WNPA Members,

After accepting my student POY award this past weekend, I just wanted to say thank you. True, I am picking-up and moving to Wisconsin, but I also feel as though I am being ushered-in and welcomed. I am incredibly excited to have the opportunity to work alongside you all in the future. You will be the ones who continue to inspire me as I begin my career.

It was a pleasure meeting many of you in Milwaukee.

My warmest regards,
–Michael P. King
The Post-Crescent

Posted by Guest Author as 2007 Convention at 9:05 PM EDT

No Comments »

Updated Sunday 11 p.m.

View Winning Image Gallery Here

Updated at 4:20 p.m. POY FINAL

POY - Benny Sieu - Milwaukee Journal Sentinel - 260 pts.

2nd place - Kristyna Wentz-Graff - Journal Sentinel - 200 pts.

Best of Show - John Hart - Watertown Daily Times - Horse in field

Updated at 4:15 p.m. Portfolio (15 entries)

1st - Benny Sieu - Journal Sentinel
2nd - Kristyna Wentz-Graff - Journal Sentinel
3rd - Kevin Poirier - Kenosha News
HM - Gary Porter - Journal Sentinel
Updated at 3:50 p.m. Feature Picture Story (27 entries)

1st - Dan Powers - Post-Crescent - Dairyland Redefined
2nd - Benny Sieu - Journal Sentinel - Dad with cancer
3rd - Gary Porter - Journal Sentinel - Outdoor School
HM - Jack Orton - Journal Sentinel - 60th Wedding Anniversary
HM - Scott Anderson - Journal Times - Trout Ponds Prairie

Updated at 3:05 p.m. Sports Picture Story (11 entries)

1st - Terry Mayer - The Week - Snowmobiling
2nd - Mike De Sisti - Post-Crescent - Little League Baseball
3rd - Bill Meyer - Journal Sentinel - Bicycle ride
HM - John Maniaci - Wisconsin State Journal - Ultimate Frizbee
Updated at 2:34 p.m. News Picture Story (26 entries)

1st - Kristyna Wentz-Graff - Journal Sentinel - Mental Institutions
2nd - Kristyna Wentz-Graff - Journal Sentinel - Missing
3rd - Benny Sieu - Journal Sentinel - Gunshot wounds
Updated at 12:15 p.m. Photo Illustration (15 entries)

1st - John Maniaci - Wisconsin State Journal - Stem Cell
2nd - Dan Powers -Post-Crescent - Puzzle Man
3rd - John Maniaci - Wisconsin State Journal - Medicine in drinking water
Updated at 12:05 p.m. Portrait/Personality (92 entries)

1st - Benny Sieu - Journal Sentinel - scars
2nd - Terry Mayer - The Week - Airplane Pilot
3rd - Gary Porter - Journal Sentinel - Coldplay pianist
HM - Shane Opatz - Leader-Telegram - Lung cancer patient
Updated at 11:50 a.m. Pictorial (85 entries)

1st - John Hart - Watertown Daily Times - Horse Close-up
2nd - Dan Young - Marshfield News-Herald - Tree study
3rd - Kevin Poirier - Kenosha News - Stripes
HM - Jeffrey Phelps - Journal Sentinel - Northern Lights
HM - Rick Wood - Journal Sentinel - Boy practices soccer moves
HM - Terry Mayer - The Week - Horse in the clouds
Updated at 11:35 a.m. Sports Feature (63 entries)

1st - Rick Wood - Journal Sentinel - Swimmers in bathroom
2nd - Benny Sieu - Journal Sentinel - Tired basketball players
3rd - Jeffrey Phelps - Journal Sentinel - Snowfall during football game
HM - John Maniaci - Wisconsin State Journal - Basketball celebration/dejection
Updated at 11:15 a.m. Sports Action (88 entries)

1st - Jeffrey Phelps - Journal Sentinel - Down and out
2nd - Dan Powers - Post-Crescent - Super Bowl touchdown
3rd - Evan Siegle - Press Gazette - Speedskating pan
HM - Jeffrey Phelps - Journal Sentinel - baseball players flip over railing
HM - Dan Powers - Post-Crescent - Packers receiver catch
Updated at 10:45 a.m. Feature (91 entries)

