2020 Qtr. 1 Photo Stories

Click here to view 2020 Q1 Results

Winners and commentary of the quarterly PPAGLA judging by Dave LaBelle.

First Place: Michael Nelson, Freelance

Walk of Remembrance

Walk of Remembrance - Albert Willner gives a presentation inside the Blechhammer 1944 Nazi bunker museum as ]his father’s grave at the Arlington National Cemetery is projected for an audience who came to learn about his planned Walk of Remembrance 20 January 2020. Albert, a retired US Army colonel and his friend Mike Bayles walked the Death March his father and other concentration camp prisoners made 75 years ago when they were forced along with 4,000 other prisoners to march from Auschwitz on 21 January 1945. Approximately 56,000 prisoners most of them Jews were evacuated from Auschwitz-Birkenau and its concentration sub camps. It is estimated that possibly up to 250,000 prisoners from Nazi concentration camps in Poland were evacuated in January 1945 in the face of the Soviet Army advance. The exact routes of the dozens of death marches are not precisely known. Al Willner after extensive research and help from archivists and historians throughout Europe and the United States pieced together the most probably route his father from Blechhammer. Al and Mike walked the route in 10 days to pay tribute to those that suffered and died.

Walk of Remembrance - A guard tower at the Nazi concentration camp of Blechhammer where thousands of Jews were forced to work at the Blechhammer industrial complex constructing bunkers and digging up unexploded US bombs. Blechhammer was a synthetic fuel plant and one of the highest priority bombing targets of the US 15th Air Force located in Italy. Hundreds of bombers flew missions from June to December 1944 to bomb the area.

Walk of Remembrance - Albert Willner explores one of the huge bunkers adjacent at the Blechhammer concentration camp. Work forces of a hundred Jewish prisoners were able to construct these bunkers in a week.

Walk of Remembrance - Albert Willner and Mike Bayles pass by a bomb crater next to the Blechhammer industrial complex. The US 15th Air Force conducted 16 air raids consisting of hundreds of bombers in an attempt to destroy the synthetic fuel factory located 60 miles away from Auschwitz-Birkenau Concentration camp.

Walk of Remembrance - The abandoned German Jewish cemetery and synagogue of Prudnik where a memorial for over 100 Jewish prisoners mostly Hungarian women were executed as they were evacuated from a labor factory as Soviet forces closed in.

Walk of Remembrance - Polish historian Pawel Szymkowicz shows photos of victims of a Nazi mass execution along the Death March route near Ilawa, Poland. The photos were taken by a Polish war crimes investigation in 1946. Thousands of prisoners died along the route from exposure to sub zero temperatures, exhaustion, disease, malnutrition, starvation and summary executions.

Walk of Remembrance - A Catholic monk looks at a photograph of Albert Willner’s father, Eddie (L) and his grandfather, Seigfried (R) as Albert lectures to a group of students and citizens in Biskupow, Poland. The photograph was taken in the French internment camp of Gurs in 1942. All of Albert’s father’s relatives were exterminated by the Nazi during World War II. His grandfather survived until November 1944 when he turned 50 years old he was selected to be killed.

Walk of Remembrance - Albert Willner and Mike Bayles are accompanied by Maciej Szop and his dog Rudy as they cross a frozen field near Kijow, Poland. Death March prisoners were routinely marched around the German villages and towns of Silesia to avoid interaction with citizens and also to leave the congested main roads open for fleeing refugees and military convoys as Soviet forces pushed towards Berlin.

Walk of Remembrance - Albert Willner and Mike Bayles make a toast half way through their walk on Day 6 next to the shore of Lake Otmuchowskie, Poland where they camped the night. Albert and Mike camped along the route but were also welcomed by citizens who housed them in a school, community center and a rustic cabin. The Nazi acquisitioned barns along the way to put the prisoners in.

Walk of Remembrance - Albert Willner writes down some notes at their campsite on the shore of Lake Otmuchowskie, Poland. Though the weather was not nearly so severe as the winter of 1944-45 temperatures dipped below freezing at night and in the early morning.

