Canadian news photographers honoured

VANCOUVER, Feb. 26, 2015 /CNW/ - This is a time of incredible consequence, and the extraordinary images captured by Canada's photojournalists continue to elevate the quality of our news coverage and uphold the level of public trust placed in the men and women who reflect our complex world through the lens of a camera. Armed with cameras and years of experience and training, today's photojournalists are using the power of photography to tell fuller, richer stories about our communities and the people within them.

It is in that spirit that the News Photographers Association of Canada (NPAC) is pleased to recognize the excellence represented in submissions by 122 of Canada's outstanding photojournalists in announcing the nominations in the eighth annual National Pictures of the Year (NPOY) awards competition.

More than 2,000 images from across Canada were entered in this year's competition, representing a spectacular body of work. Images were submitted and judged in 14 different categories, including Canadian Photojournalist of the Year and Canadian Photograph of the Year.

 All images and videos can be viewed by visiting the News Photographers Association of Canada's website at www.npac.ca. 

The winners will be announced during the NPAC's National Pictures of the Year Gala event, which will take place May 9^th, 2015 in Vancouver. 

The 2014 Canadian Photojournalist of the Year and 2014 Canadian Photograph of the Year will each be awarded a $2000.00 top prize (Sponsored by The Canadian Press and The Globe and Mail, respectively). Other category winners will be awarded $500.00 for First Place, $200.00 for Second Place and $100.00 for Third Place. NPOY and category sponsor Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT) are pleased to award a prize of $1000.00 to the top portfolio of images by a student. Students wishing to enter can do so until April 15^th at www.npac.ca.

About the National Pictures Of The Year Awards:

The National Pictures Of The Year awards competition was created by NPAC to recognize excellence in Canadian photojournalism. NPAC is a volunteer-run, non-profit association comprised of  professional and student photojournalists in Canada and they champion quality and ethical photography in journalism.

2014 National Pictures of the Year (NPOY) awards competition

Finalists

PHOTOJOURNALIST OF THE YEAR
Sponsored by The Canadian Press

Tyler Anderson / National Post
Mark Blinch / Reuters
Nathan Denette / The Canadian Press
Michelle Siu / Independent
Tim Smith / Brandon Sun

NEWS FEATURE
153 Entries
Sponsored by The Winnipeg Free Press

Andy Clark / Independent - Rainblossom Project
Johnathan Hayward / The Canadian Press - Chris Hadfield Airplane
Marta Iwanek / Toronto Star - Boys Playing Streamside
Peter Power / Independent - Innu Swing
Andrew Vaughan / The Canadian Press - Trudeau Punch

SPOT NEWS
36 Entries
Sponsored by The Camera Store

Cole Burston / The Globe and Mail - Running Cop
Wayne Cuddington / Ottawa Citizen - Fallen Soldier
Jennifer Gauthier / Metro - Oppenheimer Park
Jenna Hauck / Chilliwack Progress - Auto Crash
John Lehmann / The Globe and Mail - Pipeline Protest

GENERAL NEWS
122 Entries
Sponsored by CNW Group

Mark Blinch / Reuters - RCMP Pallbearers
Mark Blinch / Reuters - Mayor Ford Arrival
Nathan Denette / The Canadian Press - Dr. Qamar Funeral
Nathan Denette / The Canadian Press - Cirillo Highway Tribute
Nathan Denette / The Canadian Press - Kathy Cirillo at funeral

SPORTS ACTION
100 Entries
Sponsored by Nikon

Mathieu Belanger / Reuters - Syncronized Swimmer
Mark Blinch / Reuters - Sweden Goal
Nathan Denette / The Canadian Press - Tennis Leap
Jean Levac / Ottawa Citizen - Toews Wrap Around
Larry Wong / Edmonton Journal - Lacrosse Leap

SPORTS FEATURES
99 Entries
Sponsored by Vistek

Bernard Brault / LaPresse - Goalie and Bat
Wayne Cuddington / Ottawa Citizen - Team Photo
Ed Kaiser / Edmonton Journal - Snowboard Cross Jubilation
Vaughn Ridley / Getty Images - Hockey Tutus
Derek Ruttan / London Free Press / QMI Agency - Hockey Popeye

PICTORIAL
137 Entries
Sponsored by Canon

Joe Bryksa / Winnipeg Free Press - Winter Tree
Darren Calabrese / National Post - Steam Grate
Darryl Dyck / The Canadian Press - Fog and Boat
Daniel Hayduk / AFP - Construction Worker
Sean Kilpatrick / The Canadian Press - West Block Tower

PORTRAIT/PERSONALITY
172 Entries
Sponsored by Beau Photo

Wendell Phillips / Independent - Debbie, 49
Michelle Siu / Independent - Smoking Boy
Michelle Siu / Independent - Teenage Parents
Michelle Siu / Independent - Farmer Charles Bradley
Michelle Siu / Independent - Bernadette Bainbridge

SOCIAL ISSUE
72 Entries
Sponsored by ONA

Ruth Bonneville / Winnipeg Free Press - Coffin Hug
Michelle Siu / Independent - Teen Mom
Tim Smith / Brandon Sun - Cheryl Mauthe PreOp
Kevin Van Paassen / The Globe and Mail - Kim Teske
Chris Young / The Canadian Press - Homeless Palliative Care

PICTURE STORY
47 Entries
Sponsored by Leica

Tyler Anderson / National Post - Trapper William Tozer
Michelle Siu / Independent - Guatemalan Teen Moms
Michelle Siu / Independent - Farmer Charles Bradley, 94
Tim Smith / Brandon Sun - Cancer Patient Cheryl Mauthe
Kevin Van Paassen / The Globe and Mail - Kim Teske's Choice

SINGLE MULTIMEDIA
23 Entries

To Be A Boy - Annie Sakkab / Independent
Hearts of Feather - Annie Sakkab / Independent
Most Of Us - Guillaume Nolet / Independent
104-Year-Old Swimmer - Melissa Tait / Winnipeg Free Press
Chiara - Marta Iwanek / Toronto Star

TEAM MULTIMEDIA
23 Entries

The Beacon of Hope - Carla Antonio, Amanda Cheung, Dillan Cools, Maggie Naylor, Thomas Surian / Loyalist College Photojournalism 2nd Year
The San Diego Highway Man - Brent Foster, Tammy Foster, Gerald Mabee / Foster Visuals
Laughter from Pain - Jimmy Jeong, Tiffany Brown Olson / USA Today
The Black Nightmare - Ryan Jackson,Sam Brooks, Otiena Ellwand, Cailyn Klingbeil, Topher Sequin / Edmonton Journal
Digging for Dinosaurs - Todd Korol, Melissa Renwick / Toronto Star

STUDENT PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR
Sponsored by Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT)

Entry deadline April 15, 2015
Winner to be announced on May 9, 2015 at the NPOY Awards Gala

PHOTOGRAPH OF THE YEAR
Sponsored by The Globe and Mail

Winner to be announced on May 9, 2015 at the NPOY Awards Gala

All images and videos can be viewed by visiting the News Photographers Association of Canada's website at www.npac.ca.

SOURCE News Photographers Association of Canada

Laura Ballance, Laura Ballance Media Group, 604-771-5176 (cell), [email protected]