SCNPA 2009 PICTURES OF THE YEAR WINNERS
Hi All,
Congratulations to all the winners and a big thanks to our judges, Stacy Pearsall, Christopher Record and Michael Holahan. Thanks to everyone that attended and helped out. You can scroll through all the images from left to right. Some stories are out of order but they all have a title that tells you where they placed. See you next year.
SPOT NEWS
1st - “CHURCH FIRE” – SEFTON IPOCK/ANDERSON INDEPENDENT-MAIL.
2nd - “FLIPPED SUV”- NATHAN GRAY/ANDERSON INDEPENDENT-MAIL.
3rd – “COLD FOOD”- KEN RUINARD/ANDERSON INDEPENDENT-MAIL.
HM – “PILEUP”- WADE SPEES/CHARLESTON POST & COURIER.
HM – “DEALING WITH THE DAMAGE” – GRACE BEAHM/CHARLESTON POST & COURIER.
GENERAL NEWS
1ST – “UNTITLED” – RANDALL HILL/THE SUN NEWS.
2ND – “ILLEGAL” - NATHAN GRAY/ANDERSON INDEPENDENT-MAIL.
3RD - “RETURN HOME” – - NATHAN GRAY/ANDERSON INDEPENDENT-MAIL.
HM - “UNTITLED” – C. ALUKA BERRY/THE STATE.
HM – “UNTITLED” – REBECCA DUCKER/FLORENCE MORNING NEWS.
FEATURE
1ST – “UNTITLED” – C. ALUKA BERRY/THE STATE.
2ND - “FULL”- GRACE BEAHM/CHARLESTON POST & COURIER.
3RD – “RACE THE TRAIN” – GERRY MELENDEZ/THE STATE.
HM – “THREE’S COMPANY” – NATHAN GRAY/ANDERSON INDEPENDENT-MAIL
HM – “UH OH” – KEN RUINARD/ANDERSON INDEPENDENT-MAIL.
SPORTS ACTION
1ST - “UNTITLED” – TRAVIS BELL/SIDELINE CAROLINA.
2ND - “UNTITLED” – RANDALL HILL/THE SUN NEWS.
3RD – “ZONE CONE” – KEN RUINARD/ANDERSON INDEPENDENT-MAIL.
HM – “END OVER END” – BRIAN SCHNEIDER/CLEMSON UNIVERSITY.
HM – “DIVING CATCH” – NATHAN GRAY/ANDERSON INDEPENDENT-MAIL.
SPORTS FEATURE
1ST – “HAPPY GOLFERS” - KEN RUINARD/ANDERSON INDEPENDENT-MAIL.
2ND – “UNTITLED” – C. ALUKA BERRY/THE STATE.
3RD – PLAYER’S DANCE” – GERRY MELENDEZ/THE STATE.
HM – “LONE WOLF” ANGELA KERSHNER/THE ISLAND PACKET.
HM – “UNTITLED” – C. ALUKA BERRY/THE STATE.
PORTRAIT
1ST – “MY BEST FRIEND” – GRACE BEAHM/CHARLESTON POST & COURIER.
2ND – “WAR HERO” – GERRY MELENDEZ/THE STATE.
3RD – “SARGE” – GERRY MELENDEZ/THE STATE.
HM – “JOY” – KEN RUINARD/ANDERSON INDEPENDENT-MAIL.
HM – “SHELTERED TEARS” – KEN RUINARD/ANDERSON INDEPENDENT-MAIL.
PICTORIAL
1ST –“OCEAN CURVES” - GRACE BEAHM/CHARLESTON POST & COURIER.
2ND – “SPINNING” – GERRY MELENDEZ/THE STATE.
3RD – “UNTITLED” - TRACY GLANTZ/THE STATE.
HM – “BALL TOSS” – REBECCA DUCKER/FLORENCE MORNING NEWS.
HM – “GRAND MOTEL” – GERRY MELENDEZ/THE STATE.
ILLUSTRATION
1ST – “OUCH” – KIM KIM FOSTER-TOBIN/THE STATE.
2ND – “STUCK” – KIM KIM FOSTER- TOBIN/THE STATE.
