VANCOUVER, March 24 /CNW/ - The art of photojournalism knows no
boundaries in representing ideas, expressions, and emotions. Photographic
images can reveal great truths, expose wrongdoing and neglect, inspire hope
and understanding and connect people around the globe through the language of
visual understanding. As the recorders of historical events, the power of a
photojournalist gives future generations the ability not just to view events
of the past and present, but to experience them. And, once in a while, our
global future is shown peering out at us, captured through a photographer's
lens.
Today, the News Photographers Association of Canada (NPAC) is pleased to
recognize the excellence represented in submissions by 125 of Canada's
outstanding photojournalists in announcing the nominations in the third annual
National Pictures of the Year (NPOY) awards competition.
More than 1963 images and 72 multimedia projects from across Canada were
entered in this year's competition, representing a spectacular body of work.
The NPOY photojournalism judging committee, made up of some of the most
prominent and visionary photographers, editors and educators in visual
journalism in North America, were tasked with judging the entries.
The "still photo" category judges are Roger Lemoyne (Montreal) - Redux
Pictures and multiple POYi, World Press Photo winner and 2007 Lange-Taylor
recipient, Dustin Leader (Winnipeg) - Freelancer and 2007 NPAC NPOY winner,
Clare Jordon (Toronto) - Photo Editor, Report on Business Magazine and Dick
Loek (Toronto) - Former Toronto Star staff photographer (retired), National
Newspaper Award winner and founding member of PhotoSensitive.
The Multimedia category judges include Cecil Rosner- award winning
veteran journalist and Managing Editor for television and radio at CBC
Manitoba, Ken Gigliotti- Winnipeg Free Press photojournalist and John White-
Winnipeg Free Press Deputy Editor of online content.
Images were submitted and judged in 13 different categories, including
Canadian Photojournalist of the Year and Canadian Photograph of the Year.
The winners will be announced during the NPAC's National Pictures of the
Year Gala event, which will take place at 7:30 p.m. on April 25, 2009
atop the world's tallest building and free-standing structure, the CN Tower in
Toronto. Tickets can be purchased online at www.npac.ca.
The 2008 Canadian Photojournalist of the Year and 2008 Canadian
Photograph of the Year will each be awarded a $2000.00 top prize (Sponsored by
The Canadian Press and Reuters, respectively). Other category winners will be
awarded $500.00 for First Place, $200.00 for Second Place and $100.00 for
Third Place.
About the National Pictures Of The Year Awards:
The National Pictures Of The Year awards competition was created by NPAC
to recognize excellence in Canadian photojournalism. NPAC is a
volunteer-run, non-profit association comprised of professional and student
photojournalists in Canada and they champion quality and ethical photography
in journalism.The News Photographers Association of Canada's (NPAC) 2008 National
Pictures of the Year (NPOY) Nominee List.
