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 »

If you plan on entering this year’s WNPA POY contest, Friday, Feb. 23 was the last day to submit entries under deadline.

Posted by Administrator as Webmaster's Column at 10:07 AM EST

No 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 »

What type of camera do you use on your day job, and are you happy with it? Is it your own, or is it company-supplied equipment? Share your thoughts.

Posted by Administrator as WNPA Report at 7:33 PM EST

7 Comments »

Jeffrey Phelps won a third place in Sports Action singles at the World Press Photo contest. You can see the winning images at:

The World Press Photo Website

Phelps’ winning image.

Posted by Mark Hoffman as WNPA Report at 10:14 PM EST

4 Comments »

The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and the Associated Press reported Wednesday on escalating tensions between the WIAA and state newspapers over the production of photos and video at WIAA sanctioned events. Here is a link to the Associated Press story:

Newspapers refuse to pay WIAA $100 licensing fee 

Here is the first half of the article from JSOnline.com:

By DON WALKER
dwalker@journalsentinel.com

Posted: Feb. 7, 2007

With state championships in high school wrestling and basketball just weeks away, the state’s newspapers and the governing body for high-school athletics are embroiled in a dispute over photographic and video rights to the high-profile events.

Newspaper representatives say their photographers and, in some cases, videographers, have the right to photograph and film the events for use in newspapers and online. In addition, newspapers argue they have the right to sell photographs or videos taken at the championship events, as they always have.

The Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association (WIAA), which has sold exclusive photographic and video rights to the championship events to two companies, disagrees. Newspapers are welcome to cover the events, the association argues, but photos and videos are for editorial, not commercial use.

The two companies - Visual Image Photography Inc., and When We Were Young Productions - have been around for years. But it wasn’t until this year that the issue came to the forefront.

Read the entire article on JSOnline

Posted by Administrator as WNPA Report at 1:03 PM EST

No Comments »

Hello News Photographers,
I’m sorting through the January clips that y’all have sent in and I’m thrilled at the large number of shooters that sent their images. There are at least twice as many entries for January than there were for December. I hope that this continues and the contest is truly a gauge of the best work being published out there each day. After finishing my first stint as clip chair, I’d also like to share a few things I have noticed each month. These are just my opinions and
I cannot back these up with any scientific research but here goes. If you want to win more clips, know that……

1. Sports and Features carry the most entries each month. It is much harder to make your work stand out in these categories. General News is not far behind here. Many, many entries each month.

2. Feature Multiple almost always has the fewest entries. There were a couple of months with only three or four entries here.

3. Illustrations are also few and far between. If you enter a few really nice Illustrations each quarter, your chances will greatly improve.

4. Very Few people enter spot news. There are a few people that send in alot of spot news photos and they always do well.

Thats it. Good luck. Shoot for yourself and your readers, not to win contests, but do enter
your best work each month.

John Maniaci
WSJ Photo
WNPA Clip Chair

Posted by jmaniaci as Webmaster's Column, Clip Contest Update at 5:09 PM EST

No Comments »

The 2008 WNPA convention will be Friday, March 28 (judging) and Saturday, March 29 (speakers) in Milwaukee.

We’re planning on having Saturday’s session at the Hotel Metro, unless we feel we’re going have a lot more people attend than the 110 person capacity of the ballroom.

The Milwaukee Art Museum is a great venue, but it’s expensive. The Hotel Metro allows us to reduce expenses and still have a great program.

The added bonus is the greater selection nearby restaurants for lunch.

We’ll have a block of room available at the same rates as last year. Deluxe suites $149/nt, Spa suitse $169/nt & Master suites $199/nt.

The contact person at the Hotel Metro is Lynette Dengel; ldengel@hotelmetro.com.

There are less expensive hotel options nearby.

We chose this hotel because are speakers aren’t paid and we want to make it a memorable experience for them.

Once again, we’re tentatively planning on having the rooftop bar for our social gathering on Friday night.

Check the WNPA website for convention updates.

Posted by Guest Author as WNPA Report, 2008 Convention at 11:56 AM EST

No Comments »