Walk of Remembrance - Footprints in the snow mark Albert Willner’s and Mike Bayles’ passage next to a busy highway on the last day of their 10 day, 180 mile walk of remembrance for his father and victims who died and suffered during the death marches of evacuated concentration camps in January 1945.

Walk of Remembrance - Albert Willner pauses to reflect at the entrance of the Gross-Rosen concentration where the words “Arbeit Macht Frei” (Work sets you free) are written. Albert and Mike Bayles arrived at night like Albert’s father who was made to stand all night in the freezing Appelplatz where fellow prisoners passed out and died in the mud. Eddie Willner’s death march took 13 days. He was evacuated from Gross-Rosen two days before it’s liberation by Soviet forces and transported to Buchenwald Concentration Camp. He ended up at Langenstein Concentration camp and as the Americans closed in was put on another death march. He and his Dutch friend Mike Swabb escaped that death march and eventually made their way through German front lines and gave themselves up to a unit of the US 3rd Army around the 16th of April 1945.

Second Place: Ringo Chiu, Freelance

Kobe Bryant’s Death

People watch as smoke rise from the scene of a helicopter crash that killed retired basketball star Kobe Bryant in Calabasas, California, U.S., January 26, 2020.

A staff of Department of Public Works puts an orange tape near the scene of a helicopter crash that killed retired basketball star Kobe Bryant in Calabasas, California, U.S., January 26, 2020.

People crowd near the scene of a helicopter crash that killed retired basketball star Kobe Bryant in Calabasas, California, U.S., January 26, 2020.

Law enforcement officers investigate on the scene of a helicopter crash that killed retired basketball star Kobe Bryant in Calabasas, California, U.S., January 26, 2020.

A fan places flowers at a makeshift memorial for former NBA player Kobe Bryant outside of the Mamba Sports Academy in Thousand Oaks, California, U.S., January 26, 2020.

Fans gather at a makeshift memorial for former NBA player Kobe Bryant outside of the Mamba Sports Academy in Thousand Oaks, California, U.S., January 26, 2020.

Flowers, photos and messages are placed at a makeshift memorial for former NBA player Kobe Bryant outside of the Mamba Sports Academy in Thousand Oaks, California, U.S., January 26, 2020.

Fans react at a makeshift memorial for former NBA player Kobe Bryant outside of the Mamba Sports Academy in Thousand Oaks, California, U.S., January 26, 2020.

Fans react at a makeshift memorial for former NBA player Kobe Bryant outside of the Mamba Sports Academy in Thousand Oaks, California, U.S., January 26, 2020.

Flowers, photos and messages are placed at a makeshift memorial for former NBA player Kobe Bryant outside of the Mamba Sports Academy in Thousand Oaks, California, U.S., January 26, 2020.

Third Place: Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News

Kobe Bryant Memorial

David Kelly of Redlands looks over a memory wall as people have left flowers, hats, t-shirts, shoes written notes outside of LA Live across from Staples center where the Los Angeles Lakers will honor Kobe Bryant and those who died in a helicopter crash prior to a NBA basketball game between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Portland Trail Blazers at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Friday, January 31, 2020.

LA Clippers honored Kobe Bryant and those who passed away in the helicopter crash with a moment of silence prior to a NBA basketball game between the LA Clippers and the Sacramento Kings at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Thursday, January 30, 2020.

LA Clippers executive Jerry West looks on as the Clippers honor Kobe Bryant prior to a NBA basketball game between the LA Clippers and the Sacramento Kings at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Thursday, January 30, 2020. Bryant along with 8 others were killed in a helicopter crash.

Maurice Harkless #11 of the LA Clippers shoes in honor of Kobe Bryant and those who died on the helicopter crash in the first half of a NBA basketball game between the LA Clippers and the Sacramento Kings at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Thursday, January 30, 2020.

Thousands of Kobe Bryant fans chant his name as they mourn the loss of Kobe Bryant in front of LA Live across from Staples Center home of the Los Angeles Lakers in Los Angeles on Sunday, January 26, 2020. Kobe Bryant and 8 others died in an helicopter crash in Calabasas.

Flowers, hats, t-shirts, shoes written notes memory boards just some of the items outside of LA Live across from Staples center where the Los Angeles Lakers will honor Kobe Bryant and those who died in a helicopter crash prior to a NBA basketball game between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Portland Trail Blazers at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Friday, January 31, 2020.