3RD – “RAILWAY” – REBECCA DUCKER/FLORENCE MORNING NEWS.
HM – “TAXING HABIT” – KEN RUINARD/ANDERSON INDEPENDENT-MAIL.
HM – “ORGANIC EATS” – REBECCA DUCKER/FLORENCE MORNING NEWS.
PICTURE PACKAGE
1ST – “COWBOY ACTION” – GERRY MELENDEZ/THE STATE
2ND – “UNTITLED” – REBECCA DUCKER/FLORENCE MORNING NEWS.
3RD – “CHITLINS” - ANNE MCQUARY/FREELANCE.
HM – “UNTITLED” – RANDALL HILL/THE SUN NEWS.
HM – “POLAR EXPRESS” – REBECCA DUCKER/FLORENCE MORNING NEWS.
NEWS PICTURE STORY
1ST – “CHURCH FIRE” – SEFTON IPOCK/ANDERSON INDEPENDENT-MAIL.
2ND – “ATLANTIC BEACH CARRIES ON” – RANDALL HILL/THE SUN NEWS.
3RD – “RECOVERY FROM THE APRIL WILDFIRES” – RANDALL HILL/THE SUN NEWS.
HM – “LIVING WITH HIV/AIDS” – NATHAN GRAY/ANDERSON INDEPENDENT-MAIL.
HM – “THE YEAR OF THE RAIN” – NATHAN GRAY/ANDERSON INDEPENDENT-MAIL.
FEATURE PICTURE STORY
1ST – “HOUSE CALLS” – GERRY MELENDEZ/THE STATE.
2ND – “DANI’S STORY” – RICH GLICKSTEIN/THE STATE.
3RD – “OLYMPIA” – GERRY MELENDEZ/THE STATE.
HM – “DOGGIE WEDDING” – ANNE MCQUARY/FREELANCE.
HM – “A MONTH OF MOTORCYCLES” – RANDALL HILL/THE SUN NEWS.
SPORTS PICTURE STORY
1ST – “MASTERS” – GERRY MELENDEZ/THE STATE.
2ND – A BOXING STORY” – GERRY MELENDEZ/THE STATE.
3RD – “UNTITLED” – C. ALUKA BERRY/THE STATE.
HM – “DAVID VS. GOLIATH” – RICH GLICKSTEIN/THE STATE.
HM – “FIGHT NIGHT” – SEFTON IPOCK/ANDERSON INDEPENDENT-MAIL.
MULTIMEDIA
1ST – “HOUSE CALLS” – GERRY MELENDEZ/THESTATE.
2ND – “A BOXING STORY” – GERRY MELENDEZ/THE STATE.
3RD – “FAST BUSBOY” – RANDALL HILL/THE SUN NEWS.
HM – “STATE CHAMPS” – TOM PRIDDY/SPARTANBURG HERALD-JOURNAL
HM – “BARBER” - REBECCA DUCKER/FLORENCE MORNING NEWS.
BEST IN SHOW
“HOUSE CALLS” – GERRY MELENDEZ/THE STATE
2009 PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR
GERRY MELENDEZ/THE STATE
2009 RUNNER UP PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR
C. ALUKA BERRY/THE STATE
2009 SECOND RUNNER UP PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR
SEFTON IPOCK/ANDERSON INDEPENDENT-MAIL
CLIP CONTEST PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR
KEN RUINARD/ANDERSON INDEPENDENT-MAIL
January 2009 Clip Contest Winners and Standings
Here are the January results. Alan Hawes and Gerry Melendez were the big winners for the month.
Thanks to Brian Cassella, Daniel Wallace, and editor Jack Rowland at St. Petersburg Times in Florida for judging.
Start getting your February clips together to send into me soon.
Would like to have them by the 10th! Sooner you get them to me, sooner I get them out and judged with results.
SPOT NEWS:
1st: Alan Hawes-Post and Courier — Best emotion, with tight composition and contextual framing.
2nd: Nathan Gray Anderson Independent-Mail — Interesting moment with dog emerging from truck.