1st - Rick Wood - Journal Sentinel - Bored
2nd - Kevin Poirier - Kenosha News - Lightning strikes
3rd -Gary Porter - Journal Sentinel - Polar bear plunge photo op
HM - William Glasheen - Chicken and pig
Updated at 10:20 a.m. General News (101 entries)

1st - Bill Meyer - Journal Sentinel - Beating a dummy
2nd - Mike De Vries - Capital Times - Woman weeps in court
3rd - Benny Sieu - Journal Sentinel - Frank Jude beating
HM - Rick Wood - Journal Sentinel - Flag Day presentation
HM - John Maniaci - Wisconsin State Journal - Recovered Dogs
HM - Mike De Vries - Capital Times - Snowy funeral
Updated at 10 a.m. Spot News (31 entries)

1st - Kristyna Wentz-Graff - Journal Sentinel - Missing Person notice
2nd - Jeffrey Phelps - Journal Sentinel - Factory Explosion
3rd - Kevin Poirier - Kenosha News - Firefighters with fire hose
HM - Mike De Sisti - Post-Crescent - Firefighters battle blaze

9:30 a.m. contest begins. Judges are Donald Miralle, Mimi Chakarova and David Leeson

Judging for this year’s Professional Photographer of the Year will begin Friday, March 30, starting at about 9 a.m. at the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 333 W. State St. Milwaukee, Wis. Follow along as live results will be posted here as the results come available.

Thank You,

Scott Anderson, WNPA Webmaster.

Posted by Administrator as Webmaster's Column, 2007 Convention at 12:08 PM EDT

1 Comment »

Updated at 11:52 p.m. College POY Winning Images Gallery

View winning college entries here

Updated at 5:25 p.m. CST - Projected Student POY Winner:

Michael P. King 420 pts.
2nd place Dustin Safranek UW-Milwaukee 260 pts.

3rd place Yanna Paskova 220 pts.

Updated at 5:15 p.m. Student Portfolio

1st - Michael P. King
2nd - Yana Paskova
3rd - Barbara J. Miner
Updated at 4:50 p.m. Feature Picture Story

1st - Michael P. King - grave digger
2nd - Michele Jokinen - Natural birth
3rd - Nick Knezevich - WWII
Updated at 4:30 p.m. Sports Picture Story

1st - Christopher Guess - Wisconsin Hockey
2nd - Dustin Safranek UW-Milwaukee - Cowboy Rodeo
3rd - Bradley Fedie - Alando Tucker Story
Updated at 4:20 p.m. News Picture Story

1st - Yana Paskova - post-authoritarian Bulgarians

2nd - Nicholas Knezevich - New Orleans

3rd - Amanda Schwengel - lock in

Updated at 4 p.m. Photo Illustration

1st - Jessica Rae Cerda - plastic wrap dress
2nd - Dana Strasse - final resting place
3rd - Sean D. Krajacic - roasting skeleton
Honorable Mention - Nick Knezevich - hot enough to make you melt
Honorable Mention - Jessica Rae Cerda - George Mania
Honorable Mention - Nancy Sharp Szatkowski - killer lipstick

Updated at 3:40 p.m. Sports Feature

1st - Yana Paskova - Chinese bowl-catcher
2nd - Michael P. King - Catfish races
3rd - Amanda Schwengel - End of the race
Honorable Mention - Amanda Schwengel - Football jubilation
Honorable Mention - Michael P. King - Unhappy baseball player
Honorable Mention - Yana Paskova - Baseball pop-up

Updated at 3:30 p.m. Portrait/Personality

1st - Amanda Schwengel - Menard’s piano player
2nd - Lisa Clark - Portrait in-between
3rd - Michael P. King - “Marv”

No Honorable Mention places awarded

Updated at 3:15 p.m. Sports Action

1st - Michael P. King - swimming underwater
2nd - Amanda Schwengel - Shot Putter
3rd - Dustin Safranek - UW-Milwaukee - soccer action
Honorable Mention - Dustin Safranek - UW-Milwaukee  - motion cyclist
Honorable Mention - Yana Paskova - basketball tussle
Updated at 2:45 p.m. Pictorial

