2021 Single Category Winners
Judges: (click here for judges' bios)
Lead Judge Dave LaBelle , Renee C. Byer, Mark Johnson, Josh Meltzer, Jessica Phelps, Billy Weeks
General News
First Place: Don Bartletti, freelance
APRIL 21, 2021. SAN LUIS, ARIZONA. Two Cuban nationals fall to their knees after scaling a gate in the U.S./Mexico border fence at San Luis, Arizona. They and companions behind them squeezed through an existing cut in the barbed wire. They told me the stunt was a spontaneous act of celebration to end their journey from Cuba and through Central America and Mexico. This $-multi-million barrier on the banks of the Colorado River was funded, engineered and built during the Trump Administration - but it sits 100 yards inside Arizona. Scores of people daily trek over the dry river bed and land on U.S. territory. This is the only time in my 42 years of photographing border dynamics where not a single undocumented immigrant attempted to flee capture. Everyone begged to be taken into custody and pleaded for asylum.
Second Place: Jay L. Clendenin, Los Angeles Times
Carson, CA - October 25: Life-long Carson resident Brandi Murdock, left, gets emotional while speaking with California state Senator Mark Bradford about the continuing foul odor in the city, following a press conference with Carson Mayor Lula Davis-Holmes, at Carson City Hall, in Carson, CA, Monday, Oct. 25, 2021. The Carson City Council urged Los Angeles County and Governor Newsom to each issue a proclamation of emergency.
Third Place: Jerry Soifer, freelance
Howard Eckert, American Legion commander of Post 262 and master of ceremonies for a Memorial Day commemoration Monday, is filled with emotion as he gives the folded American flag to Susan Campbell, widow of the founder of the Memorial Day ceremony at Green Acres Memorial Park, Alan Campbell.
Award of Excellence: Don Bartletti, freelance
MAY 2, 2021. SAN LUIS, ARIZONA. Three Brazilian children from the DeCarvalho family peer through the 30-ft-high U.S./Mexico border fence. Their parents led them through an unsecured gap in the border at San Luis Rio Colorado, Mexico. They hiked 2-miles before surrendering here to the U.S. Border Patrol.
Award of Excellence: Patrick T. Fallon, Agence France Presse
Counter-protesters spray pepper spray as they clash with people during a "Patriot March" demonstration in support of President Trump on January 9, 2021 in the Pacific Beach neighborhood of San Diego, California.
Award of Excellence: Ringo Chiu, freelance
Melanie Bolanos, 9, writes messages on a car window to protest hate crimes committed against Asian-American and Pacific Islander communities ahead of a car caravan in Koreatown on March 19, 2021 in Los Angeles. Asian communities in the U.S. have been shaken by recent racist attacks and a series of shootings at spas in the Atlanta area that left eight people dead, including six Asian women.
Feature
First Place: Genaro Molina, Los Angeles Times
Diane McClinden, 63, and her dog Frankie, try and stay cool in their trailer in Almar Acres RV Park in Desert Hot Springs on July 26, 2021. “It’ pretty miserable here,” McClinden said on this day where temperatures reached a high of 97 degrees. “I don’t know what the first electric bill will be. I’m scared,” she said. McClinden recently moved into the unit. This is her first summer in Desert Hot Springs and she’s already talking about moving out of the city because of the excessive heat. She spends the day in front of a fan, with a wet towel over her shoulders in the living room of her trailer. She leaves the AC unit on low to keep her energy bill at a minimum.
Second Place: Gina Ferazzi, Los Angeles Times
RIVERSIDE, CA - MARCH 9, 2021: Office Assistant Patricia Uribarre consoles a scared student on the first day back to school after almost one year at Pachappa Elementary on March 9, 2021 in Riverside, California. The school was closed on March 13, 2020 because of the coronavirus pandemic.The students have been divided into two groups. One group attends in-person learning on Tuesdays and the other on Thursdays. All students will stay in remote learning the other days of the week.
