2024 Q1 Picture Story

JENNIFER HEFFNER, Q1 Judge

First Place: This picture story was so incredible I would give it three first-place awards if I could. I can only imagine the work that the photographer and the writer put in to get access to this kind of visual story. Bravo!
Second: This is a really great collection of photos that tell the story of this gymnastics tournament.
Third: The black and white for this works really well and captures the gritty work of these boxers.

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First Place: Robert Gauthier, LOS ANGELES Times

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San Quentin, CA, Monday, March 25, 2024 - A view of the East Block of San Quentin’s Death Row. California Department of Corrections is shutting down death row at San Quentin and transferring 471 condemned people out of the prison and into the general population at other prisons throughout the state.

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San Quentin, CA, Monday, March 25, 2024 - A condemned inmate is led to his cell in San Quentin’s Death Row. California is shutting down death row and transferring 471 condemned people out of the prison and into the general population at other prisons throughout the state.

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San Quentin, CA, Monday, March 25, 2024 - Robert Galvan, 49, waits in a holding cell in the East Block of San Quentin Rehab Center’s death row. Galvan, was convicted of murdering his Corcoran Prison cell mate in 2012.

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San Quentin, CA, Monday, March 25, 2024 - Robert Galvan, 49, is led from a holding cell in the East Block of San Quentin Rehab Center’s death row. Galvan, was convicted of murdering his Corcoran Prison cell mate in 2012.

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San Quentin, CA, Monday, March 25, 2024 - Armed guards keep watch from the upper levels of the East Block of San Quentin’s Death Row. California Department of Corrections is shutting down death row at San Quentin and transferring 471 condemned people out of the prison and into the general population at other prisons throughout the state.

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San Quentin, CA, Monday, March 25, 2024 - Incarcarated since 1984, David Carpenter, 93, is the oldest living death row inmate at San Quentin. Known as the Trailside Killer, Carpenter was convicted of seven murders and is suspected in at least three more. Carpenter is one of many elderly prisoners that will be moved to general population cells at other California prisons.

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San Quentin, CA, Monday, March 25, 2024 - A condemned inmate makes a phone call from his cell on San Quentin’s Death Row.

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San Quentin, CA, Monday, March 25, 2024 - An unoccupied cell in the East Block of San Quentin’s Death Row. California is shutting down death row and transferring 471 condemned people out of the prison and into the general population at other prisons throughout the state.

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San Quentin, CA, Monday, March 25, 2024 - A condemned inmate inside his cell at San Quentin Rehab Center’s death row. By the end of this summer, all condemned inmates - currently about 400 - are being moved to different institutions in California where they'll be integrated into the general prison population.

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San Quentin, CA, Monday, March 25, 2024 - Condemned inmates are always chained and escorted by a guard when they are not in their cel on the East Block of San Quentin’s Death Row.

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San Quentin, CA, Monday, March 25, 2024 - A tour of San Quentin Rehab Center’s death row. CDCR is moving to shut down death row at San Quentin. It's transferring 471 condemned people out of the prison and into the general population at other prisons throughout the state.

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San Quentin, CA, Monday, March 25, 2024 - San Quentin Rehabilitation Center is the oldest prison in California housing the state’s only death row.

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Second Place: KEITH BIRMINGHAM, PASADENA STAR NEWS

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Selena Harris of the UCLA Bruins scores a 10 on the vault during a NCAA gymnastics meet against Clemson at Pauley Pavillion in Los Angeles on Saturday, March 16, 2024.

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Fans react as Selena Harris of the UCLA Bruins scores a 10 on the vault during a NCAA gymnastics meet against Clemson at Pauley Pavillion in Los Angeles on Saturday, March 16, 2024.

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Frida Esparza of the UCLA Bruins performs on the uneven parallel bars during a NCAA gymnastics meet against Clemson at Pauley Pavillion in Los Angeles on Saturday, March 16, 2024.

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UCLA Bruins footprints in the chalk during the balance beam during a NCAA gymnastics meet against Clemson at Pauley Pavillion in Los Angeles on Saturday, March 16, 2024.

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Selena Harris of the UCLA Bruins performs the floor exercise during a NCAA gymnastics meet against Clemson at Pauley Pavillion in Los Angeles on Saturday, March 16, 2024.

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Teammates react after Chae Campbell of the UCLA Bruins performs on the vault during a NCAA gymnastics meet against Clemson at Pauley Pavillion in Los Angeles on Saturday, March 16, 2024.

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Selena Harris of the UCLA Bruins performs on the balance beam during a NCAA gymnastics meet against Clemson at Pauley Pavillion in Los Angeles on Saturday, March 16, 2024.

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Selena Harris of the UCLA Bruins performs on the balance beam during a NCAA gymnastics meet against Clemson at Pauley Pavillion in Los Angeles on Saturday, March 16, 2024.

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Selena Harris of the UCLA Bruins reacts with teammates after performing on the balance beam during a NCAA gymnastics meet against Clemson at Pauley Pavillion in Los Angeles on Saturday, March 16, 2024.

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Margzetta Frazier of the UCLA Bruins performs the floor exercise during a NCAA gymnastics meet against Clemson at Pauley Pavillion in Los Angeles on Saturday, March 16, 2024.

Third Place: Keith Birmingham, pasadena Star News

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Tahigi Zelaya of Fight (Faith in God Heals Trouble Souls) Boxing club prepares prior to his bout during the Southern California Golden Gloves Boxing Tournament at Victory Park Recreation Center in Pasadena on Friday, March 15, 2024.

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Sal Saldivar, right, of Capistrano Boxing tapes up boxer Manny Belteton in the parking lot prior to a bout during the Southern California Golden Gloves Boxing Tournament at Victory Park Recreation Center in Pasadena on Friday, March 15, 2024.

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Tahigi Zelaya of Fight (Faith in God Heals Trouble Souls) