2020 Single Category Winners
Judges: (click here for judges' bios)
Lead Judge, Dave LaBelle , Ellen Jaskol, Rick Loomis, Billy Weeks
General News
First Place: Patrick T. Fallon, Bloomberg
Former Vice President Joe Biden, 2020 Democratic presidential candidate, right, watches as his wife Jill Biden, center, blocks activist Ashley Froud, left, from arriving on stage during an primary night rally in the Baldwin Hills neighborhood of Los Angeles, California, U.S., on Tuesday, March 3, 2020.
Second Place: Thomas R. Cordova, Long Beach Post
Kevin Anderson stands toe to toe with a Long Beach police officer as he sheds a tear during a protest of the death of George Floyd, in Long Beach Sunday, May 31, 2020. At Broadway and Pine, purposely inches away from police officers blocking protesters. Anderson said he wasnÕt scared; he doesn’t live in fear. Regardless, as he stared into the eyes of armed officers, emotion got the better of him and he began to cry. He said that at the moment, he was overwhelmed by so much that was running through his mind, one being that black men like him have no power when interacting with police.
Third Place: Ringo Chiu, Associated Press
Fernando Arredondo, of Guatemala reunites with his daughters Andrea, left, Keyli, right, and Alison, second from left, at Los Angeles International Airport as they reunite after being separated during the Trump administration's wide-scale separation of immigrant families, Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2020, in Los Angeles.
Honorable Mention: Michael Coons, The Acorn Newspapers
Tamaira Kaster of Newbury Park cries as she speaks to a few hundred Black Lives Matter protesters about her experiences with racism in Thousand Oaks on June 2, 2020.
Honorable Mention: Jay L. Clendenin, Los Angeles Times
“Virtual hug” First Grade teacher Caitlin Hicks gives a “virtual hug” to Sid Solomon, 6 (7 in August), as she greets her students one final time, with social distance, picking up their years’ work and see each other in person for the first time in months because of the coronavirus pandemic, at Center Street Elementary, in El Segundo, CA, on Wednesday, June 3, 2020.
Honorable Mention: Thomas R. Cardova, Long Beach Post
Jalysa Perez gets overwhelmed as she wipes tears during a Millikan High School drive-thru graduation ceremony at the school in Long Beach Thursday, June 11, 2020.
Feature
First Place: Allen J. Schaben, Los Angeles Times
HUNTINGTON BEACH, CA - DECEMBER 01: A couple wear masks as they ice skate in solitude at dusk with an ocean view, a Christmas tree, decorative lights and a rare Southern California crowd-free ice skating experience at the Paséa Hotel & Spa on Tuesday, Dec. 1, 2020 in Huntington Beach, CA. The hotel bills their ice skating as the only ocean front ice rink on the west coast. The popular Hotel Del Coronado 2020 Skating by the Sea season, downtown Santa Monica ice skating, Queen Mary ice skating rinks are cancelled due to COVID-19 restrictions. The hotel requires masks be worn at all times, limits the number of skaters for social distancing, and wipes down touch areas. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
Second Place: Francine Orr, Los Angeles Times
Registered Nurse Kat Yi holds an iPad up to Eduardo Rojas so that his wife Angelica Rojas inside the ICU at Providence St. Jude Medical Center Christmas Day on Friday, Dec. 25, 2020 in Fullerton, CA. Eduardo Rojas is a covid patient. His fever is rising at the moment. Due to the coronavirus people can not generally visit their family members. The medical staff are caring for them and the staff are working the link between families and patients.
Third Place: Jay L. Clendenin, Los Angeles Times
"Quaran-Tan" Adhering to the California stay-at-home self quarantine order during the coronavirus pandemic, sisters Britta, left and Haley Cameron, 23, joined by their dog Kiki, utilize a patch of astroturf next to their home driveway in Redondo Beach, CA, on a warm day, Thursday, April 23, 2020. Haley, recently returning from her college apartment in Arizona, chose to spend quarantine with her parents and sister, but misses being able to sun tan at the nearby beach.
Honorable Mention: Terry Pierson, The Press Enterprise
Don Smith reads Dr. Seuss’ “Green Eggs and Ham” to Mason White, 3, of San Bernardino as he plays in the bookshelves during story time at Rowe Branch Library as part of Read Across America in San Bernardino on Monday, Mar 2, 2020.
Honorable Mention: Gina Ferazzi, Los Angeles Times
RIVERSIDE, CA - MARCH 31, 2020: Grace Carter, 15 of Riverside, practices her dance routine in the isolation of her bedroom since her dance classes and school were canceled during the coronavirus pandemic on March 31, 2020 in Riverside, California. On this Tuesday night, Carter would normally be at her dance studio practicing for an upcoming competition, instead she has to use the Zoom app on her iPhone to practice with her dance group. "It's hard. My bedroom is a smaller space. I miss all my friends at the studio, " she said. "It's harder using Zoom because there is a delay in the music, but it's the best way right now. " Her competition scheduled for the end of the month has been canceled. Carter has been dancing since she was three-years-old.