Third Place: Genaro Molina, Los Angeles Times
Roger Embrey, 40, walks to a job interview along a deserted portion of Dillon Road in Desert Hot Springs where temperatures reached 107 degrees on July 27, 2021. Embrey, from Palm Springs, took a bus to the nearby city and had to walk a couple of miles through the 107 degree heat to apply for a job as a driver for a company that transports handicapped children. Emery, carrying a cup of hot coffee, believes that drinking a hot beverage in hot weather can help your body stay cool. A few deaths in Desert Hot Springs were caused by excessive heat in 2020.
Award of Excellence: Genaro Molina, Los Angeles Times
Terri Taylor turns and raises her hands to a projection of her friend chef David Thomas while speaking at his memorial service inside the Holsinger Chapel at the Los Angeles Mission on April 30, 2021. Thomas, 61, who came up from the streets of Skid Row, eventually lead the kitchen as Food Service Director at the Los Angeles Mission over the past 20 years. Chef Michael Voltaggio, who spoke at the memorial, calculated that Chef Thomas was responsible for about 12 million meals for guests at the LA Mission. Only about 70 people were allowed to attend to maintain safety measures regarding COVID-19.
Award of Excellence: Amy Gaskin, Freelance
Marilyn Monroe helps save the theater during the pandemic. Due the Covid-19 pandemic, many movie theaters are shut down, losing billions of dollars in revenue globally. To make up for lost income, the TCL Chinese Theater on Hollywood Blvd. closed its famous courtyard to visitors and decided to charge an entry fee to the few tourists who visit. Visitors can no longer freely touch her handprints in the cement due to virus concerns, but they can now take pictures with her outdoors for a fee. A mannequin of Marilyn Monroe is installed by employee Earl on Thursday, March 11, 2021 in the Hollywood neighborhood of Los Angeles, Calif.
Award of Excellence: Amy Gaskin, Freelance
Artist and Restoration Assistant Adrian Morante, of the Seward Johnson Atelier, sprays the “Forever Marilyn” sculpture before dawn. The 26 foot tall, 24,000 pound stainless steel and aluminum sculpture is being erected in Palm Springs to promote tourism during the COVID-19 pandemic, reportedly at a cost of $1 million. The sculpture's installation made national news when a group protested and sued the city, saying the location is not appropriate. Others are protesting the statue's pose, saying it over sexualizes Monroe. Due to a record heat wave, with temperatures during the week tying the all time high of 123 degrees, the surface of the statue reached over 150 degrees. The heat is making it impossible for the artists to complete much of the work during the daytime, forcing them to work at night. Saturday, June 19, 2021 in Palm Springs, Calif.
Award of Excellence: Brandon Richardson, Long Beach Post
A bicyclist rides past a large homeless encampment just off the 710 Freeway outside Downtown Long Beach Thursday, April 22, 2021. The area was cleared days later by city and county crews.
Award of Excellence: Ringo Chiu, freelance
A woman pulls a trolley with a baby girl as an almost full moon rises behind during the sun sets in Los Angeles, Wednesday, June 23, 2021.
Portrait
First Place: Daniel Dreifuss, freelance
Lotte Marcus, a Holocaust surviver from Vienna who became a psychologist at the age of 50 plus to help people.
Second Place: Christina House, Los Angeles Times
Rapper Ruby Ibarra is photographed on the BART in San Ramon, California on Monday, August 16, 2021. “What makes me want to be a better artist is seeing all these Filipinas killing it right now. We have [weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz], who brought home the [Olympic] gold recently and [rapper] Saweetie, who has her very own McDonald’s meal now. This is a time when so many Pinays are killing it and I’ve gotta represent,” said Ibarra.
