MNPA - Clip Contest - Second Quarter Results

Minnesota News Photographers Association

2002 Second Quarter Results

2nd Quarter clips were judged by The Day in New London, Connecticut, circulation 45,000. Sean D. Elliot, Chief Photographer; Milton Moure, Director of Photo and Graphics; Tim Martin, Dana Jensen, Suzanne Ouellette, Kate Gardiner, Tim Cook, Staff Photographers

NEWS - (21 entries)

Christina Paolucci, Rochester Post-Bulletin "Historic Building Fire"

Justin Hayworth, Duluth News Tribune, "Teen Mom"
Renee Knoeber, Duluth News Tribune, "Protest"
Honorable Mention.Clint Wood, Brainerd Daily Dispatch, "Wildfire"

Judges Comments: An overall weak category. Top two rose for intimate portrayal of emotion. Third won for the intense feeling of tension. HM was a powerful photo of an exhausted and exasperated firefighter.

FEATURE - (25 entries)

Matt Miller, Rochester Post-Bulletin, "Prom Night"
Elizabeth Nida, Rochester Post-Bulletin, "Water Park"
Brain Basham, Detroit Lakes Tribune "Snake Surprise"
Honorable Mention. Justin Hayworth, "Bike Plunge"
Honorable Mention. Ingrid Young, Duluth News Tribune, "Ribbon Cutting"

Judges Comments: This was a tough category with a lot of images that looked like weak general news. Number one jumped out very quickly for the light and quiet moment. Two was a lucky grab that really jumps graphically. Third won on the merit of catching the "sheepish" look on the boy. The first honorable mention caught our eye for the dramatic action. The second was a cute shot from a boring ribbon cutting assignment.
SPORTS ACTION - (24 entries)

Christina Paolucci, "Volleyball"
Scott Heraldson, Winona Daily New, "RPM"
Ingrid Young, "Softball Collision"
Honorable Mention. Justin Hayworth, "Victory/Defeat"
Honorable Mention. Brian Basham, "Softball Dive"
Honorable Mention. Christina Paolucci, "Rugby"

Judges Comments: Lots of routine action, so the winners really look out at us. First wins on being well-composed peak action. Second was also perfectly framed peak action. Third was a great collision. The first honorable mention was a nice reaction to a double play. The second was a dramatic action shot we all liked too much to dismiss.

SPORTS FEATURE - (14 entries)

Justin Hayworth, "Marathon Hug"
Elizabeth Nida, "Dejected Ballplayer"
Ingrid Young, "Post Marathon"

Judges Comments: The weakest single category. First won for the face and body language. Second was all body language. Third was different. All three stood out of the category.
Portrait/Personality.

PORTRAIT & PERSONALITY - (13 entries)

Renee Knoeber, "Worm Front"
Brian Basham, Detroit Lakes Newspapers, "Orbison Impersonator"
Christina Paolucci. "Style Portrait"
Honorable Mention. Matt Miller, "Sudan Refugee"

Judges Comments: First just won us on first sight. A great, funny portrait. For second, we liked the behind the scenes feel of the Roy Orbison impersonator warming up. For third, we liked the dramatic tension. HM was a simple, clean portrait where we could feel the desperation of the Sudanese refugee.
ILLUSTRATION -
All illustration entries will be judged together in the 4th quarter clip contest.
PICTORIAL - (11 entries)

Renee Knoeber, "Railyard"
Matt Miller, "Bouquet & Gloves"
Matt Miller, "Horse Grooming"

Judges Comments: We liked the lines and the light that made a noisy railyard almost serene for first place. Second was a little different, but had a clear elegance. Third was a nice use of light and dark. All three winners were not just pretty pictures, but pretty pictures with editorial content.
PHOTO PACKAGE - (17 entries)

Matt Miller, "Prom"
Justin Hayworth, "Clowns"
Derek Neas, Duluth News Tribune, "Tree Swallows"
Honorable Mention. Matt Miller, "Skating Rink"

Judges Comments: Too many photo packages that had one (and only one) good photo. The winners had more than one in each. Our first place winner actually had winners in two single categories. They jumped out in this one too. For second, the clowns really won on a clean edit with a nice variety of images. We liked third as a clean, simple package; though we would have used a different lead photo.
PHOTO STORY - (4 entries)

Renee Knoeber, "Beauty Salon"
Christina Paolucci, "Crafting a New Life"

Judges Comments: There were only four entries in this category, and only two were winners in our eyes. First place was a clean narrative style with nice images. With the second, we pretty much liked all the photos, though they lacked a really strong sense of the story. The layout was terrible for second. Jumbled design and too many small photos.