3rd: Ken Ruinard Anderson Independent-Mail — Interesting moment
GENERAL NEWS:
1st: Rebecca Ducker-Florence Morning News — Great find, a different moment with real expression. Creative composition.
2nd: Alan Hawes-Post and Courier — Great moment and emotion.
3rd: Alan Hawes-Post and Courier — Strong emotion, but photo would be much stronger cropped into a vertical to remove white corner.
FEATURE:
1st: Gerry Melendez-The State — Creative, clean composition
2nd: Rebecca Ducker-Florence Morning News — Great moment, suffered from clutter in the composition.
3rd: Gerry Melendez-The State — Nice background find.
SPORTS:
1st: Gerry Melendez-The State– Great moment with variety of expressions from young wrestlers.
2nd: Jeff Blake-The State — Nice catch, getting great emotion out of a coach on the sidelines.
3rd: Alan Hawes-Post and Courier — Clean action moment, different for basketball.
MULTIPLE:
1st: Grace Beahm-Post and Courier — Contained the best compositions and editing of the entries. Several nice photos and varied viewpoints.
2nd: Grace Beahm-Post and Courier — Last 3 photos are strongest, suffered from mixture with other frames. Several displays of strong emotion.
3rd: Angie Kershner-Florence Morning News — Variety of compositions from a straightforward event.
2009 Standings
1. Alan Hawes-Post and Courier 152 points
2. Gerry Melendez-The State 132 points
3. Rebecca Ducker-Morning News 92 points
4. Grace Beahm-Post and Courier 92 points
5. Nathan Gray-Independent-Mail 42 points
6. Jeff Blake-The State 42 points
7. Ken Ruinard-Independent-Mail 32 points
8. Angie Kershner-Morning News 32 points
9. Sefton Ipock-Independent-Mail 2 points
10. Heidi Heilbrunn-Greenville News 2 points
11. Melissa Haneline-Post and Courier 2 points
12. Jonathan Dyer- Island Packet 2 points
C. Aluka Berry named 2008 SCNPA POY
State photographer Chris Aluka Berry was named the 2008 South Carolina News Photographers Association’s Photographer of the Year during The 60th annual Southern Short Course in News Photography seminar held in Charlotte, NC. Gerry Melendez of the State was runner-up and Alan Hawes, Charleston Post and Courier, took third place.
Ken Ruinard of the Anderson Independent-Mail was the SCNPA clip contest Photographer of the Year. Sefton Ipock, Anderson Independent-Mail was runner-up. Gerry Melendez, The State was third.
Berry also received Best in Show for his feature story on Wateree Correctional Institution inmate, Joshua Reynolds, titled “Second Chances.”
The State took Staff of the Year.
I also forgot to post the illustration winners. There where only two honorable mention awards in the category. Tim Dominick, The State for his “Connected” illustration and Rebecca J. Ducker, Florence Morning News for her ”religion in sports.”
Congratulations to all the winners! The judges had great things to say about the work. I hope to post the judges comments soon.
Gerry
2008 SCNPA Pictures of the Year results
Thanks for everyone who made the trip to Charlotte for the SCNPA annual meeting. Thanks to judges Nicole Fruge, Preston Gannaway, James Gregg, Swane B. Hall, Tommy Metthe, H. Rick Bamman and Denise McGill as well as sponsors Nikon, ThinkTank, LowePro, Joby, Camera Bits, and Bogen. A big thanks goes out to Marc Kawanishi and the Southern Short Course crew who went above and beyond to accommodate us.