Third Place: Genaro Molina, Los Angeles Times
Karla Funderburk, owner of Matter Studio and Gallery, is surrounded by hundred of cranes that make up, “A Memorial for COVID-19 Victims,” at her studio in Los Angeles on February 9, 2021. Funderburk has hung tens of thousands of paper cranes to commemorate those who have died from COVID-19. At first she folded them herself but once she realized it would take decades to make enough, she put out a call for people to send them to her. She's collected upward of 60,000 cranes from 45 different states and nine countries.
Award of Excellence: Christina House, Los Angeles Times
Ernest Siva, 84, one of the last remaining oral historians of the Indigenous Serrano language, is photographed at the Dorothy Ramon Learning Center in Banning on Tuesday, November 23, 2021. After his aunt died, he and his wife, June, opened the center, where they host Indigenous works of art, including theater, poetry and music. . “My great-grandfather told his family: ‘You have to remember your culture and language, or else you’ll be left a wandering tribe,’” said Siva.
Award of Excellence: Jay L. Clendenin, Los Angeles Times
CARMEL-BY-THE-SEA, CA - September 02: A portrait of Oscar-winning director Clint Eastwood, 91, photographed with an 8x10-inch film camera, amongst the oak trees, on the grounds of his Tehama Golf Club, in Carmel-By-The-Sea, CA, in support of his newest film, which he also stars in, “Cry Macho,” Thursday, Sept. 2, 2021.
Pictorial
First Place: Paul Rodriguez, FREELANCE
The U.S. flag forms a patriotic backdrop for the Orange Community Master Chorale as they perform a selection of songs at the 3rd of July Celebration at Grijalva Park in Orange, California on July 3, 2021. The city’s 3rd of July celebration was restarted this year after being cancelled in 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The city of Orange always holds its 4th of July celebration on the 3rd.
Second Place: Ringo Chiu, Freelance
Motorists wait in long lines to take a coronavirus test in a parking lot at Dodger Stadium Monday, Jan. 4, 2021, in Los Angeles.
Third Place: Jennifer Cappuccio Maher, Freelance
Lights - A couple walks through the Los Angeles County Arboretum and Botanic Garden during its annual Lightscape event in Arcadia, California, on Friday Nov. 19, 2021.
Award of Excellence: Ringo Chiu, freelance
An aerial photo shows floating barriers known as booms to try to stop further incursion into the Wetlands Talbert Marsh after an oil spill in Huntington Beach, Calif., on Huntington Beach, Calif., on Monday, Oct. 4, 2021. A major oil spill off the coast of Southern California fouled popular beaches and killed wildlife while crews scrambled Sunday, to contain the crude before it spread further into protected wetlands.
Award of Excellence: Jennifer Cappuccio Maher, Freelance
Skater - A skateboarder passes by a staircase along State Street in Santa Barbara, California, on Friday, July 9, 2021.
Spot News
First Place: Ringo Chiu, Associated Press
A police officer comforts Soledad Peralta at the scene where her 14-year-old daughter Valentina Orellana-Peralta, killed by a stray bullet fired by an LAPD officer in a shooting at a Burlington store in North Hollywood, Calif., Thursday, Dec. 23, 2021.
Second Place: Ringo Chiu, Agence France Presse
Counter protesters and supporters of President Donald Trump fight during a protest in Los Angeles, California, on January 6, 2021. - Trump supporters, fueled by his spurious claims of voter fraud, are protesting the expected certification of Joe Biden's White House victory by the US Congress on January 6.
Third Place: Ringo Chiu, Agence France Presse
Police officers detain a protester after a fight during a protest to support President Donald Trump fight in Los Angeles, California, on January 6, 2021. - Trump supporters, fueled by his spurious claims of voter fraud, are protesting the expected certification of Joe Biden's White House victory by the US Congress on January 6.
Award of Excellence: Ringo Chiu, Agence France Presse
A counter protester yells after getting maced in the face by the supporters of US President Donald Trump during a protest in Los Angeles, California, on January 6, 2021. - Trump supporters, fueled by his spurious claims of voter fraud, are protesting the expected certification of Joe Biden's White House victory by the US Congress on January 6.
