2012 ONPA  Annual Contest Winners

click on the category name, if an active link, to view winning pictures

George A. Smallsreed Photographer of the Year
News Photographer of the Year – Small Market
1st – Bill Lackey, Springfield News-Sun
2nd – Barbara Perenic, Springfield News-Sun

George A. Smallsreed Photographer of the Year
News Photographer of the Year – Large Market
First place, Gus Chan, The Plain Dealer
Second place, Michael E. Keating, Freelance
Third place, Marvin Fong, The Plain Dealer
Award of Excellence, John Kuntz, The Plain Dealer

Student Photographer of the Year
First place – Meg Roussos, Ohio University
Second place – Hannah Potes, Kent State University
Third place – Coty Giannelli, Kent State University
Award of Excellence – Meg Vogel, Ohio University

Larry Fullerton Photojournalism Scholarship
First place, Hannah Potes, Kent State University
Second place, Steven Turville, Ohio University

Clip Contest Photographer of Year
First place, Lisa DeJong, The Plain Dealer
Second place, Kyle Robertson, The Columbus Dispatch
Third place, Eric Albrecht, The Columbus Dispatch

James R. Gordon Ohio Understanding Award
Kent State University, “Tiger Legacy”
Contributing photographers: Gary Harwood, David Foster, Caitlin Bourque, Matt Hafley, Jenna Watson, Adrianne Bastas, Coty Giannelli, Jessica White and Chelsie Corso

Best of Show
Chelsie Corso, Kent State University, “Sisters”

Ron Kuntz Sports Photographer of the Year
1st – Joel Hawksley, Ohio University
Award of Excellence – Barbara Perenic, Springfield News-Sun
Award of Excellence – Eamon Queeney, The Columbus Dispatch
Award of Excellence – John Kuntz, The Plain Dealer
Award of Excellence – Kyle Robertson, The Columbus Dispatch

Picture Usage (Under 80,000 circulation)
First place, ThisWeek Newspapers

Picture Usage (Over 80,000 circulation)
First place, The Plain Dealer
Second place, The Columbus Dispatch

Photography Staff of Year (Under 80,000 circulation)
First place, Springfield News-Sun
Second place, ThisWeek Newspapers

Photography Staff of Year (Over 80,000 circulation)
1st – The Plain Dealer
2nd – The Columbus Dispatch
3rd – Cincinnati Enquirer

Campaign 2012
1st – Scott Shaw/The Plain Dealer, “Bottle in Mouth”
2nd – Joshua A. Bickel/Freelance, “Ohio University Welcomes Obama”
3rd – Neal C. Lauron/The Columbus Dispatch, “Campaign Stop”
Award of Excellence – Ed Suba, Jr./Akron Beacon Journal, “Four More Years”
Award of Excellence – Michael E. Keating/Freelance, “Call on me….please, Mr. President”

Feature
1st – Chelsie Corso/Kent State University, “Sisters”
2nd – Brooke LaValley/The Columbus Dispatch, “Dime-A-Dog Night”
3rd – Marvin Fong/The Plain Dealer, “Amish Child”
Award of Excellence – Lynn Ischay/The Plain Dealer, “Mary Had a Big Lamb”
Award of Excellence – Bill Lackey/Springfield News-Sun, “Pie Principal”
Award of Excellence – Eric Albrecht/The Columbus Dispatch, “Greenlight for Halloween”
Award of Excellence – Fred Squillante/The Columbus Dispatch, “Close Look”
Award of Excellence – Amy E. Voigt/The (Toledo) Blade, “Fighting Together”

Feature Picture Story
1st – Abigail S. Fisher, Ohio University, “A New Kind of Kin”
2nd – Gus Chan, The Plain Dealer, “El Sistema @ Rainey”

General News
1st – Dave Zapotosky/The (Toledo) Blade, “Juvenile Court”
2nd – Eric Albrecht/The Columbus Dispatch, “Retiring Chief”
3rd – Katie Rausch/The (Toledo) Blade, “Kiss Protest “
Award of Excellence, Chris Russell/The Columbus Dispatch, “Final Goodbye”
Award of Excellence, Chris Russell/The Columbus Dispatch , “Rest in Peace”
Award of Excellence, John Kuntz/The Plain Dealer, “Goodbye”
Award of Excellence, Katie Rausch/The (Toledo) Blade, “Vigil”

Illustration
1st – Andrea Levy/The Plain Dealer, “Season of Darkness”
2nd – Andrea Levy/The Plain Dealer, “An Awakening”
3rd – Brooke Didonato/Kent State University, “Exorcism”
Award of Excellence, Brooke Didonato/Kent State University, “Mother Nature”
Award of Excellence, Andrea Levy/The Plain Dealer, “A-a-achoo!”
Award of Excellence, Andrea Levy/The Plain Dealer, “DNA and Crime”
Award of Excellence, Andrea Levy/The Plain Dealer, “Dig In!”
Award of Excellence, Andrea Levy/The Plain Dealer, “Lessons Unlearned”
Award of Excellence, Andrea Levy/The Plain Dealer, “50 Things To Do With Zukes”