2008 South Carolina Pictures of the Year results
Spot News
1st Gerry Melendez, The State “Tornado Victim”
2nd Ken Ruinard, Anderson Independent-Mail “Fire Dog”
3rd Chris Aluka Berry, The State “Girl Fight”
HM Ken Ruinard, Anderson Independent-Mail “What goes Up”
General News
1st Chris Aluka Berry , The State “Prisoner’s Love”
2nd Gerry Melendez , The State “Clay”
3rd Chris Aluka Berry , The State “Long Ride to Live”
HM Angela E. Kershner, Florence Morning News“Momma’s Goodbye”
HM Alan Hawes, Charleston Post And Courier “Reunion Reflection”
Feature
1st Chris Aluka Berry , The State “Baptism”
2nd Gerry Melendez , The State “Teacher of the Year”
3rd Nathan Gray, Anderson Independent-Mail “Whole lot of Shakin’ Goin On”
HM Alan Hawes, Charleston Post And Courier “Basic Training”
Pictorial
1st Grace Beahm, Charleston Post And Courier “To the finish line”
2nd Gerry Melendez , The State “Derby Blur”
3rd Heidi Heilbrunn, The Greenville News “Umbrellas”
HM Ken Ruinard, Anderson Independent-Mail “Shadow of his Brother”
HM Tracy Glantz , The State “Spider’s Web”
Sports Feature
1st Jeff Blake , The State “Quarterback Dunk”
2nd Jeff Blake , The State “Peacekeeper”
3rd Jeff Blake , The State “Little Fish Big Fish”
HM Gerry Melendez , The State “Shadowboxer”
HM Grace Beahm, Charleston Post And Courier “Good Play”
Sports Action
1st Jeff Blake , The State “Cocky Interference”
2nd Grace Beahm, Charleston Post And Courier “Facemask”
3rd Jeff Blake , The State “Headless Fumble”
HM Alan Hawes, Charleston Post And Courier “Basketball Collision”
HM
Portrait
1st Gerry Melendez , The State “All-Area Swimmer”
2nd Gerry Melendez , The State “Boxer”
3rd Chris Aluka Berry , The State “Forgetting the Past”
HM Gerry Melendez , The State “Fireballer”
HM Angela E. Kershner, Florence Morning News “Science South”
Picture Package
1st Rebecca J. Ducker, Florence Morning News “Pageant Girls”
2nd Nathan Gray, Anderson Independent-Mail “Shoeshine”
3rd Tim Dominick , The State “Principal for a Day”
News – Story or Essay
1st Alan Hawes, Charleston Post And Courier “Basic Training”
2nd Gerry Melendez , The State “Honor Flight”
3rd Chris Aluka Berry , The State “Pop’s Ticket”
HM Ken Ruinard,, Anderson Independent-Mail “New Hope after Church Fire”
Feature – Story or Essay
1st Chris Aluka Berry , The State “Second Chance”
2nd Gerry Melendez , The State “Skate Groove”
3rd Ken Ruinard, Anderson Independent-Mail “Joy in work”
HM Rebecca J. Ducker, Florence Morning News “Alligator”
Sports – Story or Essay
1st Gerry Melendez , The State “Derby Girls”
2nd Gerry Melendez , The State “Masters – Outside the Ropes”
3rd Jeff Blake , The State “Little Fish, Big Fish”
HM
Multimedia
1st Chris Aluka Berry, The State – “Second Chance”
2nd Kim Kim Foster-Tobin , The State – “Spring Fashion”
3rd Heidi Heilbrunn, The Greenville News – “Church Fire”
HM
HM
Portfolio
Photographer of the Year –
Runner-up POY –
Clip Contest POY -
Best in Show – Chris Aluka Berry, The State “Second Chance”
Best Multimedia —Chris Aluka Berry, The State “Second Chance”
Staff of the Year – The State
December 2008 clip contest
Spot News
1st-Angie Kershner-Florence Morning News
2nd-Ken Ruinard-Anderson Independent-Mail
3rd-Heidi Heilbrunn-Greenville News
News
1st-Gerry Melendez-The State
2nd-Nathan Gray-Anderson Independent-Mail
3rd-Rebecca Ducker-Florence Morning News
Feature
1st-Grace Beahm-Post and Courier
2nd-Rebecca Ducker-Florence Morning News
3rd-Ken Ruinard-Anderson Independent-Mail
Sports
1st-Sefton Ipock-Anderson Independent-Mail
2nd-Rebecca Ducker-Florence Morning News
3rd-Sefton Ipock-Anderson Independent-Mail
Portrait
1st-Grace Beahm-Post and Courier
2nd-Angie Kershner-Florence Morning News
3rd-Gerry Melendez-The State
Illustration
1st-Ken Ruinard-Anderson Independent-Mail
2nd-Nathan Gray-Anderson Independent-Mail
3rd-Sefton Ipock-Anderson Independent-Mail
Multiple
1st-Nathan Gray-Anderson Independent-Mail
2nd-Sefton Ipock-Anderson Independent-Mail
3rd-Ken Ruinard-Anderson Independent-Mail
November 2008 Clip contest
SPOT NEWS-
1st-Heidi Heilbrunn-Really good use of ambient light to dress up a routine fire picture.
