3rd Place, Photographer of the Year - Large Market - Adam Cairns / The Columbus DispatchSophia Grote, 13, looks at the rainbow colored lights on Columbus City Hall following an illumination ceremony on June 2, 2025. Grote's father, Tom Grote, was a reciepient of the Shellabarger Illuminator Award.
3rd Place, Photographer of the Year - Large Market - Adam Cairns / The Columbus DispatchProtesters march against the Trump administration immigration policy and ICE deportations through streets of downtown Columbus after gathering at City Hall on June 10, 2025.
3rd Place, Photographer of the Year - Large Market - Adam Cairns / The Columbus DispatchKai Postell plays with her 2-year-old standard poodle, Muffin, during a warm spring day at Goodale Park in Columbus on April 14, 2025. Postell, who just moved to Columbus from Arizona a couple weeks ago, dyed the pup's paws herself with a temporary natural coloring.
3rd Place, Photographer of the Year - Large Market - Adam Cairns / The Columbus DispatchThe first snow of the season covers a 1950s Ford as it drives over colorful leaves in Walhalla Ravine in Columbus on Nov. 10, 2025.
3rd Place, Photographer of the Year - Large Market - Adam Cairns / The Columbus DispatchBees fly through blossoming plum trees as clouds form a rainbow sun halo as seen from the west side of the Scioto Mile in downtown Columbus on March 27, 2025. The solar halo, or sun dog, is an atmospheric phenomenon caused by sunlight refracting through ice crystals in the clouds.
3rd Place, Photographer of the Year - Large Market - Adam Cairns / The Columbus DispatchJeff Allen stands outside the Pixele paper mill in Chillicothe, Ohio on Dec. 2, 2025. The third generation mill worker, as his dad and grandpa both worked there as well, has found a new electrician job after the mill closed earlier this year.
3rd Place, Photographer of the Year - Large Market - Adam Cairns / The Columbus DispatchGraduates toss their caps at the conclusion of the Kenyon College spring commencement ceremony on Saturday, May 17, 2025.
3rd Place, Photographer of the Year - Large Market - Adam Cairns / The Columbus DispatchColumbus Blue Jackets center Charlie Coyle (3) slides across the crease to stop a shot in front of goaltender Jet Greaves (73) and Anaheim Ducks center Ryan Poehling (25) during the third period of the NHL hockey game at Nationwide Arena in Columbus on Dec. 16, 2025. Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Dante Fabbro (15) and defenseman Brendan Smith (7) also assisted in defense. The Blue Jackets won 4-3 in overtime.
3rd Place, Photographer of the Year - Large Market - Adam Cairns / The Columbus DispatchHilliard Bradley players warm up prior to an outdoor volleyball match at Hilliard Darby High School on Aug. 25, 2025. The match was the first-ever OHSAA outdoor match.
3rd Place, Photographer of the Year - Large Market - Adam Cairns / The Columbus DispatchColumbus Crew fans march to the match from the Arena District prior to the second game of the first round of MLS Cup Playoffs against FC Cincinnati at Lower.com Field in Columbus on Nov. 2, 2025.
3rd Place, Photographer of the Year - Large Market - Adam Cairns / The Columbus DispatchThe Ohio State Buckeyes take the field for warm-ups prior to the NCAA football game against the UCLA Bruins at Ohio Stadium in Columbus on Nov. 15, 2025.
3rd Place, Photographer of the Year - Large Market - Adam Cairns / The Columbus DispatchColumbus Blue Jackets defenseman Zach Werenski (8) controls the puck during the second period of the NHL Stadium Series game against the Detroit Red Wings at Ohio Stadium on March 1, 2025.
3rd Place, Photographer of the Year - Large Market - Adam Cairns / The Columbus DispatchThe Ohio State Buckeyes huddle prior to the NCAA men's basketball game against the Washington Huskies at Value City Arena in Columbus on Feb. 12, 2025. Ohio State won 93-69.
3rd Place, Photographer of the Year - Large Market - Adam Cairns / The Columbus DispatchRickie Fowler hops the creek to the 14th green during the first round of the Memorial Tournament at Muirfield Village Golf Club in Dublin on May 29, 2025.
3rd Place, Photographer of the Year - Large Market - Adam Cairns / The Columbus DispatchLong Beach State celebrate their three-set win over the UCLA Bruins in the NCAA men's volleyball national championship at Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio on May 12, 2025.
3rd Place, Photographer of the Year - Large Market - Adam Cairns / The Columbus DispatchOhio State Buckeyes celebrate their 34-23 win over Notre Dame Fighting Irish to win the College Football Playoff National Championship at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta on January 20, 2025.
3rd Place, Photographer of the Year - Large Market - Adam Cairns / The Columbus DispatchAhead of the 2025 season, 379 individuals tried out for the 148th iteration of the Ohio State Marching Band. Only 228 students, including alternates, would make the cut. A grueling summer workout process prepares potential band members for the rigors of being in "The Best Damn Band in the Land."Graduate student Mitchell Ewaska, right, works with sousaphone players Christian Heil, Adam Johnson, Tarah Nnadi and Ruth Bittence during summer practice for the Ohio State Marching Band at Lincoln Tower Field behind Ohio Stadium on July 15, 2025.
3rd Place, Photographer of the Year - Large Market - Adam Cairns / The Columbus DispatchPercussionists take a break during summer practice for the Ohio State Marching Band at Lincoln Tower Field behind Ohio Stadium on July 15, 2025.
3rd Place, Photographer of the Year - Large Market - Adam Cairns / The Columbus DispatchSousaphonist Brandon McKay marches with an Ohio State tattoo during summer practice for the Ohio State Marching Band at Lincoln Tower Field behind Ohio Stadium on July 15, 2025.