News Picture Story
1st – Gus Chan, The Plain Dealer, “Catholic Churches Reopen”
2nd – Marvin Fong, The Plain Dealer, “Chardon School Shootings”
3rd – Coty Giannelli, Kent State University, “College Fest”
Award of Excellence – Leigh Taylor, Cincinnati Enquirer, “Wish List”

Pictorial
1st – Alexis Pfeifer/Kent State University, “Balloon”
2nd – Kyle Robertson/The Columbus Dispatch, “Color Run”
3rd – David Foster/Kent State University, “Family Exit”
Award of Excellence, Chris Russell/The Columbus Dispatch , “Snow Bird”
Award of Excellence, Chuck Crow/The Plain Dealer, “The Swirl Man”
Award of Excellence, Bill Lackey/Springfield News-Sun, “Swans”
Award of Excellence, Jonathan Quilter/The Columbus Dispatch, “Butterfly on Glass”

Portrait Personality
1st – Phil Long/Freelance, “Smitty”
2nd – Gus Chan/The Plain Dealer, “Yarrow Picking”
3rd – Eamon Queeney/The Columbus Dispatch, “Stolen Car”
Award of Excellence, Lynn Ischay/The Plain Dealer, “Tears of a Patriot”
Award of Excellence, Lisa DeJong/The Plain Dealer, “Fencer”
Award of Excellence, Eric Albrecht/The Columbus Dispatch, “Overcoming”

Product Illustration
1st – Lisa DeJong/The Plain Dealer, “Hair”
2nd – Chris Russell/The Columbus Dispatch , “Edamame”
3rd – Fred Squillante/The Columbus Dispatch, “Pumpkin Tart”
Award of Excellence, Karen Schiely/Akron Beacon Journal, “Pizza”
Award of Excellence, Fred Squillante/The Columbus Dispatch, “Dining Guide Cover”
Award of Excellence, Peggy Turbett/The Plain Dealer, “Bowling With a White Russian”

Sports Action
1st – Chris Parker/ThisWeek Newspapers, “Football Flip”
2nd – Gus Chan/The Plain Dealer, “Wet Track”
3rd – Dave Polcyn/The (Mansfield) News Journal, “Not Quite There”
Award of Excellence -, Barbara J. Perenic/Springfield News-Sun, “Calf Scramble”
Award of Excellence –  Kyle Robertson/The Columbus Dispatch, “Block”
Award of Excellence – Scott Heckel/The Repository, “Winning Run”

Sports Feature
1st – Eamon Queeney/The Columbus Dispatch, “Wiffleball World Series”
2nd – Joel Hawksley/Ohio University, “His Boys”
3rd – Gus Chan/The Plain Dealer, “Hurdle Slip”
Award of Excellence -Tim Revell/ThisWeek Newspapers, “Yea”
Award of Excellence – Adam Cairns/The Columbus Dispatch, “State Swimming”
Award of Excellence – Andy Morrison/The (Toledo) Blade, “Touchdown”

Sports Picture Story
1st – Ed Suba Jr., Akron Beacon Journal, “Soap Box Derby”
2nd – Joel Hawksley, Ohio University, “The Run”
3rd – Joel Hawksley, Ohio University, “Arnold Sports Festival”

Spot News (Under 80,000)
1st – Barbara J. Perenic/Springfield News-Sun, “Driver’s Tears”
2nd – Matt Hafley/Kent State University, “Fight”
3rd – Bill Lackey/Springfield News-Sun, “Heat”
Award of Excellence -Barbara J. Perenic/Springfield News-Sun, “Barn Fire”
Award of Excellence – Bill Lackey/Springfield News-Sun, “Rescue”
Award of Excellence – Robert K. Yosay/The (Youngstown) Vindicator, “Tragic Shooting”
Award of Excellence – Brent Lewis/Chillicothe Gazette, “A Daughter’s Scream”

Spot News (Over 80,000)
1st – Michael Keating/Freelance, “Fleeing Police”
2nd – Eamon Queeney/The Columbus Dispatch, “Train Wreck”
3rd – Marvin Fong/The Plain Dealer, “Shooting”
Award of Excellence – Fred Squillante/The Columbus Dispatch, “Brother Killed”
Award of Excellence – Kyle Robertson/The Columbus Dispatch, “Double Homicide”

Team Picture Story
1st – The Plain Dealer, “Chardon School Shootings”
2nd – The Columbus Dispatch, “Derecho, Ohio”

Audio Slideshow
1st – Gus Chan, The Plain Dealer, “El Sistema @ Rainey” – View Project
Judge’s comments – Love the opening quote. It connects us to the teacher and tell us a lot about her relationship with students. I like that the nat sound intro that matches what I am seeing. Your character has a real story to tell that goes beyond the surface. You found a character and you told a story that had a beginning middle and end. The story would have benefitted from more nat sound and moments (audio) with the kids she influences.