2nd-Rebecca Ducker-Florence Morning News-Great composition, onlookers add scale and position nicely with the damage which is clearly shown
3rd-None
News
1st-Grace Beahm-Post and Courier-Busy image but place and event are clear-firefighter’s funeral. Nice twist on funeral coverage without showing casket. Not a do it all image, but a nice change up.
2nd- Gerry Melendez-The State-–. Great light, perfectly balanced image. Great spacing of elements give a sense of lonliness and the sky enhances the whole image. Any tighter would’ve ruined the moment.
3rd- Angie Kersher-Florence Morning News-nice light and sense of action moment as cowboy comes through the door. Pretty boring opportunity but photog used the light and timing to make a nice image
Feature
1st-Grace Beahm Post and Courier-Just a nice images of a hanging bell. Most of us have shot this type of image and it’s a good example of a nicely framed shot cropped well.
2nd-Gerry Melendez-The State-Good technique using ambient background. Motion blur can be annoying, but his effort goes beyond and adds strong background elements to the main subject portrayal.
3rd-Ken Ruinard Anderson Independent-Mail- Nice change up on a pretty common sight. Must’ve been a valuable t-shirt.
Sports
1st-Nathan Gray Anderson Independent-Mail- Great moment done really well
2nd-Gerry Melendez The State-great peak action with the unusual element of the helmet popping off. Say a big thank you to the photo gods.
3rd-Jeff Blake The State-great peak action
Multiple-
1st-Gerry Melendez-The State-nice campaign trail story
2nd-Angie Kershner-Florence Morning News-Good mix of images for black Friday story. Photog showed all angles and mixed tight, wide and reaction shots
3rd-Rebecca Ducker-Florence Morning News-nice image story from a school pie making event. Good mixture
October 2008 Clip Contest
Spot News:
1st Place: Nathan Gray-Anderson Independent-Mail
comments: Few entries had the immediacy we’d expect in spot news. We appreciate the aesthetic strength in an otherwise boring scene.
2nd Place: Angie Kershner-Florence Morning News
comments: We appreciate the photographers attempt to layer the elements.
3rd Place: Jonathan Dyer-Island Packet
comments: The scene makes it interesting, but we wish there was a moment to elevate it.
General News:
1st Place: Gerry Melendez-The State
comments: The body language of both dog and handler made the picture. Cleaner background and lower angle would make it even better
2nd Place: Grace Beahm-Post and Courier
comments: Our eyes are drawn to her face. Good color and composition. The background add to the meaning
3rd Place: Nathan Gray- Anderson Independent-Mail
Great moment. Tells the story. May fit better in another category.
Feature:
1st Place: Sefton Ipock-Anderson Independent-Mail
comments: We give the photographer credit for finding a good picture in a meeting assignment. Clean, great moment.
2nd Place: Ken Ruinard-Anderson Independent-Mail
comments: Girl’s expression made this more than the average band photo. Good caption information.
3rd Place: Gerry Melendez-The State
comments: We like the expression. Cropping could help clean up the image.
Sports:
1st Place: Sefton Ipock-Anderson Independent-Mail
comments: It had everything. Peak action, light and moment. We wish we had those light at our local schools. This was a though category.
2nd Place Gerry Melendez-The State
comments: This picture defines peak action. Everything works.
3rd Place: Sefton Ipock-Anderson Independent-Mail
comments: Great body language. Both faces are engaging.
Multiple:
1st place: Angie Kershner-Florence Morning News
comments: There were very few entries in this category and all were groups of pictures from a single event. Our place place pick was the best event coverage. None of the other entries deserved awards. We would love to see entries that tell stories, not just cover events.