Portrait
First Place: Christina House, Los Angeles Times
Ashleigh Johnson is photographed at the Joint Forces Training Base in Los Alamitos, California where she trains with the U.S. women's water polo team. Johnson hopes to draw more Black women to aquatics.
Second Place: Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise
The El Dorado Fire is reflected in the glasses of an Arroyo Grande Hotshots firefighter as he watches a back fire burn at Carter Street and Bears Den Ranch Road in Yucaipa on Sunday, September 6, 2020.
Third Place: Christina House, Los Angeles Times
Ibtihaj Muhammad is photographed at Disney Hall in Los Angeles, California. Muhammad was the first Muslim American athlete to wear a hijab at the Olympic Games. She vowed to set an example: "I'm hoping to change the image that people may have of Muslim women. We come in all different shapes, colors and sizes and we come from different backgrounds and we're productive members of society."
Honorable Mention: Genaro Molina, Los Angeles Times
Brandy Russaw, 34, cries while remembering her brother, 20-year-old Jacob Russaw who committed suicide by hanging himself. At the time of his death he had been living homeless in Southern California. The case of Jacob’s death was of concern after another homeless man was found hanging in Lancaster during the height of the Black Lives Movement.
Honorable Mention: Francine Orr, Los Angeles Times
Registered Nurse Evalyn Karanja, RN working inside the COVID ICU at Providence Holy Cross Medical Center on Thursday, Dec. 31, 2020 in Mission Hills, CA. She is wearing a yellow isolation gown in the hall way, face sheild, scrubs, and two masks for her protection because this area is considered a hot zone for the covid virus.
Pictorial
First Place: Genaro Molina, Los Angeles Times
A bicyclist rides past the latest mural created by Mr. Brainwash that tells Americans to remain hopeful in the time of the coronavirus pandemic in Los Angeles on June 15, 2020.
Second Place: Genaro Molina, Los Angeles Times
A reflection of a shopper is framed by a reminder to shoppers to maintain social distance as shopping malls reopened during the coronavirus pandemic at the Beverly Center in Beverly Hills on October 8, 2020.
Third Place: Jennifer Cappuccio Maher, Freelance
Shadows - A cyclist passes under a bridge at Mt. Rubidoux in Riverside, California, Sunday, Jan. 5, 2020.
Honorable Mention: Jay L. Clendenin, Los Angeles Times
“Witch SUPers” Boats and silhouettes of dozens of witches on stand-up paddleboards make their way across King Harbor in Redondo Beach, CA, taking part in a Halloween float, sparked by a Facebook group titled, “Witches SUPers of South Bay Paddle,” Saturday, Oct. 31, 2020. Most in some form of costume, but primarily witches, with many kids and several dogs onboard.
Honorable Mention: Robert Gauthier, Los Angeles Times
Wilmington, CA, SUNDAY, MAY 3, 2020, - Tons of sulfur is stored at the California Sulfur Company facility.
Spot News
First Place: Robert Gauthier, Los Angeles Times
AJ Lovelace tries to stop looters from breaking into a Walgreens store at Santa Monica and Highland. “We need peace and we need someone to talk to each other,” he said after the looters fled the scene. He was one of hundreds of protestors on June 1, marching numerous blocks demonstrating against police brutality and the death of George Floyd.
According to Wikipedia - It was later estimated that between May 26 and August 22, 93% of individual protests were "peaceful and nondestructive" and The Washington Post estimated that by the end of June, 96.3% of 7,305 demonstrations involved no injuries and no property damage.
Second Place: Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News
A Pro Trump supporter, right, punches a Black Lives Matter supporter during a confrontation between Black Lives Matter and Pro-Trump supporters at a rally along Foothill Blvd between the Albertsons and In-N-Out Burger in Tujunga, California on Friday, August 14, 2020.
Third Place: Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin
A Riverside County Sheriff grabs a protester blocking a SWAT vehicle Monday June 1, 2020 in downtown Riverside as protesters failed to disperse during a protest for the death of George Floyd by the Minneapolis police.
Honorable Mention: Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News
Colored smoke bombs fill the air as Pro Trump supporters clash with Black Lives Matter protestors during a rally along Foothill Blvd between the Albertsons and In-N-Out Burger in Tujunga, California on Friday, August 14, 2020.
Honorable Mention: Thomas R. Cordova, Long Beach Post
A woman. yells out the man's name as the Los Angles County Corner takes the body of a man who was found dead at Gumbiner Park in Long Beach Friday, September 25, 2020. Police said the victim, only identified as a man, was in the park when another man came up to him and began shooting around 5:30 a.m.
