Krystina Wentz-Graff, of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, won the 2007 WNPA Photographer of the Year competition. This is the first time she won the award. Wentz-Graff also won Best of Show for her photo of The Soldier’s Child. Judging this year’s contest were Frazer Harrison, Getty Images; Michael Kienitz, freelance; and Angela Grant, multimedia journalist. Congratulations to all the winners and thank you for entering this year’s competition. See you next year!

VIEW THE WINNING IMAGES

Portfolio -
1st - Krystina Wentz-Graff, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
2nd - Evan Siegle, Green Bay Press-Gazette
3rd - Jeffrey Phelps, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
HM - Darren Hauck, freelance
HM - Gary Porter, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
HM - Mark Hoffman, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

News Picture Story -
1st - Krystina Wentz-Graff, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, The Soldier’s Child
2nd - Darren Hauck, freelance, Guatemala Violence
3rd - Jeffrey Phelps, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Bridge Collapse
HM - Rick Wood, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Flood
HM - Terry Scott Meyer, The Week, Soldier Funeral
HM - Darren Hauck, freelance, Young Victim

Feature Picture Story -
1st - Gary Porter, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Heart Surgery
2nd - Krystina Wentz-Graff, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Eye Doctor
3rd - Dan Powers, Appleton Post-Crescent, Farrier
HM - Darren Hauck, freelance, Ballar
HM - Sharon Cekada, Appleton Post-Crescent, Still Poor
HM - Krystina Wentz-Graff, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Sister

Sports Picture Story -
1st - Tom Lynn, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Toughguys
2nd - Dan Powers, Appleton Post-Crescent, Drag Racing
3rd - Dan Powers, Appleton Post-Crescent, Sky Diver

Sports Feature -
1st - Tom Lynn, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Baseball Champions
2nd - Bill Siel, Kenosha News, Marathon Training
3rd - Bill Siel, Kenosha News, Cross Country Runners
HM - Bill Siel, Kenosha News, Swimming Competition
HM - Jonathan Daniel, Getty Images, One-Point Loss
HM - Krystina Wentz-Graff, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Winning Coach

Sports Action -
1st - Jeffrey Phelps, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Broken Bat
2nd - Dan Young, Marshfield News, Free Kick
3rd - Rick Wood, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Layup
HM - Peter Zuzga, Community News, Header
HM - Steve Apps, Wisconsin State Journal, Loose Ball
HM - Steve Apps, Wisconsin State Journal, Loose Helmet

Feature -
1st - Krystina Wentz-Graff, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Cool Water
2nd - Mark Hoffman, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Amish Farmer
3rd - John Maniaci, Wisconsin State Journal, Veggie Car Race
HM - Evan Siegle, Green Bay Press-Gazette, Ray of Light
HM - Steve Apps, Wisconsin State Journal, Clydesdale
HM- Tom Lynn, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Whooping Cranes

Pictorial -
1st - Evan Siegle, Green Bay Press-Gazette, Acrobatic
2nd - Michael P. King, Appleton Post Crescent, Deer Hunter
3rd - Tom Lynn, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Sandhill Cranes
HM - Terry Scott Meyer, The Week, Lightning
HM - Dan Young, Marshfield News, Roofer
HM - Bill Siel, Kenosha News, Angler

Portrait/Personality -
1st - Ben Smidt, Marquette University, Defensive End
2nd - Jack Orton, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Fishing
3rd - Tom Lynn, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Pow Wow
HM - Ben Smidt, Marquette University, Diver
HM - Darren Hauck, freelance, Death in the Family
HM - Krystina Wentz-Graff, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Blind Children

Illustration -
1st - Don Gorzek, freelance, Fresh Fruit
2nd - Terry Scott Meyer, The Week, Fajita
3rd - John Maniaci, Wisconsin State Journal, CPR
HM - Michael P. King, Appleton Post Crescent, White Sangria

General News -
1st - Krystina Wentz-Graff, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Homecoming
2nd - Krystina Wentz-Graff, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Voter
3rd - Mark Hoffman, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Blessing
HM - Mike DeVries, The Capital Times, Graveside Service
HM - John Hart, Watertown Daily Tribune, Gas Fire
HM - Mark Hoffman, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Praise Dance

Spot News -
1st - Darren Hauck, freelance, Voter Disappointment
2nd - Michael P. King, Appleton Post Crescent, Grain Mill Fire
3rd - Rick Wood, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Flood
HM - Dan Reiland, Eau Claire Leader-Telegram, Fireball
HM - Terry Scott Meyer, The Week, Firefighters
HM - Evan Siegle, Green Bay Press-Gazette, Boating Accident

Posted by bsieu as 2008 Convention at 8:14 AM EDT

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Barbara J. Miner wins this year’s College Photographer of the Year contest! Miner is a student at the Milwaukee Area Technical College. Miner said she was grateful for all the guidance from Maria Ellen Huebner, one of her instructors at MATC.