Thousands of flowers, hats, t-shirts, shoes, balls, written notes and signed memory boards outside of LA Live across from Staples center where the Los Angeles Lakers will honor Kobe Bryant and those who died in a helicopter crash prior to a NBA basketball game between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Portland Trail Blazers at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Friday, January 31, 2020.

Artist Reza Safa of Corona Del Mar works on a painting of Kobe and Gigi Bryant that he plans on giving the family outside of LA Live across from Staples center where the Los Angeles Lakers will honor Kobe Bryant and those who died in a helicopter crash prior to a NBA basketball game between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Portland Trail Blazers at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Friday, January 31, 2020.

Thousands of fans gather in the center of LA Live as they mourn the loss of Kobe Bryant with make shift memorials across from Staples Center, home of the Los Angeles Lakers in Los Angeles on Sunday, January 26, 2020. Kobe Bryant and 8 others died in an helicopter crash in Calabasas.

A man writes a note to Kobe Bryant on a memory board outside of LA Live across from Staples center where the Los Angeles Lakers will honor Kobe Bryant and those who died in a helicopter crash prior to a NBA basketball game between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Portland Trail Blazers at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Friday, January 31, 2020.

Sylvester Van Buren, center, of Los Angeles tears as he watches the pre game ceremony honoring Kobe Bryant on tv screens at Tom’s Urban outside of LA Live across from Staples center where the Los Angeles Lakers prior to a NBA basketball game between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Portland Trail Blazers at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Friday, January 31, 2020.

Fans wearing Lakers clothing mourn the loss of Kobe Bryant in front of La Live across from Staples Center home of the Los Angeles Lakers in Los Angeles on Sunday, January 26, 2020. Kobe Bryant and 8 others died in an helicopter crash in Calabasas.

Honorable Mention: Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News

Santa Anita Racetrack

Horn blower Jay Cohen performs in the rain and mud as horse racing runs without any fans only credential media and personnel licensed by the California Horse Racing Board at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia on Saturday, March 14, 2020.The races were held without spectators due to Coronavirus precautions.

Santa Anita employee Jesus Martinez sanitizes poles, doorknobs anything that people might touch as horse racing runs without any fans only credential media and personnel licensed by the California Horse Racing Board at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia on Saturday, March 14, 2020. The races were held without spectators due to Coronavirus precautions.

A employee is refilled in the rain water as horse racing runs without any fans only credential media and personnel licensed by the California Horse Racing Board at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia on Saturday, March 14, 2020.The races were held without spectators due to Coronavirus precautions.

An outrider sits on his horse prior to the first race as horse racing runs without any fans only credential media and personnel licensed by the California Horse Racing Board at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia on Saturday, March 14, 2020.The races were held without spectators due to Coronavirus precautions.

Empty betting windows as horse racing runs without any fans only credential media and personnel licensed by the California Horse Racing Board at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia on Saturday, March 14, 2020.The races were held without spectators due to Coronavirus precautions.

The fourth race of the day as horse racing runs without any fans only credential media and personnel licensed by the California Horse Racing Board at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia on Saturday, March 14, 2020.The races were held without spectators due to Coronavirus precautions.

The first race as horse racing runs without any fans only credential media and personnel licensed by the California Horse Racing Board at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia on Saturday, March 14, 2020.The races were held without spectators due to Coronavirus precautions.

The eighth race of the day runs without any fans only credential media and personnel licensed by the California Horse Racing Board at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia on Saturday, March 14, 2020.The races were held without spectators due to Coronavirus precautions.

Muddy hoof prints as horse racing runs without any fans only credential media and personnel licensed by the California Horse Racing Board at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia on Saturday, March 14, 2020.The races were held without spectators due to Coronavirus precautions.

People make their way underneath the grandstand as horse racing runs without any fans only credential media and personnel licensed by the California Horse Racing Board at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia on Saturday, March 14, 2020.The races were held without spectators due to Coronavirus precautions.