A neighbor said he was standing on his balcony across the street when he saw a man on a bicycle ride up to the victim and fire multiple times. ÒIt was cold blooded,Ó the neighbor, who declined to give his name, said. ÒGuy didnÕt have a chance to react, thatÕs how fast it was.Ó
Honorable Mention: Ringo Chiu, Associated Press
A protester tries to stop others from attacking a police vehicle during a protest over the death of George Floyd in Los Angeles, Saturday, May 30, 2020. Thousands of protestors gathered in the Fairfax District on Saturday, marking a fourth night of unrest across Los Angeles after the deadly arrest of George Floyd in Minneapolis on Monday. The demonstration, initially planned by Black Lives Matter Los Angeles, began at Pan Pacific Park around noon.
Entertainment
First Place: Gina Ferazzi, Los Angeles Times
RIVERSIDE, CA- APRIL 29, 2020: Kat Bristow, 12, sits at the piano in the Roth’s living room playing the flute during music class taught by her neighbor music producer Gabe Roth during home school in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic on April 29, 2020 in Riverside, California. The Bristow’s, Roth’s and Furbush’s, who are also neighbors, have quarantined together and are home schooling the 8 children amongst them using the parents as teachers. They’ve named the school “Brothbush Academy” coined from the families’ last names.
Second Place: Ringo Chiu, Freelance
A member of the Salvation Army band wearing a face mask performs in front of the TCL Chinese Theatre during the Salvation Army’s signature red kettle donation collection in a drive-thru format due to the coronavirus pandemic, Thursday, Dec. 10, 2020 in Los Angeles.
Third Place: Jay L. Clendenin, Los Angeles Times
HOLLYWOOD, CA - JULY 29: International pop star Katy Perry takes a selfie with a billboard promoting her new album “Smile,” near her record label Capitol Records, in Hollywood, CA, Wednesday, July 29, 2020, This is Perry’s Sixth studio album.
Honorable Mention: Dania Maxwell, Los Angeles Times
People gather on the red carpet for the Oscars at the Dolby Theater on February 9, 2020, in Los Angeles, California.
Honorable Mention: John McCoy, Freelance
Lucinda Carver, an instructor at USC, works with a student during Master Classes at the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles, CA 2/23/2020. Photo by John McCoy
Sports Features
First Place: Gina Ferazzi, Los Angeles Times
LOS ANGELES, CA - AUGUST 8, 2020: Season ticket holder Keith Hupp, left, and David Lopez, right, watch the Dodgers play the San Francisco Giants from a far overlook spot because of the coronavirus pandemic in Elysian Park on August 8, 2020 in Los Angeles, CA. They are listening to the game on the radio since they are too far away to hear the sounds form the game. No fans are allowed in the stadium.
Second Place: Damian Dovarganes, Associated Press
Sneakers and a Los Angeles Lakers uniform with the numbers worn by NBA star Kobe Bryant are left at a memorial for Bryant while fans gather to pay their respect near Staples Center in Los Angeles. Bryant, the 18-time NBA All-Star who won five championships and became one of the greatest basketball players of his generation during a 20-year career with the Lakers, died in a helicopter crash Sunday, Jan. 26.
Third Place: Mark J. Terrill, Associated Press
Los Angeles Lakers center Dwight Howard’s feet are seen after he crashed into fans while chasing a loose ball during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Orlando Magic Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2020, in Los Angeles.
Honorable Mention: Jay L. Clendenin, Los Angeles Times
HERMOSA BEACH, CA - OCTOBER 07: A man flips off the screen, while watching the Vice Presidential debate and the Dodgers and Padres National League Championship Series from outdoor seating at Pedone's Pizza, in Hermosa Beach, CA,Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2020. Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw is seen on screen, below Democratic Vice Presidential candidate and California Senator Kamala Harris and Vice President Mike Pence.
Honorable Mention: Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News
Neal Epstein, 62-years old, left, and Jim Pizziferro, 73-years old, Tarzana, hit a heavy bag during a Rock Steady Boxing class at the House of Champions Martial Arts Academy in Van Nuys, Thursday, February 21, 2020.
Sports Action
First Place:Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News
Cris Cyborg, blue, takes a front kick to the face from featherweight champion Julia Budd. Cyborg defeated Budd by TKO to become the new champion during Bellator 238 at The Forum in Inglewood, CA., Saturday, January 25, 2020.
Second Place: Mark J. Terrill, Associated Press
San Francisco Giants’ Rob Brantly, left, breaks his bat as Los Angeles Dodgers relief pitcher Edubray Ramos, second from left, watches along with catcher Will Smith, right, and home plate umpire Edwin Moscoso during the eighth inning of a baseball game Friday, July 24, 2020, in Los Angeles. Brantly was thrown out at first on the play.