SEE THE WINNING IMAGES HERE!

2nd Place Brad Fedie

3rd Place Dustin Safranek, University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee

Visit this weblog to see judging results posted here live!
There were 32 students entered this year.

Contest Administrator: Nathan Pier

Spot News - 8 photos in this category (1:15 p.m.)

1st - Dustin Safranek, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, firefighters rescue girl
2nd - Dustin Safranek, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, firefighter in smoke
3rd - Brad Fedie, Daily Cardinal, firefighter with hose
HM - Brad Fedie, Daily Cardinal, bright fire

General News - 27 photos in this category (1:20 p.m.)

1st - Christopher Guess, Daily Cardinal , candlelight vigil
2nd- Brad Fedie, Daily Cardinal, barack obama lectures
3rd - Amanda Salm, Daily Cardinal, drew carey impersonator arrested
HM - Matt Dixon, Marquette University, support our troops stop the war

Photo Illustration - 56 photos in this category (1:30 p.m.)

1st - Barbara J. Miner, Milwaukee Area Technical College, contemplating suicide
2nd - Lora Ellingson, Milwaukee Area Technical College, ice cream
3rd - Amanda Salm, Daily Cardinal, trans fat
HM - Daniel M. Zainer, Milwaukee Area Technical College, blue martini
HM - Michelle K. Miresse, Milwaukee Area Technical College, translucent eggs

Portrait Personality - 39 photos in this category (2:00 p.m.)

1st - Brian Jacky, Milwaukee Area Technical College, war veteran
2nd - Christopher Guess, Daily Cardinal, chalkboard of many languages
3rd - Lora Ellingson, Milwaukee Area Technical College, man with coffee cup
HM - Brad Fedie, Daily Cardinal, band director
HM - Barbara J. Miner, Milwaukee Area Technical College, woman with AIDS

Pictorial - 30 photos in this category (2:15 p.m.)

1st - Mike Rudzinski, Marquette University, steamy door
2nd - Mike Rudzinski, Marquette University, people on scaffolding
3rd - Dustin Safranek, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, a river runs through it
HM - Barbara J. Miner, Milwaukee Area Technical College, hunting shack
HM - Brandon Laufenberg, Daily Cardinal, bee and thistle
HM- Krista Rizzo, Marquette University, moon and buildings

Feature Photo - 45 photos in this category (2:25 p.m.)

1st - Stephanie Burg, Milwaukee Area Technical College, couple on couch
2nd - Barbara J. Miner, Milwaukee Area Technical College, clarinet player
3rd - Amanda Salm, Daily Cardinal, storm trooper
HM - Jacob Ela, Daily Cardinal, bicycle rides over person

Sports Action - 30 photos in this category (2:45 p.m.)

1st - Amanda Salm, Daily Cardinal, football dive into end zone
2nd - Matt Dixon, Marquette University, tussle for loose basketball
3rd - Brad Fedie, Daily Cardinal, wide receiver lunges for ball
HM - Brandon Laufenberg, Daily Cardinal, volleyball spike
HM - Kyle Bursaw, Daily Cardinal, softball close play

Sports Feature - 13 photos in this category (2:50 p.m.)

1st - Matthew Wisniewski, Wisconsin State Journal, high school football loss
2nd - Jacob Ela, Daily Cardinal, jubilant badger football player
3rd - Brad Fedie, Daily Cardinal, fans heckle basketball player
HM - Brandon Laufenberg, Daily Cardinal, jubilant softball players

Sports Picture Story - 3 entries in this category (3:20 p.m.)

1st - Krista Rizzo, Marquette University, bull fighting
2nd - Brandon Laufenberg, Daily Cardinal, ironman triathlon
3rd - Barbara J. Miner, Milwaukee Area Technical College, beer run

Feature Picture Story - 5 entries in this category (3:25 p.m.)