1st - Dustin Safranek - UW-Milwaukee - herring
2nd - Michael P. King - square window
3rd - Amber Buxrude - statue
Honorable Mention - Barbara J. Miner - condoms
Honorable Mention - Nancy Sharp Szatkowski - mysterious masks
Updated at 2:30 p.m. Feature

1st - Barbara J. Miner - resting on a bench
2nd - Michele Jokinen - 8th grade graduation
3rd - Michael P. King - sharing lunch
Honorable Mention - Dustin Safranek - UW-Milwaukee - Old man watering
Honorable Mention - Michael P. King - Balloon rally
Honorable Mention - Yana Paskova - Hanging on a rope

Updated at 2:15 p.m. General News

1st - Michael P. King - Iraq soldier comes home
2nd - Dustin Safranek - UW-Milwaukee - Drowning vigil
3rd - Michael P. King - Political Debate
Honorable Mention - Yana Paskova - Courtroom sentencing
Honorable Mentin - Nicholas Knezevich - Shrimper
Honorable Mention - Dustin Safranek - UW-Milwaukee - Independence Day bus ride
Updated at 1:45 p.m. Spot News

1st - Christopher Guess - Brother’s Bar injury-horizontal
2nd - Dustin Safranek - UW-Milwaukee - Sterling court fire
3rd - Christopher Guess - Neo-Facist salute
Honorable Mention - Christopher Guess - Brother’s Bar injury -vertical
Honorable Mention - Dustin Safranek - UW-Milwaukee - Coeur d’Alene firefighters
Judging for this year’s College Photographer of the Year will begin Thursday, March 29, starting at about 1 p.m. at the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 333 W. State St. Milwaukee, Wis. Follow along as live results will be posted here as the results come available.

Judges for this contest: Erwin Gebhard (ret.), Gary Porter and Kristyna Wentz-Graff, photographers from the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

Moderator: Nathan Pier

Online: Scott Anderson

Thank You,

Scott Anderson, WNPA Webmaster.

Posted by Administrator as Webmaster's Column, 2007 Convention at 12:07 PM EDT

2 Comments »

Saturday, March 24, 2007 — Convention speaker Brenda Kenneally is not able to make it to this year’s convention as she previously thought due to a major development in a documentary she has been working on over the past three years.

The WNPA would like to welcome Mimi Chakarova as a most recent addition to this year’s continually impressive speaker lineup. Chakarova has had numerous solo exhibitions of her documentary projects on South Africa, Jamaica and Cuba, as well as documentary work on sex trafficking in Eastern Europe.

http://www.mclight.com/gallery/index.html Website

http://www.pbs.org/frontlineworld/flash_point/001moldova/background.html PBS Article

Posted by Administrator as 2007 Convention at 11:42 AM EDT

No Comments »

Since I have received numerous questions regarding number of entries I have opted to post the number from this year and last year’s student and pro competitions.

I hope this helps everyone who had questions I could not give more exact answers to the information that they are looking for.

This Year’s College:

spn gen fea pic spa pop spf ill nps sps fps PORT
12 23 48 25 24 24 22 28 5 3 7 8

Last Year’s College:

spn gen fea pic spa pop spf ill nps sps fps PORT
16 27 48 45 40 47 22 35 11 8 8 12

This Year’s Pro:

spn gen fea spa spf pic pop ill nps sps fps PORT
31 101 91 88 63 85 92 15 25 11 27 15

Last Year’s Pro:

spn gen fea spa spf pic pop ill nps sps fps PORT
50 135 132 112 74 83 113 22 23 11 21 16

Posted by Nathan Pier as 2007 Convention at 12:04 PM EST

1 Comment »

Let me start out by saying that I am tremendously grateful to everyone who got his or her files in on time. While many of you demonstrated excellent procrastination skills the deadline was honored.

