2021 Qtr. 1 Picture Story

Curt Chandler, Quarter 1 Judge

Judges Notes on winners – There’s clearly a huge amount of confusion between what constitutes a picture story and what makes a photo essay. A picture story needs to have a narrative backbone. A photo essay is more impressionistic.

Of these entries, the first-place surfing goat project was by far the most tightly edited story, with a clear narrative. I actually would have liked to have seen maybe one more picture of a capsize, or a tight image of a (human) kid reacting to the experience. But better leaving the audience wanting more, than cramming too much into a project. The second-place story on the farm-workers was more interpretive and less reactive than the other entries. The edit is loose and would have benefited from building the narrative more around the interaction of the union rep with the workers in the field. Third place had some excellent singles and a rough chronological structure. Images 1, 2, 3, 8, 9, 10 and 11 are the story. Everything else is redundant.

---

First Place: Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register

Dana McGregor leads a group to the beach for a goat-surfing adventure in San Clemente on Thursday, March 18, 2021. McGregor travels the state with his two goats, offering uplifting therapy to children with disabilities.

Pismo gets escorted to his surfboard by Ryan Valliere, from left, Matthew Wall and Dana McGregor in San Clemente onThursday, March 18, 2021.

Dana McGregor, left, and Ryan Valliere, navigate an inflatable surfboard filled with kids through the surf in San Clemente on Thursday, March 18, 2021.

Dana McGregor arrives in town from Pismo Beach with his surfing goats, Pismo, left, and Grover, in San Clemente onThursday, March 18, 2021.

Pismo is rehydrated after playing with children in San Clemente on Thursday, March 18, 2021.

---

Second Place: Patrick T. Fallon, AFP

A farmworker wears a face mask while harvesting curly mustard in a field on February 10, 2021 in Ventura County, California. The United Farm Workers (UFW) union is urging state and local governments to greater prioritize Covid-19 vaccines for farmworkers and perform outreach activities to help workers who often lack technology access to sign up for vaccinations. Essential workers in agriculture and meatpacking are often subjected to conditions where social distancing is not possible, combined with additional risk factors increasing the community spread of the virus including low wages, multigenerational households, a lack of coronavirus testing, and fear of losing their jobs if they believe they are sick. As of February 10, California has 3,362,981 confirmed cases of Covid-19, with 44,995 deaths according to a state database, which lists Latinos as 55 percent of all cases and 46 percent of all deaths - while only 39 percent of the population.

Roman Pinal of the United Farm Workers (UFW) distributes face masks and hand sanitizer to a farmworker as they pick lemons at a orchard on February 10, 2021 in Ventura County, California. The United Farm Workers (UFW) union is urging state and local governments to greater prioritize Covid-19 vaccines for farmworkers and perform outreach activities to help workers who often lack technology access to sign up for vaccinations. Essential workers in agriculture and meatpacking are often subjected to conditions where social distancing is not possible, combined with additional risk factors increasing the community spread of the virus including low wages, multigenerational households, a lack of coronavirus testing, and fear of losing their jobs if they believe they are sick. As of February 10, California has 3,362,981 confirmed cases of Covid-19, with 44,995 deaths according to a state database, which lists Latinos as 55 percent of all cases and 46 percent of all deaths - while only 39 percent of the population.

A farmworker harvests lemons at a orchard as Roman Pinal of the United Farm Workers (UFW) distributes face masks to farmworkers on February 10, 2021 in Ventura County, California. The United Farm Workers (UFW) union is urging state and local governments to greater prioritize Covid-19 vaccines for farmworkers and perform outreach activities to help workers who often lack technology access to sign up for vaccinations. Essential workers in agriculture and meatpacking are often subjected to conditions where social distancing is not possible, combined with additional risk factors increasing the community spread of the virus including low wages, multigenerational households, a lack of coronavirus testing, and fear of losing their jobs if they believe they are sick. As of February 10, California has 3,362,981 confirmed cases of Covid-19, with 44,995 deaths according to a state database, which lists Latinos as 55 percent of all cases and 46 percent of all deaths - while only 39 percent of the population.

Farmworkers wear face masks as they carry boxes of harvested curly mustard in a field on February 10, 2021 in Ventura County, California. The United Farm Workers (UFW) union is urging state and local governments to greater prioritize Covid-19 vaccines for farmworkers and perform outreach activities to help workers who often lack technology access to sign up for vaccinations. Essential workers in agriculture and meatpacking are often subjected to conditions where social distancing is not possible, combined with additional risk factors increasing the community spread of the virus including low wages, multigenerational households, a lack of coronavirus testing, and fear of losing their jobs if they believe they are sick. As of February 10, California has 3,362,981 confirmed cases of Covid-19, with 44,995 deaths according to a state database, which lists Latinos as 55 percent of all cases and 46 percent of all deaths - while only 39 percent of the population.