2nd – Abigail S. Fisher, Ohio University, “In the Middle” – View Project
Judge’s comments – Love the nat sound intro that invites us into the space. I think you can do better than introducing her with “my name is… our household facts are xyz.” It is also repetitive to your opening text slide. Great access lead to some nice photos but they could be edited tighter. The story could benefit with more nat sound breaks with real audio moments related to the images.

3rd – Carrie Cochran, Cincinnati Enquirer, “Why we love Opening Day” – View Project
Judge’s comments – I enjoyed the moments in the photographs and the nat sound breaks in the narrative. I wish I heard from people who would back up what our main voice said. It’s hard to carry a story with one voice for over a minute unless it they are an orator on the level of Paul Harvey or Rep. John Lewis. The story could have been edited tighter. I didn’t understand some of the 1 second black slates.

News Video
1st – Tom Dodge, The Columbus Dispatch, “Ohio’s Heroin Highway”- View project
Judge’s comments – Good photography combined with a good audio mix helped tell a compact story about a potentially complex subject. It’s easier said than done. Nice work.

2nd – Carrie Cochran, Cincinnati Enquirer, “Mother of Fairfield Teen Stabbed” – View project
Judge’s comments – Photography and editing blend as one in this interview with an emotional mother. The edit illustrates good timing, narrative structure and sensible use of video and still photography.

Sports Video
1st – Glenn Hartong, Cincinnati Enquirer, “Roger Bacon Underwater Hockey” – View project
Judge’s comments – This delightful story floats through the timeline with excellent photography and editing. The narrative both delights and explains with a precision that makes this odd sport feel like a contender for “national pastime.”

2nd – Carrie Cochran, Cincinnati Enquirer, “Kentucky Derby: Hansen’s take on Hansen” – View project
Judge’s comments – You don’t have to have a love for horses or horse racing to appreciate this story reflecting the universal theme of hopes and dreams. It’s not a complex story, nor should it be. But as the story unfolds we’re nudged ever so slightly to place a bet on this possible “contender” for the Derby cup.

Feature Video
1st – Carrie Cochran, Cincinnati Enquirer, ‘I have dreams for these boys’ – View project
Judge’s comments – Out of all the stories I viewed, this one was the most memorable. The story is strong and the main character carries the video effortlessly. There is a clear beginning, middle and end. Although it’s one scene, I never got bored watching the teacher discipline her students. It’s got good natural sound and the interview is incorporated well throughout the piece. It’s just the right length as well. This is the best told story.

2nd – Carrie Cochran, Cincinnati Enquirer, Preventing the ‘unspeakable’ – View project
Judge’s comments – This entry displays good use of photos to tell a story from the past. It’s not easy to carry a complex story with just one interview. I would have preferred narration instead of lots of text.

3rd – Eamon Queeney, The Columbus Dispatch, “Fair in Motion” – View project
Judge’s comments – Beautifully shot and edited, this piece let’s viewers experience the state fair as if they were there. It’s the best shot piece but it ended up in third place because the stories were stronger in the other entries.

Team Video
1st – Carrie Coachran, Cincinnati Enquirer, “Ault Park Race Series” – View project
Judge’s comments – If there was a grand prize winner-take-all category, this would be my choice. A strong audio mix of nat sound and music stakes its claim with some excellent photography. It’s not just pretty pictures either (although there’s plenty of that here) but photography with real moments. Overall it’s a strong piece with some excellent editing – tied together in a less than three minute package that plays like 30-seconds.

2012 Still Contest Judges
Liz Baylen from the LosAngeles Times
John Sale, AME/Visuals at The Commercial Appeal in Memphis, TN
Scott Strazzante from the Chicago Tribune

Audio Slideshow
Judged by Garrett Hubbard. Garrett graduated from Brooks Institute of Photography and worked at the Naples Daily News before joining USA Today for four years. He lives in Reston, VA where he started his own storytelling company, Garrett Hubbard Studios. www.garretthubbard.com

News, Sports & Team Video
Judged by David Leeson. Leeson is a staff photographer for The Dallas Morning News. He won the Pulitzer Prize for Breaking News Photography in 2004, together with Cheryl Diaz Meyer, for coverage of the Iraq War. He also received the RTNDA Edward R. Murrow Award, the National Headliner Award, and a regional Emmy Award in 2004 for his work as executive producer and photographer for the WFAA-TV documentary “War Stories.”

Feature Video
Judged by Pierre Kattar. Based in Washington, D.C., Kattar is an Emmy Award-winning video journalist and filmmaker. As a backpack journalist, he reports, writes, shoots, edits and produces news videos and documentary films. www.pierrekattar.com