While I am handing out kudos, I have survived processing the files into their contest format and am pleased to report that the degree of accuracy to which the files were prepared in both student and pro classes was the best it has been in my history of contest involvement.

The FTP submission was also a resounding success and will certainly return next year for anyone who was wondering. Apart from a few minor hiccups for one student and one pro (one of which was my fault) it seemed to go smoothly.

Now that most of the heavy lifting I had to do is done I would like to remind everyone that judging is open to the any interested students or professionals (no matter if they entered or not) and will be held at the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 333 W State St. Milwaukee, WI 53202.

Student judging will be on Thursday March 29 at 1 PM. As a former student I realize that this means setting the alarm clock early but the knowledge gained from seeing your images judged will be beneficial to you in your quest for photographic greatness.

I am looking for a few additional working or retired pros to judge the student contest. If you are interested, please let me know.

Pro judging will be on Friday March 30 at 9 AM. I, again, encourage anyone who is interested, especially students, to attend pro judging. Call it an educated guess or maybe superstition but I think we are going to have a first time POY winner this year in pro and the points race to become Photographer of the Year is almost certain to go down to the wire.

The strength of the images in both student and pro is outstanding and a testament of the level of talent we have in Wisconsin. Thanks to all who entered, your hard work is makes our great contest possible.

Nathan Pier

WNPA POY Contest Chair

Posted by Nathan Pier as Survival Afield, 2007 Convention at 11:38 AM EST

5 Comments »

Deadline for entry to the 2006 WNPA Photographer of the Year contest is in one week, Friday, February 23, 2007 at approximately 5 p.m. Central Standard Time. If you’ve forgotten, get cracking! If you have completed any or all of your entries, don’t forget to send them in! If you have completed and successfully submitted your entries for this year, consider yourself ready for the big dance.

Best of luck,

Scott Anderson

WNPA Webmaster.

Posted by Administrator as 2007 Convention at 6:52 PM EST

1 Comment »

One small addition to the WPOY contest rules. The general news category is also the correct category for documentary work. The category should read “General News/Documentary.” The News Picture Story category should also read “News Picture Story/Documentary.”

Hope this helps clarify where to put your entry. Best of luck to everyone!

Posted by Guest Author as 2007 Convention at 3:34 PM EST

No Comments »

As an incentive for getting the POY entries in early and accurate I will be putting up a camera from my personal collection as an incentive to one very special pro or student boy or girl who manages to be first to do all of the following:

- Get your POY contest files submitted via FTP or CD
- Have 100% accuracy in file and entry form preparation

That’s it… These two simple things will allow you to inherit a true photographic crown jewel from my collection.

About the Camera:

My “OG” HOLGA camera is an early version featuring… well, featuring the same features, or lack there of, found on any other HOLGA: one shutter speed, two (sort of) aperture settings, hot shoe, a funky 1970’s tapestry style camera strap, and just the right amount of gaffer’s tape. It is set up for 6×6 images and I will include one roll of film, a second 120 spool and the lens cap but only if I can manage to find it.

I will announce the winner the week of the judging and convention and they can pick up their awesome brand new used camera at either judging session or at the convention.

Good luck!

Nathan Pier

POY Contest Czar

Posted by Nathan Pier as 2007 Convention at 1:11 AM EST

1 Comment »

Hey guys…
So, now that we know who our speakers are, it’s time for my annual fundraising (door prizes!) for the convention. I will talk to my usual folks who have been VERY generous, but I’m wondering if there is anything out there that you think would be cool to win. And no…Porsche is not an option. I would say that our donated items have ranged in price from $10 to $350 depending on the item. I am also wondering if you guys might consider talking to your editors regarding a donation/door prize from you newspaper. As an example, The Post-Crescent is going to donate another camera this year…I know that Rick Wood is enjoying his Leica digital point and shoot from last year! No donation/door prize is too small and we had a lot of fun giving things away to those who attended last year’s convention. So…fire away and let me know what you think…either post an idea or email me at dpowers@postcrescent.com, and the sooner the better! Thanks…Dan.

Posted by Guest Author as 2007 Convention at 11:24 AM EST

18 Comments »