Roman Pinal of the United Farm Workers (UFW), center left, organizes bags of groceries to give to members before a community outreach meeting about Covid-19 vaccinations outside of a school on February 10, 2021 in Oxnard, California. The United Farm Workers (UFW) union is urging state and local governments to greater prioritize Covid-19 vaccines for farmworkers and perform outreach activities to help workers who often lack technology access to sign up for vaccinations. Essential workers in agriculture and meatpacking are often subjected to conditions where social distancing is not possible, combined with additional risk factors increasing the community spread of the virus including low wages, multigenerational households, a lack of coronavirus testing, and fear of losing their jobs if they believe they are sick. As of February 10, California has 3,362,981 confirmed cases of Covid-19, with 44,995 deaths according to a state database, which lists Latinos as 55 percent of all cases and 46 percent of all deaths - while only 39 percent of the population.

Roman Pinal of the United Farm Workers (UFW), center left, speaks with UFW members as they hold a community outreach meeting about Covid-19 vaccinations outside of a school on February 10, 2021 in Oxnard, California. The United Farm Workers (UFW) union is urging state and local governments to greater prioritize Covid-19 vaccines for farmworkers and perform outreach activities to help workers who often lack technology access to sign up for vaccinations. Essential workers in agriculture and meatpacking are often subjected to conditions where social distancing is not possible, combined with additional risk factors increasing the community spread of the virus including low wages, multigenerational households, a lack of coronavirus testing, and fear of losing their jobs if they believe they are sick. As of February 10, California has 3,362,981 confirmed cases of Covid-19, with 44,995 deaths according to a state database, which lists Latinos as 55 percent of all cases and 46 percent of all deaths - while only 39 percent of the population.

Ever Obeso, 8, (R) plays on a statue of Cesar E. Chavez as his mother Carmen Obeso and members of the United Farm Workers (UFW) hold a community outreach meeting about Covid-19 vaccinations outside of a school on February 10, 2021 in Oxnard, California. The United Farm Workers (UFW) union is urging state and local governments to greater prioritize Covid-19 vaccines for farmworkers and perform outreach activities to help workers who often lack technology access to sign up for vaccinations. Essential workers in agriculture and meatpacking are often subjected to conditions where social distancing is not possible, combined with additional risk factors increasing the community spread of the virus including low wages, multigenerational households, a lack of coronavirus testing, and fear of losing their jobs if they believe they are sick. As of February 10, California has 3,362,981 confirmed cases of Covid-19, with 44,995 deaths according to a state database, which lists Latinos as 55 percent of all cases and 46 percent of all deaths - while only 39 percent of the population.

Farmworkers wear face masks while harvesting curly mustard in a field on February 10, 2021 in Ventura County, California. The United Farm Workers (UFW) union is urging state and local governments to greater prioritize Covid-19 vaccines for farmworkers and perform outreach activities to help workers who often lack technology access to sign up for vaccinations. Essential workers in agriculture and meatpacking are often subjected to conditions where social distancing is not possible, combined with additional risk factors increasing the community spread of the virus including low wages, multigenerational households, a lack of coronavirus testing, and fear of losing their jobs if they believe they are sick. As of February 10, California has 3,362,981 confirmed cases of Covid-19, with 44,995 deaths according to a state database, which lists Latinos as 55 percent of all cases and 46 percent of all deaths - while only 39 percent of the population.

People wait to receive doses of the Johnson & Johnson and Pfizer Covid-19 vaccines at a vaccination site organized by the United Farm Workers (UFW), Kern Medical, and the Kern County Latino Covid-19 Task Force inside Reuther Hall at Forty Acres on March 13, 2021 in Delano, California. Central Valley farm workers were administered the vaccines free of charge, regardless of insurance or immigration status. Essential workers in agriculture and meatpacking are often subjected to conditions where social distancing is not possible, combined with additional risk factors increasing the community spread of the virus including low wages, multigenerational households, a lack of coronavirus testing, and fear of losing their jobs if they believe they are sick.

Farm worker Carolina Sanchez receives a dose of Covid-19 vaccine at a vaccination site organized by the United Farm Workers (UFW), Kern Medical, and the Kern County Latino Covid-19 Task Force inside Reuther Hall at Forty Acres on March 13, 2021 in Delano, California. Central Valley farm workers were administered the vaccines free of charge, regardless of insurance or immigration status. Essential workers in agriculture and meatpacking are often subjected to conditions where social distancing is not possible, combined with additional risk factors increasing the community spread of the virus including low wages, multigenerational households, a lack of coronavirus testing, and fear of losing their jobs if they believe they are sick.

---

Third place: RINGO CHIU, Freelance

A police officer stands guard as supporters of US President Donald Trump 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.

A counter protester, left, confronts a supporter of 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.

Police officers stands guard as supporters of US President Donald Trump 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.

A protester yells at a police officer as supporters of US President Donald Trump 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

A protester is seen covered in blood 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.

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.

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.

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.

---

Meet Our Judge, Curt Chandler

Curt Chandler teaches multimedia reporting and entrepreneurial journalism at Penn State University. Before jumping to academia he was the director of photography and editor for online innovation at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. He taught picture editing and design at the Northern Short Course in Photojournalism for more than a decade and has been a long-time video trainer at NPPA's Multimedia Immersion workshop. He has edited two books on photojournalism and visual management, The Great Picture Hunt II by David LaBelle and Vision, Courage and Heart by Bob Lynn.