Number of entrants: 125 photographers
Number of entries: 2035 (includes 72 Multimedia entries)
Spot News - sponsored by The Camera Store
Benoit Gariepy / LeMediaMatinQuebec / Sky Diving Fatality
Dan Janisse / Windsor Star / Emergency Rescue
Fred Lum / The Globe and Mail / Fire in Toronto
Louie Palu / Zuma Press for the Toronto Star / Wounded Soldier
General News - sponsored by CNW Group
Mark Blinch / Reuters / Ted Roger's Funeral
Rafal Gerszak / Freelance / Wounded Taliban Fighter
Sean Kilpatrick / The Globe and Mail / Lawyers at Recess
Simon Nicholas Hayter / Freelance / Protest in Islamabad
Feature - sponsored by The Winnipeg Free Press
Mathieu Belanger / Reuters / Polar Bear
Bernard Brault / La Presse / Car Stuck in Snowstorm
Andy Clark / Reuters / Boy Dives Off Pier
Darryl Dyck / The Canadian Press / Cranberry Farmer
Tim Smith / Brandon Sun / Hairstyling School
Social Issues - sponsored by Headshots
Yvonne Berg / The Globe and Mail / Carly, Living With Autism
Darren Calabrese / Freelance / Mastectomy
Ryan Carter / The National / Child Soldier
Richard Lam / The Globe and Mail / Street Psychiatrist
Fernando Morales / The Globe and Mail / House Foreclosure
Pictorial - sponsored by Canon Canada
Mathieu Belanger / Reuters / Polar Bear Shakes
Ivanoh Demers / La Presse / Tornado Chasing
Aaron Lynett / Toronto Star / Burlington Bay Aerial
Wendell Phillips / freelance / Clock Tower in Romania
Portrait / Personality - sponsored by Beau Photo
Brett Beadle / Freelance / Peacekeeper in Rwanda
Ryan Carter / The National / Jolie, Victim of DRC Violence
Rafal Gerszak / Freelance / Boy in Afghanistan Hospital
Jennifer Roberts / The Globe and Mail / Retired Investment Banker
Bernard Weil / Toronto Star / Ex-Gang Member in Mirror
Sports Action - sponsored by Nikon Canada
Shaun Best / Reuters / Serena Williams Wins US Open
Mark Blinch / Reuters / Yankee Hit By Pitch
Jean Levac / Ottawa Citizen / Usain Bolt at Olympics
Patrick Price / Reuters / Cowboy Gets Bucked Off
Sports Feature
Olivier Asselin / Freelance / Ghana Football Team After Win
Jason Franson / Edmonton Sun / Boxing Knock Out
Frank Gunn / The Canadian Press / Women's Hockey Team Canada
Christinne Mushci / Reuters / Michael Phelps' Feet
Picture Story - sponsored by Vistek
Aaron Vincent Elkaim / Freelance / "Sanctuary: the Story of Lawrence
King"
Rafal Gerszak / Freelance / "Afghanistan"
Fernando Morales / The Globe and Mail / "Subprime Crisis"
Louie Palu / ZUMA Press - Time / "Battle Soldiers"
Louie Palu / ZUMA Press - The Walrus & The Atlantic Monthly / "Gitmo"
Single Multimedia - sponsored by The Globe and Mail
Till death do us part - Brent Foster / Los Angeles Times
Sitting paraplegic volleyball - Ryan Jackson / Edmonton Journal
Dewey by day, derby by nite - John Lehmann / The Globe and Mail
The man behind the log - John Lehmann / The Globe and Mail
Lightning's last dance - Peter Power / The Globe and Mail
Taking back the streets - Bernard Weil / Toronto Star
Team Multimedia
The Reverend Aitor & the Unflattering Portrait - Freelance
Aaron Vincent Elkaim, photography and video
Jason Quinton, video
Becky Johnson, additional photos
Airsick - Toronto Star
Lucas Oleniuk, concept and photography
Randy Risling, music
Scott Simmie, editing
Bernard Weil, graphics and production
The Refugees of Dadaab - Toronto Star:
Lucas Oleniuk, photography
Michelle Shepard, writing
Randy Risling, editing
The Trip Home - Toronto Star
Lucas Oleniuk, photography
Tara Walton, Aaron Harris, Andrew Wallace,
Rick Madonik, Dave Cooper, Pawel Dwulit,
Randy Risling, video
Chris So/Randy Risling, editing
Scott Simmie
Photojournalist of the Year - Sponsored by The Canadian Press
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Nominees:
Darren Calabrese / Freelance
Jason Franson / Edmonton Sun
Louie Palu / ZUMA Press
Sami Siva / Freelance
Picture of the Year - Sponsored by Reuters
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"Mastectomy" Darren Calabrese / Freelance
"Gitmo Chair" Louie Palu / ZUMA Press - The Walrus
To be announced at the NPAC 2008 National Pictures of the Year Awards:
Student Portfolio of the Year - sponsored by SAIT
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For further information: Media Contact: Laura Ballance, (604) 871-4451,
(604) 771-5176 (cell), laura@lbmg.ca