1st - Brad Fedie, Daily Cardinal, marching band
2nd - Krista Rizzo, Marquette University, early childhood
3rd - Matthew Wisniewski, University of Wisconsin - Madison, restaurant
HM - Christopher Guess, Daily Cardinal, music festival

News Picture Story - 3 entries in this category (3:45 p.m.)

1st - Dustin Safranek, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, pope visits at airport
2nd - Brandon Laufenberg, Daily Cardinal, anti-war march
3rd - Jacob Ela, Daily Cardinal, hospital lockdown

Portfolio - 7 entries in this category (4:06 p.m.)

1st - Barbara J. Miner, Milwaukee Area Technical College
2nd - Dustin Safranek, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
3rd - Brad Fedie, Daily Cardinal
HM - Christopher Guess, Daily Cardinal

Posted by Administrator as 2008 Convention at 11:04 AM EDT

4 Comments »

Just moments ago I put the finishing touches on this year’s POY and COPY files and as I write this I am feverishly backing them up onto every single storage device I own that they can fit on.

I have gone through the files, checked them, fixed the errors, and most of all enjoyed seeing so much higher-level work from Wisconsin’s students and pros.

The insights acquired from having done this for a few years now would have me guess that this years contests are going to come right down to the last category judged.

Everyone who can should try to make it to view student and/or pro judging at the Journal Sentinel. Watching judging offers a unique educational experience that photographers of every level can benefit from.

Student judging will begin at 1PM on Thursday March 27th

Pro judging will begin at 9AM on Friday March 28th

Stay tuned for more info or contact me with any questions.

Hope to see you there.

Nathan Pier
POY Contest Chair

Posted by Nathan Pier as 2008 Convention at 10:19 PM EDT

4 Comments »

Here’s the deal WNPA members: I am going to be gone all weekend. And while deadline are important in this business, this one is not as important to me as having a great contest.

If you can manage to get your CD entry delivered to the WNPA entry box at the photo desk at the Journal Sentinel or files FTPed to me before 5PM on Monday March 3rd you will be “in like Flynn” and have a chance to win.

Thanks to everyone who entered on time. The rest of you owe me a beer or some good karma.

Nathan Pier

WNPA POY Contest Chair

Posted by Nathan Pier as 2008 Convention at 7:03 PM EST

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Updated February 29, 2008

Eugene Richards is joining the list of speakers for the 2008 WNPA Convention. He is making his appearance as a Canon Explorer of Light speaker.

Eugene Richards is a photographer, writer and documentary filmmaker who is best known for his books and photographic essays on such diverse topics as breast cancer, drug addiction, poverty, AIDS, and aging in America.  He earned a degree in English and journalism from Northeastern University in 1967, then studied photography with Minor White at M.I.T.  He received an Honorary Doctorate of Fine Arts from Lesley University in 2005.

In 1968 Richards joined VISTA and was assigned as a health care advocate to eastern Arkansas.  Two years later he helped found a social service organization and a community newspaper, Many Voices, that reported on black political action and the response of the Ku Klux Klan.  After publication of his first two books, Few Comforts or Surprises: The Arkansas Delta (1973) and his self- published Dorchester Days (1978), Richards was invited to become a nominee at Magnum Photos.  He was a member of the cooperative until June 2005 and a member of VII from 2006 to 2008.

Eugene Richards’s subsequent books include Exploding Into Life (Aperture,
1986), which chronicles his first wife Dorothea’s struggle with breast cancer;
Cocaine True, Cocaine Blue (Aperture, 1994), a study of the impact of hardcore
drugs on American cities; Stepping Through the Ashes (Aperture, 2002), an elegy
to those who lost their lives on September 11, 2001; and The Fat Baby
(Phaidon, 2004), a collection of fifteen textual and photographic stories produced
during the 1990s. The Blue Room, a collection of his photographs on abandoned
houses of the West and the Midwest, as well as A Procession of Them, which
confronts the plight of the institutionalized mentally disabled, will be published
in Fall 2008. His current book project, War Is Personal, is a documentation in
words and pictures of the effects of the Iraq war on the lives of a dozen
individuals.