Third Place: Katharine Lotze -Frelance
HUNTINGTON BEACH, CALIFORNIA - DECEMBER 8: A surfer bails out at the top of a wave at sunset on the south side of the Huntington Beach Pier on December 8, 2020 in Huntington Beach, California.
Honorable Mention: Robert Hanashiro, USA Today
Oct 7, 2020; Los Angeles, California, USA; Houston Astros right fielder Kyle Tucker (30) reaches in to the stands filled with cardboard cutout fans but is unable to catch a game tying three run home run hit by Oakland Athletics third baseman Chad Pinder (not pictured) during the seventh inning in game three of the 2020 American League Championship Series at Dodger Stadium.
Honorable Mention: Robert Gauthier, Los Angeles Times
Arlington, Texas, Sunday, October 18, 2020. Los Angeles Dodgers third baseman Justin Turner (10) tags out Atlanta Braves shortstop Dansby Swanson (7) to start double play in the fourth inning in game seven of the NLCS at Globe Life Field.
Animal
First Place: Michael Coons,Acorn Newspapers
A gopher tries to escape from a crow near Westlake Elementary School in Westlake Village on April 8, 2020. The gopher was able to escape into their hole in the ground.
Second Place: Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News
Lady, a cocker spaniel jumps back as the tide rolls in at Rosie's Dog Beach in Long Beach on Wednesday, July 8, 2020.
Third Place: Mel Melcon, Los Angeles Times
BLACKWELL'S CORNER, CA-FEBRUARY 11, 2020: Michael Fiala and his dog Sox, a Siberian Husky, travel along Route 33 near Blackwell's Corner, a gas station and rest stop located at the intersection of Highways 46 and 33. They were on their way to Pinnacles National Park. Fiala, who is from the Big Island of Hawaii, said that they have ridden over 90,000 miles together, including 41 states and 31 national parks.
Honorable Mention: Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin
A praying mantis climbs on a leaf in Rancho Cucamonga Tuesday, July 14, 2020 after just molting from its clear outer skin.
Honorable Mention: Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin
A rat sits in the middle of Highway 38 as the El Dorado fire burns west of Forest Falls Wednesday evening Sept. 9, 2020. The El Dorado fire burned into the mountain community of Forest Falls and threatened a number of homes.
FIRE
First Place: Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News
8 year-old CJ Kenton hugs his dog Clyde in front of burned out structures that his grandfather Frank Kenton lost along with another family dog and various pets during the Bobcat Fire in Juniper Hills, California on Saturday, September 19, 2020. One of the family dogs is still missing. The fire may have been caused by vegetation coming into contact with a Southern California Edison overhead conductor.
Second Place: Robert Gauthier, Los Angeles Times
Monrovia, CA, September 15, 2020 - Castle Snider, 8, looks on as flames engulf the hillsides behind his backyard as the Bobcat Fire burns near homes on Oakglade Dr.
Third Place: Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise
Arroyo Grande Hotshots firefighter Shelby Robinett watches a backfire during the El Dorado Fire at Carter Street near Bears Den Ranch Road in Yucaipa on Sunday, September 6, 2020.
Honorable Mention: Ringo Chiu, Associated Press
An air tanker drops retardant as a wildfire burns a hillside in Yucaipa, Calif., Saturday, Sept. 5, 2020.
Honorable Mention: Robert Gauthier, Los Angeles
The Holser Fire consumed more than 1,000 acres by the end of its first day just East of Lake Piru. At the end of the year, 9,639 fires had burned 4,177,856 acres, more than 4% of California’s roughly 100 million acres of land, making 2020 the largest wildfire season recorded in the state’s modern history. On August 19, 2020, California Governor Gavin Newsom reported that the state was battling 367 known fires. According to the National Interagency Fire Center.
Honorable Mention: Terry Pierson, The Press Enterprise
Arroyo Grande Hotshots are silhouetted as they watch the backfire they set to burn off 100 aches of brush to protect homes near the fire line at Carter Street and Bears Den Ranch Road in Yucaipa on Sunday, September 6, 2020.
UCLA Sport
First Place: Katharine Lotze, Getty Images
UCLA's Gracie Kramer competes in floor exercise during a meet against the Utah Utes at Pauley Pavilion on February 23, 2020 in Los Angeles, California.
Second Place: Katharine Lotze, Getty Images
Camryn Brown #35, Eliana Sigal #51, and Brynn Masikewich #5 of the UCLA Bruins celebrate on the bench during the fourth quarter against the Oregon State Beavers at Pauley Pavilion on February 17, 2020 in Los Angeles, California.
Third Place: Katharine Lotze, Getty Images
Kyla Ross of the UCLA Bruins competes on beam during a meet against the Utah Utes at Pauley Pavilion on February 23, 2020 in Los Angeles, California.