Large Market - Adam Cairns / The Columbus Dispatch

Mar 15, 2024; Lewistown, Ohio, USA; Volunteers sort through the outpouring of donations inside the Indian Lake High School gym after a tornado struck the area the night before.