September 2008 Clip Results
Spot News:
1st Place: Angie Kershner- Florence Morning News
comments: Nice job getting a frame that tells the whole story. The ambulance in the background takes an ordinary photo to the next level.
2nd Place: Jonathan Dyer- Island Packet
3rd Place: Sefton Ipock-Anderson Independent-Mail
General News:
1st Place: Angie Kershner-Florence Morning News
comments: Beautiful frame. In the most competative category, this frame stood out. The sense of emotion without faces is an extraordinarily hard thing to accomplish.
2nd Place: Heidi Heilbrunn-Greenville News
3rd Place: Gerry Melendez-The State
Feature:
1st Place: Ken Ruinard-Anderson Independent-Mail
comments: Nice, fun weather feature.
2nd Place: Angie Kershner- Florence Morning News
3rd Place: Tom Priddy- Spartanburg Herald-Journal
Sports:
1st Place Gerry Melendez-The State
comments: This photo has it all. Great light, great action, and that little something extra.
2nd Place Ken Ruinard-Anderson Independent-Mail
3rd Place: Jonathan Dyer-Island Packet
Portrait:
1st Place: Rebecca Ducker-Florence Morning News
comments: Great moment. This photo is a lot of fun.
2nd Place: Gerry Melendez-The State
3rd Place: Nathan Gray-Anderson Independent-Mail
Illustration:
1st Place: Angie Kershner- Florence Morning News
comments: Nice light. Easy to understand what the story was.
2nd Place: Rebecca Ducker- Florence Morning News
3rd Place: Grace Beahm- Post and Courier
Multiple:
1st Place: Rebecca Ducker- Florence Morning News
2nd Place: Tom Priddy-Spartanburg Herald-Journal
3rd Place: Gerry Melendez- The State
August 2008 Clip Contest Winners and Standings
Judges were Sangjib Min, Melody Clark and Diane Cebula of the Daily Press in Virginia Beach, VA.
Spot news
1. Sefton Ipock Anderson Independent-Mail — We like the low angle, body language of the cop
2. Kristin Goode The Island Packet — From the photo you get the idea of the extent of damage the flood caused
3. Heidi Heilbrunn The Greenville News — Photographer was there when it happened, always a plus. Would have been higher up but we wanted to see the victim’s face
General News
1. Ken Ruinard Anderson Independent-Mail — You get the desperation, good use of empty space
2. Sefton Ipock Anderson Independent-Mail – A well composed image
3. Kristin Goode The Island Packet — Great expression on teacher’s and kids’ faces
Feature
1. Kristin Goode The Island Packet– Something nice out of something ordinary. Great expressions.
2. Sefton Ipock Anderson Independent-Mail — Nice composition, well framed
3. Kristin Goode The Island Packet — Good expressions, very clear what’s going on when you look at the photo
Sports
1. Sefton Ipock Anderson Independent-Mail — Cute moment and small details like the ball and bag made this photo stand out.
2. Nathan Gray Anderson Independent-Mail — Nice football photos of a key moment in the game.
3. Tom Priddy — Nice, clean baseball action
Multiple
1. Nathan Gray- Anderson Independent-Mail
2. Angie Kershner -The Morning News
3. Nathan Gray- Anderson Independent-Mail
Overall Standings (January – August 2008)
1. Ken Ruinard- Anderson Independent-Mail- 1156 points
2. Sefton Ipock-Anderson Independent-Mail- 876 points
3. Nathan Gray- Anderson Independent-Mail- 746 points
4. Gerry Melendez- The State- 572 points
5. Heidi Heilbrunn- Greenville News- 364 points
6. Rebecca Ducker-Morning News-314 points
7. Kristin Goode- Island Packet- 298 points
8. Angie Kershner-262 points
9. Lindsay Semple- The State- 200 points
10.Grace Beahm- Post and Courier- 200 points
11. Randall Hill- Sun News- 124 points
12. Jonathan Dyer- Island Packet- 98
13. Tom Priddy-90 points
14. Tracy Glantz- The State- 58 points
15. Eric Campos- The State-34
16. Jeff Blake-The State-2 points
17. Ken Osbourne-Greenville News-2 points