Award of Excellence: Patrick T. Fallon, Agence France Presse
People react as a sudden rain shower soaks them with water while riding out of a flooded neighborhood in a volunteer high water truck assisting people evacuating from homes after neighborhoods flooded in LaPlace, Louisiana on August 30, 2021 in the aftermath of Hurricane Ida. - Rescuers on Monday combed through the "catastrophic" damage Hurricane Ida did to Louisiana, a day after the fierce storm killed at least two people, stranded others in rising floodwaters and sheared the roofs off homes.
Award of Excellence: Thomas R. Cordova, Long Beach Post
A woman who is related to the suspect rushes a police officer as police arrest a suspected shooter after a two-hour standoff in Long Beach Thursday, July 1, 2021. The woman was arrested for resisting and obstructing a police officer and was held on zero-dollar bail.
Award of Excellence: Brandon Richardson, Long Beach Post
Sheriff’s deputies use a pepper spray canister to force a driver out of his vehicle after an hour-long standoff in front of the LA County Sheriff station in Lakewood, Calif., Saturday, June 12, 2021.
Entertainment
First Place: Jay L. Clendenin, Los Angeles Times
Hollywood, CA - November 10: June Spencer,6, daughter of cinematographer Alice Brooks, right and Sam Spencer, on the red carpet of the 2021 AFI Fest Opening Night Gala Premiere of Netflix’s, “tick, tick…BOOM!,” at TCL Chinese Theatre, in Hollywood, CA, Wednesday, Nov. 10, 2021.
Second Place: Aude Guerrucci, Redux
In between events, policemen pose for a picture on the red carpet at the end of the 74th annual Cannes Film Festival in Cannes, France on July 16, 2021.
Third Place: Patrick T. Fallon, Agence France Presse
Whitney Houston's music video for "I Wanna Dance With Somebody" plays as a dancer wears a face mask while people dance and drink at a bar after midnight early Sunday morning on July 18, 2021 in West Hollywood, California. - Wearing a face mask at indoor public establishments will once again be mandatory in Los Angeles County starting at 11:59pm July 17, 2021 for both vaccinated and unvaccinated people due to a steady increase in Covid-19 infections and hospitalizations, health authorities said.
Award of Excellence: Jay L. Clendenin, Los Angeles Times
Los Angeles, CA - March 14: Noah Cyrus is prepped by a COVID-19-safe stylist for her moment on the red carpet at the 63rd Annual Grammy Awards, at the Los Angeles Convention Center, in downtown Los Angeles, CA, Sunday, March 14, 2021.
Award of Excellence: Ringo Chiu, Freelance
Audiences wearing face masks attend the LA Philharmonic Homecoming Concert & Gala in Walt Disney Concert Hall, Saturday, October 9, 2021 in Los Angeles.
Sports Features
First Place: Patrick T. Fallon, Agence France Presse
Mark Magsayo (R) of the Philippines backflips as he celebrates after knocking down Julio Ceja (L) of Mexico during the WBA Featherweight Title Eliminator boxing match at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada on August 21, 2021.
Second Place: Michael Coons, The Acorn Newspapers
Thousand Oaks’ Charlie Saum holds onto the championship in the dugout following the Lancers’ win over Trabuco Hills during the CIF-SS Division 2 championship at CSU Fullerton on June 19, 2021.
Third Place: Brandon Richardson, Long Beach Post
A man takes a selfie as Stadium Super Trucks fly through the air during Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach race weekend in Downtown Saturday, Sept. 25, 2021.
Award of Excellence: Jerry Soifer
Corona Santiago's Hannah Guzzetti, rear ,comforts teammate Angeli Gilane after the Sharks lost to Lake Forest El Toro in the CIF Div. 3 quarter finals Wednesday at Santiago. Santiago won the first game, 25-19, but the Chargers came back to win three straight games, 25-16, 25-21 and 27-25.
