Winners of National Pictures of the Year announced

NEWS PHOTOGRAPHERS ASSOCIATION OF CANADA SELECTS TOP PHOTOJOURNALISTS OF 2011

OTTAWA, April 29, 2012 /CNW/ - The News Photographers Association of Canada (NPAC) has announced the winners of its annual National Pictures of the Year (NPOY) award during the National Pictures of the Year Gala event in Ottawa, Ontario on April 28, 2012.

NPAC NPOY Organizer, Ric Ernst, says once again the judges where overwhelmed with the quality of work submitted by the photographers. "The nominated photos transport the viewer to a different time and place, allowing them to experience a moment as if it was their own," says Ernst. "The judges found it incredibly difficult to select the winners, but feel they chose the photographs that best established a connection with the subject."

The winning photojournalists take the viewer on a journey across the globe. From Rich Lam's now infamous photo of a young man comforting his girlfriend with a kiss after she was knocked to the ground during the Vancouver riot of 2011, to Jennifer Roberts' snapshot of a trapeze artist flawlessly suspended upside down during a Cirque de Soleil rehearsal in Toronto, the photographs capture an incredible cross section of life this year.

The News Photographers Association of Canada's 2011 National Pictures of the Year Winners Are:

Spot News - Sponsored by The Camera Store

1. Jason Payne - The Province & The Vancouver Sun
2. Tijana Martin - Independent
3. Deborah Baic - The Globe and Mail

Honorable Mention: Tyler Anderson - The National Post
Honorable Mention: Rich Lam - Getty Images

General News - Sponsored by CNW

1. Benoit Gariepy - Journal de Quebec
2. Rick Madonik - The Toronto Star
3. Jeff McIntosh - The Canadian Press

Honorable Mention: Joel Ford - The Bay of Plenty Times (New Zealand)
Honorable Mention: Lindsay Mackenzie - Independent

Feature sponsored by The Winnipeg Free Press

1. Carlos Osorio - The Toronto Star
2. Darryl Dyck - The Canadian Press
3. Dave Chidley - The Canadian Press

Portrait / Personality sponsored by Beau Photo

1. John Lehmann - The Globe and Mail
2. Darryl Dyck - The Canadian Press
3. Jennifer Roberts - The Globe and Mail

Honorable Mention: Moe Doiron - The Globe and Mail
Honorable Mention: Chris Young - The Canadian Press

Sports Action sponsored by Nikon Canada

1. Steve Russell - The Toronto Star
2. Lorraine Hjalte - The Calgary Herald
3. Mathieu Belanger - Reuters

Honorable Mention: Nathan Denette - The Canadian Press
Honorable Mention: Nathan Denette - The Canadian Press

Sports Feature sponsored by Lowepro Canada

1. Nathan Denette - The Canadian Press
2. Harrison Ha - Sing Pao
3. Ben Nelms - Reuters

Honorable Mention: Andy Clark - Reuters
Honorable Mention: Adrien Veczan - The Chronicle Herald

Pictorial sponsored by Canon Canada

1. Todd Korol - Reuters
2. John Lehmann - The Globe and Mail
3. Amber Bracken - The Edmonton Sun

Social Issue sponsored by Headshots

1. Moe Doiron - The Globe and Mail
2. Matthew Sherwood - Independent
3. Marco Campanozzi - La Presse

Honorable Mention: Phil Hossack - The Winnipeg Free Press
Honorable Mention: John Lucas - The Edmonton Journal

Single Multimedia sponsored by The Globe and Mail

1. Mark Blinch - Reuters
2. Leah Hennell - The Calgary Herald
3. Melissa Tait - The Record.com (Kitchener)

Honorable Mention: Ryan Jackson - The Edmonton Journal

Team Multimedia - Sponsored by Vistek

1. The ChronicleHerald.ca (Halifax) - Nova Scotia Burning
2. The ChronicleHerald.ca (Halifax) - Crossroads
3. The Province.com (Vancouver) - Boomerangst

Picture Story - Sponsored by Leica

1. Jason Payne - The Province & The Vancouver Sun
2. Jason Franson - Independent
3. Mark Blinch - Reuters

Honorable Mention: Paul Chiasson - The Canadian Press
Honorable Mention: Peter Power - The Globe and Mail

Photojournalist of the Year winner & finalists - Sponsored by Reuters

Winner:
Steve Russell - The Toronto Star

Finalists:
Mathieu Belanger - Reuters
Darryl Dyck - The Canadian Press
John Lehmann - The Globe and Mail
Rick Madonik - The Toronto Star
Carmine Marinelli - 24 Hours

Photograph of the Year - Sponsored by Reuters

Jason Payne - The Province & The Vancouver Sun

Student Photojournalist of the Year - Sponsored by SAIT

Chloe Ellingson - Loyalist College

2011 Western Regional Monthly Clips Winner

John Lehmann - The Globe and Mail

2011 Eastern Regional Monthly Clips Winner - Sponsored by Loyalist College

Mark Blinch - Reuters

Prizes are as follows:
Photojournalist of the Year : $2,000
Photograph of the the Year : $2,000
Student Photojournalist of the Year: $1,000

All other categories:
First place : $500
Second place : $200
Third place : $100
Honourable Mention : Certificate

Media Contact:

Laura Ballance
604-637-6646
604-771-5176 (cell)
[email protected]