Illinois Press Photographers Association September Monthly Clip Contest
Illinois Press Photographers Association September Monthly Clip Contest
Judged by the staff at Army Times Publishing
Steve Elfers- Director of Photography
Alan Lessig- Assistant Director of Photography
Rob Curtis- Senior Photographer
James Lee- Staff Photographer
Please send a digital image of your winning entry to Steve Warmowski at -email- by December 2, 2005.
File specs: 10 inches longest dimension; 200 ppi; jpeg 8 compression.
If your entry was multiple photos, please submit which photos you want to run, regardless of number. Please include caption information.
News
1st
Photographer: Scott M. Bort
Publication: The (Elgin) Courier News Date Published: Sept. 19, 2005
Description: “Bus Rides May End”
2nd
Photographer: John Smierciak
Publication: Chicago Tribune Date Published: Sept. 5, 2005
Description: Rejoice
3rd
Photographer: Michael Schmidt
Publication: The NewsSun
Date Published: Sept. 19, 2005
Description: Memorial Dedication
HM: T.J. Salsman The State Journal-Register Sept. 6, 2005 Katrina Victim
HM: Danielle Gardner Naperville Sun Sept. 12, 2005 Katrina Clinic
News Comments:
Steve: We had a number of papers head to Katrina looking for a local angle on a national story with mixed results. 1st Place is a quiet, controlled and layered approach to a simple news story.
Alan: 1st Place did a great job illustrating this story. This picture makes me want to read a story that doesn’t directly impact me.
Rob: 2nd place had a strong moment hurt only by hurried composition. 3rd place was well composed and stood out in a category with lots of crying photos.
J.Lee: 3rd place I was pleased to see the emotion across this category. The Katrina Victim was a good find ten days after the event. I like the simple emotion in the other HM from the Katrina Clinic. 1st Place, however, stood out immediately as the photographer brought depth to the story through his own creativity.
Sports
1st
Photographer: Matt Dayhoff
Publication: Peoria Journal Star
Date Published: Sept. 19, 2005
Description: Big Hit
2nd
Photographer: David Banks
Publication: Daily Southtown
Date Published: Sept. 26, 2005
Description: Throwing It All Away
3rd
Photographer: Jon Cunningham
Publication: Liberty Newspapers
Date Published: Sept. 22, 2005
Description: Soccer Ball Head
HR: John Henry Miller Newspapers Sept. 29, 2005 Missed Pass
HR: Steve Warmowski Jacksonville Journal Courier Sept 13, 2005 Chomping, Gnashing
ports Comments:
J.Lee : The sports category garnered great debate here in the office but we all agreed on the First Place winner due to the peak action, good moment, and clean composition.
Rob: Second Place is a story telling image with good composition. Sports is more than just peak action.
Steve: The sports category was a strong one and the debate was lively between second and third. The final second place winner of Chicago Bears Kyle Orton walking off the field after 5 interceptions won the argument in double overtime.
Alan: First was a nice peak action shot, you could almost hear the Lion’s players neck snap. Second was a game telling image off of the action. Third was a funny shot with peak action at a prep soccer game. We have seen the Soccer Ball Head before, but the kid’s hair flying makes the shot.
Feature-Single
1st
Photographer: Jusin Runquist
Publication: The Beacon News
Date Published: Sept. 10, 2005
Description: Model Airplane
2nd
Photographer: Jeff Thompson
Publication: The State Journal - Register
Date Published: Sept. 22, 2005
Description: Horse and Handler
3rd
Photographer: Tom Sistak
Publication: The Times
Date Published: Sept. 20, 2005.
Description: Soda and a Haircut
Feature-Single Comments:
Rob: Overall lack of moments. Disappointed in how much the category relied on graphic cliches. Winners barely stood out.
Steve: Generally, this was a weak category. First place displayed a satisfying visual simplicity. Second Place mixed nice lighting with humorous subject placement.
J.Lee: This category lacked moments and emotion. The model airplane shoot was the most graphically pleasing, though predictable. We felt the horse and handler would have been stronger if cropped (shot) tighter to emphasis the humor.
Alan: Moments and emotion were totally lacking in this category. What we were left with were lifted up by their graphic design design, good light and making the most of quiet situations.
Feature-Multiple
1st
Photographer: Jeff Thompson
Publication: The State Journal - Register
Date Published: Sept. 23, 2005
Description: Field of Dreams
2nd
Photographer: Stephanie Oberlander
Publication: The Pantagraph
Date Published: Sept. 11, 2005
Description: Passion for Service
3rd:
Photographer: Steve Warmowski
Publication: Jacksonville Journal - Courier
Date Published: Sept. 25, 2005
Description: Blue Bayou
HM: John Starks Daily Herald Sept. 7, 2005 Bugs are Beautiful
Feature Multiple Comments:
Rob: First Place was a clear winner that shows depth on many levels. Story well told through careful compositions, good light, and color.
J.Lee: I would have liked to have seen more entries in this category. “Field of Dreams” stood out because the shooter covered all aspects with a good variety of lensing and angles, something the other contenders often lacked. This felt like a well thought out and executed story opposed to others which seemed pieced together.
Steve: We had a clear and unanimous first place winner then the entries weakened considerably. First place was thoughtful and thorough with strong photos through the spread.
Alan: First place was the clear winner of this category. A wonderful and in-depth variety of images that “take me out to the game” one last time.