Among numerous honors Richards has won a Guggenheim Fellowship, National
Endowment for the Arts grants, the W. Eugene Smith Memorial Award, the Leica Medal
of Excellence, the Olivier Rebbot Award twice, a Lucie Award for Outstanding
Achievement in Documentary, and the Robert F. Kennedy Lifetime Achievement
Journalism Award for coverage of the disadvantaged.

Richards has written, photographed, directed, and produced six short films,
as well as one hour-long documentary.  But, the day came, which chronicles the
difficult passage of a 93-year-old Nebraska farmer to a nursing home, received
the Best Short Film award at the Full Frame Documentary Film Festival.

Original Post February 27, 2008 

Eugene Richards, formerly with VII agency, is best known for his books–he has authored thirteen–and photo essays on such diverse topics as breast cancer, drug addiction, poverty, emergency medicine, pediatric HIV and AIDS, the meat packing industry, the plight of the world’s mentally disabled, aging and death in America.

His work has appeared in countless publications, including The New York Times Magazine, Esquire, TIME, Newsweek, the New Yorker, Fortune, Mother Jones and LIFE.

Among numerous honors, he has won the W. Eugene Smith Memorial Award, a Guggenheim Fellowship, three National Endowment for the Arts grants, the Leica Medal of Excellence, the Leica Oskar Barnack Award, the Olivier Rebbot Award twice, and the Robert F. Kennedy Lifetime Achievement Journalism Award for coverage of the disadvantaged.

He is a Canon Explorer of Light and we are extremely grateful for their continued support.

More details to come in the next few days.

Posted by Guest Author as WNPA Report, 2008 Convention at 9:04 PM EST

1 Comment »

Veteran entertainment photographer Frazer Harrison, photojournalist and digital imaging expert Michael Kienitz and Angela Grant, a multimedia producer at the San Antonio Express-News who authors News Videographer, a weblog featured on WNPAonline.com will be featured as guest speakers at this year’s WNPA convention held Saturday, March 29, at Milwaukee’s Hotel Metro.

Frazer Harrison

Harrison began his photographic career working for local newspapers in the United Kingdon including The Lincolnshire Echo and the Hull Daily Mail.

After 15 years in the Newspaper Industry and having pictures published in most of the English National Newspapers, he moved to Los Angeles with World Entertainment News Network covering celebrity news and events. After 18 months with WENN Frazer was employed by Getty Images to Cover Celebrity News and events. Covering such events as the Winona Ryder and Michael Jackson court trials as well as Red carpet and special assignments for such magazines as Variety, Angeleno, People and US Magazine.

With over 18 years work in the Photojournalist field of photography Frazer has covered thousands of events not just celebrity related ranging from Hard News, Sport, Fashion, Studio, and Corporate making him well versed in all areas of Photography.

Michael Kienitz

Angela Grant

Grant is cut from the first generation of news photographers schooled in video and multimedia journalism techiques at the university level. She graduated with degrees in Multimedia Journalism and Government from the University of Texas at Austin in Spring of 2006. As a student video journalist, she began blogging about it.

While in school, she created the weblog In The Circle to being documenting her journey in multimedia production. In the Circle evolved into News Videographer, a weblog dedicated to many aspects of professional multimedia production in the field.

Grant said her blog really caught on once it garnered the attention of Mindy McAdams, a pioneering educator in online and interactive journalism techniques and philosophies.

Posted by Administrator as WNPA Report, 2008 Convention at 1:40 PM EST

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Dan Powers, of the Appleton Post-Crescent is hard at work securing some top-notch sponsors and also donors of sweet gear and photo accessories for this year’s convention in Milwaukee. Through his efforts, Lowepro, a manufacturer of some of the nicest photo backpacks, laptop cases, carrying bags and other accessories is kicking in over $860 worth of stuff to be awarded on convention day. Here’s the list:

(1) Stealth Reporter D650 AW - lists @ $214.99
(1) Rolling Computrekker AW - lists @ $296.00
(1) SlingShot 300 AW - lists @$137.99
(1) Box of new brochures / 168 count

Total donation value is = $863.97
Convention Details:

When: Sat, Mar 29, 8:30am – 4:30pm

Where: Hotel Metro, Milwaukee, Wis.

Posted by Administrator as 2008 Convention at 12:26 PM EST

3 Comments »

The entry form for the 2007 WNPA Photographer of the Year competition is now online, you can download it here.

Download the POY Entry Form (PDF 3K)

The POY Entry Form is the form you need to fill out in order to enter the contest. Download and print the one-page entry form out. Fill it out and follow the mailing and payment instructions on the form.