Award of Excellence: Mark J. Terrill, Associated Press
Paula Badosa, foreground, of Spain, is viewed through her trophy as she begins to hold it up after defeating Victoria Azarenka, left, of Belarus, in the singles final at the BNP Paribas Open tennis tournament Sunday, Oct. 17, 2021, in Indian Wells, Calif.
Award of Excellence: Mark J. Terrill, Associated Press
Los Angeles Dodgers right fielder Mookie Betts hangs on the wall as fans cheer after making a catch on a ball hit by Arizona Diamondbacks' Tim Locastro during the seventh inning of a baseball game Monday, May 17, 2021, in Los Angeles.
Award of Excellence: Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News
San Dimas celebrates after defeating El Segundo 5-2 to win the CIF State Southern California Division 4 regional final soccer match at El Segundo High school in El Segundo on Saturday, June 5, 2021.
Award of Excellence: Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News
Head coach Bruce Rollinson of Mater Dei Monarchs is hoisted on the shoulders of his players after defeating the Serra Padres 44-7 during a 2021 CIF State Football Championship Bowl Game at Saddleback College in Mission Viejo on Saturday, December 11, 2021.
Sports Action
First Place: Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News
Wide receiver Tahj Washington #16 of the USC Trojans catches a pass and dives for the first down against the Brigham Young Cougars in the second half of a NCAA football game at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles on Saturday, November 27, 2021.
Second Place: Paul Rodriguez, FREELANCE
Servite Catholic High School wide receiver Ethan Scaffidi, center, has an open field to the end zone as teammates Oskar Madrigal, left, and Aden Eckenwiler, right, run with him along the side line yelling encouragement in Santa Ana, California on August 20, 2021.
Third Place: Michael Coons, The Acorn Newspapers
Simi Valley’s Benjamin Sawyer, left, and Dominic Womack collide near the dugout while chasing a pop fly by Royal High at home on on April 29, 2021.
Award of Excellence: Gina Ferazzi, Los Angeles Times
LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 6, 2021: Los Angeles Dodgers left fielder Chris Taylor (3) reacts while running the bases after his 2-run homer wins the game against the St Louis Cardinals in the National League Wild Card game at Dodger Stadium on October 6, 2021 in Los Angeles, California.
Award of Excellence: Mark J. Terrill, Associated Press
Real Salt Lake midfielder Anderson Julio, top, and Los Angeles FC forward Latif Blessing battle for the ball during the second half of a Major League Soccer match Saturday, July 17, 2021, in Los Angeles. LAFC won 2-1.
Award of Excellence: Mark J. Terrill, Associated Press
Cleveland Cavaliers guard Brodric Thomas, left, is fouled while shooting by Los Angeles Lakers guard Dennis Schroder, center, as guard Talen Horton-Tucker blocks during the second half of an NBA basketball game Friday, March 26, 2021, in Los Angeles.
Award of Excellence: Mark J. Terrill, Associated Press
Chicago Cubs' Jason Heyward breaks his bat as he hits a single during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Dodgers Friday, June 25, 2021, in Los Angeles.
Award of Excellence: Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News
Wide receiver Kenny Golladay #19 of the New York Giants tries to catch a pass as it falls off his fingertips in front of cornerback Chris Harris #25 of the Los Angeles Chargers in the second half of a NFL football game at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood in Inglewood on Sunday, December 12, 2021.
Award of Excellence: Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News
Oregon State gymnasts look on as a teammate competes in the uneven bars during a gymnastics meet in Pauley Pavilion on the campus of UCLA in Los Angeles on Saturday, February 27, 2021.
Award of Excellence: Libby Cline
Anicka Newell of Canada competes in the women’s pole vault during the 2021 USATF Golden Games and Distance Open at MT. SAC in Walnut on Sunday, May 9, 2021.