Honorable Mention: Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register

Empowerment Camp

Girls climb 100-foot-tall and 85-foot-tall ladder trucks during Girls Empowerment Camp, a free two-day event sponsored by the OCFA in Irvine, CA on Sunday, March 8, 2020.

Girls roll out fire hoses during a competition at Girls Empowerment Camp, a free two-day event sponsored by the OCFA in Irvine, CA on Sunday, March 8, 2020.

Buena Park Firefighter Jenna Stark celebrates with her team during Girls Empowerment Camp, a free two-day event sponsored by the OCFA in Irvine, CA on Sunday, March 8, 2020.

Firefighter Duke Juarez helps Jordan Clark, 14, with a fire hose exercise during Girls Empowerment Camp, a free two-day event sponsored by the OCFA in Irvine, CA on Sunday, March 8, 2020.

Inspirational sayings are painted on steps at the OCFA Training Center where girls participate in an Empowerment Camp. The free two-day event was sponsored by the OCFA in Irvine, CA on Sunday, March 8, 2020.

Chris Johns, with the OCFA, assists girls rappelling from a three-story structure during Girls Empowerment Camp. The two-day event was sponsored by the OCFA in Irvine, CA on Sunday, March 8, 2020.

Freedom, a 3-year-old, 70-pound accelerant detection dog, is a hit with the ladies at Girls Empowerment Camp. The second annual two-day event, was sponsored by the OCFA in Irvine, CA on Sunday, March 8, 2020.

Girls plow through plywood as they learn to use a pick head fire axe during Girls Empowerment Camp. The free two-day event was sponsored by the OCFA in Irvine, CA on Sunday, March 8, 2020.

Olivia Lane, 16, poses at the end the two-day Girls Empowerment Camp. The two-day event was sponsored by the OCFA in Irvine, CA on Sunday, March 8, 2020.

Honorable Mention: Ronen Tivony, Freelance

Bernie Sanders Rally

Supporters cheer for Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders during a campaign rally in Santa Ana, California.

Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders greets supporters as he arrives at a campaign rally in Santa Ana, California. Sanders is campaigning ahead of Super Tuesday and the California Democratic primary.

Supporters of Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders during a campaign rally in Santa Ana, California.

Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders speaks during a campaign rally in Santa Ana, California. Sanders is campaigning ahead of Super Tuesday and the California Democratic primary.

A press photographer takes a picture of a supporter of Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders during a campaign rally in Santa Ana, California.

Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders speaks during a news conference in Santa Ana, California.

A school police officer stands by a campaign sign placed by supporters of Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders during a campaign rally in Santa Ana, California.

Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders speaks during a campaign rally in Santa Ana, California.

Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders greets supporters during a campaign rally in Santa Ana, California. .

Honorable Mention: Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG

Living Garden Wall

Local nonprofit SistersWe’s Nedra Myricks of San Bernardino carries a pallet of plants that will be planted on the wall behind her as part of the Living Garden Wall project in San Bernardino on Wednesday, Feb 26, 2020.

Volunteer Cherish Reyes, 12, of San Bernardino helps plant succulents, flowers and shrubs on the wall as part of the Living Garden Wall project in San Bernardino on Wednesday, Feb 26, 2020.

Local nonprofit SistersWe’s Adrienne Thomas smiles as she watches volunteers plant succulents, flowers and shrubs on the wall during the Living Garden Wall project in San Bernardino on Wednesday, Feb 26, 2020.

Thousands of succulents, flowers and shrubs are ready to be planted in the wall planter during the Living Garden Wall project in San Bernardino on Wednesday, Feb 26, 2020.

Local nonprofit SistersWe’s Adrienne Thomas plants helps plant thousands of succulents, flowers and shrubs on the wall planter as part of the Living Garden Wall project in San Bernardino on Wednesday, Feb 26, 2020.

Volunteer Devyn Berry of San Bernardino sits on a scaffolding as he plants succulents, flowers and shrubs on the wall during the Living Garden Wall project in San Bernardino on Wednesday, Feb 26, 2020.

Local nonprofit Viva La Boba co-owner Tansu Philip plants succulents, flowers and shrubs on the wall as part of the Living Garden Wall project in San Bernardino on Wednesday, Feb 26, 2020.