3rd Place, Photographer of the Year - Large Market - Adam Cairns / The Columbus DispatchAttendees wipe away the sweat during a hot summer practice for the Ohio State Marching Band at Lincoln Tower Field behind Ohio Stadium on July 15, 2025.
3rd Place, Photographer of the Year - Large Market - Adam Cairns / The Columbus DispatchSummer camp attendees practice for the Ohio State Marching Band at Lincoln Tower Field behind Ohio Stadium on July 15, 2025.
3rd Place, Photographer of the Year - Large Market - Adam Cairns / The Columbus DispatchFirst year candidate Nathan Luong lays with his trumpet on his chest near the end of summer practice for the Ohio State Marching Band at Lincoln Tower Field behind Ohio Stadium on July 15, 2025.
3rd Place, Photographer of the Year - Large Market - Adam Cairns / The Columbus DispatchSpectators watch as summer camp attendees practice for the Ohio State Marching Band at Lincoln Tower Field behind Ohio Stadium on July 15, 2025.
3rd Place, Photographer of the Year - Large Market - Adam Cairns / The Columbus DispatchSousaphone players rehears their tryout routine while attending summer practice for the Ohio State Marching Band at Lincoln Tower Field behind Ohio Stadium on Aug. 13, 2025.
3rd Place, Photographer of the Year - Large Market - Adam Cairns / The Columbus DispatchStudents practice formations during a summer workout for the Ohio State Marching Band at Lincoln Tower Field behind Ohio Stadium on Aug. 13, 2025.
3rd Place, Photographer of the Year - Large Market - Adam Cairns / The Columbus DispatchJoey Speidel marches with the drum kit during summer practice for the Ohio State Marching Band at Lincoln Tower Field behind Ohio Stadium on Aug. 13, 2025. Nearly 400 candidates try out for 228 spots in the band.
3rd Place, Photographer of the Year - Large Market - Adam Cairns / The Columbus DispatchAbigail Miller, a third year, plays the trombone during the Ohio State Marching Band summer practice sessions on Lincoln Tower Field south of Ohio Stadium on Aug. 15, 2025.
3rd Place, Photographer of the Year - Large Market - Adam Cairns / The Columbus DispatchDirector Christopher Hoch addresses Ohio State Marching Band summer camp participants at Lincoln Tower Field behind Ohio Stadium on Aug. 13, 2025.
3rd Place, Photographer of the Year - Large Market - Adam Cairns / The Columbus DispatchNo gloves, no walks, chalkboard scorekeeping – vintage base ball features America's pastime played by 1860s rules. The German Village Hobnobbers let out a cheer before playing the Ohio Village Muffins in a game of vintage base ball at Schiller Park in Columbus on July 13, 2025.
3rd Place, Photographer of the Year - Large Market - Adam Cairns / The Columbus DispatchJeff Kapp blows a bubble as his German Village Hobnobbers play the Ohio Village Muffins in a game of vintage base ball at Schiller Park in Columbus on July 13, 2025. The game plays by 1860s rules of the game.
3rd Place, Photographer of the Year - Large Market - Adam Cairns / The Columbus DispatchTallykeeper Mike Star keeps score on a chalk board as the German Village Hobnobbers play the Ohio Village Muffins in a game of vintage base ball at Schiller Park in Columbus on July 13, 2025. The game plays by 1860s rules of the game.
3rd Place, Photographer of the Year - Large Market - Adam Cairns / The Columbus DispatchThe German Village Hobnobbers play the Ohio Village Muffins in a game of vintage base ball at Schiller Park in Columbus on July 13, 2025. The game plays by 1860s rules of the game.
3rd Place, Photographer of the Year - Large Market - Adam Cairns / The Columbus DispatchUmpire Jim Kimnach watches as the German Village Hobnobbers play the Ohio Village Muffins in a game of vintage base ball at Schiller Park in Columbus on July 13, 2025. The game plays by 1860s rules of the game.
3rd Place, Photographer of the Year - Large Market - Adam Cairns / The Columbus DispatchGerman Village Hobnobbers' John Petro pitches against the Ohio Village Muffins in a game of vintage base ball at Schiller Park in Columbus on July 13, 2025. The game plays by 1860s rules of the game.
3rd Place, Photographer of the Year - Large Market - Adam Cairns / The Columbus DispatchThe German Village Hobnobbers's Sam Grote bats against the Ohio Village Muffins in a game of vintage base ball at Schiller Park in Columbus on July 13, 2025. The game plays by 1860s rules of the game.
3rd Place, Photographer of the Year - Large Market - Adam Cairns / The Columbus DispatchOhio Village Muffins' Aaron Seddon takes a swing against the German Village Hobnobbers during a game of vintage base ball at Schiller Park in Columbus on July 13, 2025. The game plays by 1860s rules of the game.
3rd Place, Photographer of the Year - Large Market - Adam Cairns / The Columbus DispatchAndrew Marron and his son, Watson, 7, watch as the German Village Hobnobbers play the Ohio Village Muffins in a game of vintage base ball at Schiller Park in Columbus on July 13, 2025. The game plays by 1860s rules of the game.
3rd Place, Photographer of the Year - Large Market - Adam Cairns / The Columbus DispatchOhio Village Muffins Ryan Boggs takes a swing against the German Village Hobnobbers in a game of vintage base ball at Schiller Park in Columbus on July 13, 2025. The game plays by 1860s rules of the game.
3rd Place, Photographer of the Year - Large Market - Adam Cairns / The Columbus DispatchThe German Village Hobnobbers' yell "hip hip hooray" following the 36-31 win over the Ohio Village Muffins in a game of vintage base ball at Schiller Park in Columbus on July 13, 2025.