Animal
First Place: Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register
Ryan Valliere, left, and Dana McGregor, navigate an inflatable surfboard filled with kids, including Pismo, McGregor’s pet goat, through the surf in San Clemente on Thursday, March 18, 2021.
Second Place: Thomas R. Cordova, Long beach post
Long Beach Firefighter Paramedic Will Montgomery carries Dip to the owner's car as Firefighter Paramedic Michael Thurston talks to one of the owners Adela Najarro as they transport the dogs to a local veterinarian after the firefighters gave the dogs oxygen after firefighters pulled the two dogs out of a burning apartment In Long Beach Thursday, October 28, 2021.
Third Place: Brandon Richardson, long beach post
A child and her father watch penguins swim in their exhibit at the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach Thursday, June 17, 2021. The facility had to overcome extreme financial hurdles amid the pandemic and was able to reopen when allowed by health officials.
Award of Excellence: Amy Gaskin, freelance
George Leonard III is the first trainer of any color to compete in the Breeders’ Cup World Championships. He purchased California Angel, a filly sired by Kentucky Derby winner California Chrome for only $5,500, in a sport where horses are frequently sold for millions of dollars. California Angel was a surprise come from behind winner in the Jessamine Stakes race to qualify for entry in the World Championships. “I am the first man of color to ever start in the Breeders’ Cup. It’s not fair on a lot of fronts. That’s a whole other conversation. There’s never been anybody of any color. The Breeders’ Cup is for rich people. They spend millions and spend big money for better bred horses. We don’t fit in the mold of being elite and wealthy. The ones with the most money have better horses. Occasionally a horse like Angel slips through the cracks.” Thursday, November 4, 2021 in Del Mar, Calif.
Award of Excellence: Brandon Richardson, long beach post
A great white egret and a pair of ducks stand on a branch a couple yards above the water along the El Dorado Nature Trail in East Long Beach, Sunday, March 7, 2021.
FIRE
First Place: Patrick T. Fallon, Agence France Presse
A firefighter with Alaska's Pioneer Peak Interagency Hotshot Crew carries a chain saw as the Windy Fire burns in the Sequoia National Forest near Johnsondale, California on September 22, 2021.
Second Place: Ringo Chiu for the Associated Press
Homeowner Jose Lamas, right, and his daughter Astrid Covarrubias survey the charred debris left in his burned-out home from the South Fire in Lytle Creek, San Bernardino County, north of Rialto, Calif., Wednesday, Aug. 25, 2021.
Third Place: Michael Coons, The Acorn Newspapers
A firefighter is lit up by the lights on a bulldozer during the Erbes fire in Thousand Oaks, Calif. on Jan. 14, 2021.
Award of Excellence: Patrick T. Fallon, Agence France Presse
A public information officer takes pictures as flame and smoke rise into the air as the fire burns during the Windy Fire in the Sequoia National Forest near Johnsondale, California on September 22, 2021.
Award of Excellence: Patrick T. Fallon, Agence France Presse
A man takes a photo of the plume of smoke created by the Palisades fire in Topanga State Park, North West of Los Angeles on May 15, 2021. - A brush fire near Pacific Palisades started Friday and grew to 750 acres Saturday night, triggering a mandatory evacuation of residents in the Topanga area.
Award of Excellence: Mike Meadows, freelance
Hollywood, CA - An LAFD helicopter makes a water drop in view of buildings in Hollywood as a small brush fire burns just off the 101 Freeway near Cahuenga Bl and Highland AvE in Hollywood.
UCLA Sport
First Place: Katharine Lotze, Getty Images
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 31: Mia Fishel #10, Olivia Athens #14, Reilyn Turner #66, and Marley Canales # 23 of UCLA celebrate after Turner's goal in the second overtime period to win against California Bears at Wallis Annenberg Stadium on October 31, 2021 in Los Angeles, California.