Posted by Administrator as Webmaster's Column, 2008 Convention at 5:03 PM EST

2 Comments »

Attention WNPA members: Your guide to entering this year’s WNPA Photographer of the Year competition is now online. Both forms are available as downloadable .PDF documents that you can either review on the computer or print out. Here are the two forms available to date:
Download the FTP Upload Instructions (PDF 11K)

If you plan on uploading your contest entry images via FTP, this document will explain how to submit your images, including FTP login requirements and other organizational tips.
Download POY contest rules and guide to submitting images (PDF 168K)

This is the comprehensive guide to entering this year’s contest. This document explains how to format, caption and organize your images, and explains all rules associated with entering the contest.

For more information on Convention dates and conventions for planning your travel or vacation time, please visit the WNPA Calendar

Posted by Administrator as WNPA Report, 2008 Convention at 12:35 PM EST

2 Comments »

I am re-posting this thread because the topic is generating some new discussion. I am also including an update:

My opinion is that we begin with introducing video/multimedia as part of our clip contest judging.  Here is my proposal:

Proposal for adding multimedia/video to the WNPA monthly clip contest
by Scott Anderson
January 3,2008

what: WNPA Quarterly Video/Multimedia contest

starting date: Q2 - 2008

breakdown: adding two categories to the contest. (one for video, one for non-video multimedia including audio slideshows, flash presentations, etc.)

entry rules: one submission per category per quarter, must be published online on a news media website or third-party media host.

points: same points rewards as current contest

submission guidelines: each contestant will be able to download a PDF form on WNPAONLINE that they can submit in the same envelope as their newspaper clippings. on the form, it will include the following information to fill out: 1) category 2) date published 3) contestant name 4) URL 5) news media organization/affiliation.
the WNPA member submitting the work, at a minimum, should be the person responsible for generating the footage/audio/images present in the submission.
If a contestant-submitted URL is non-functional or does not directly link to the submitted work, it automatically disqualifies that specific entry.

clip contest chair responsibilities: take the forms submitted to him/her, bundle them according to quarter and category, forward to judges for review. retrieve results and generate point totals

webmaster responsibilities: present the winners online by creating a set of links to be posted on the winners list on blog.wnpaonline.com.

philosophy: I believe this is something that can easily be done in order to keep WNPA in line with what other local/state/national media associations are doing. I want to help keep WNPA in touch with what’s going on in our field and, more importantly, help our members gain recognition for their work.
This is something that can be installed with the new clip contest chair when they assume the responsibility. We can promote the contest changes on the web site and provide easy explanations for how to participate.

why not multimedia for POY?: I believe WNPA has a long way to go before the organization can fully award merit for multimedia/video work. Significant philosophical changes would need to be made to the annual contest in the way it is formatted, arranged and awarded in order to embrace multimedia/video work. Adding a quarterly contest to our clip contest, I believe,  is an efficient way to begin awarding merit to WNPA members for their work.

what is the next step: I would like to work with either the existing or incoming clip contest chair to make this work. I would also like to see general approval from the WNPA board that this is a direction we need to go.

Original Post: October 24, 2007 - Over the last year or two, multimedia and video storytelling at newspapers has increased, and many of the people creating the projects are photojournalists who are members of WNPA.

As things continue to change for photojournalists, it is becoming clear to many that a contest might be needed to showcase this new work being produced by members of WNPA.

A number of unpaid volunteers from WNPA are trying to find a way to make this work: incorporating multimedia and/or video into our existing contest architecture.

The answer is simple: Find a way to reward suprior and exemplary work.
The questions are many:

1) Should there be a monthly or quarterly video/multimedia contest added on to the clip contest? or perhaps as an addendum to the annual POY contest.
2) Should point awards from a new video/multimedia contest be counted similarly or differently than points from existing still photography contests?
3) Judging video/multimedia can be time consuming. Should there be submission limits per member?
4) How would we present it to judges? Video could be hosted on WNPA’s Brightcove channel, and multimedia could be accessible via URL, but are those our best options?

Keep in mind, these types of discussions are going on right now, and address the question of “how we do this” rather than “should it be done“.

WNPA needs your help, your input and your ideas.

Posted by Administrator as Webmaster's Column, WNPA Report, 2008 Convention at 4:00 PM EST

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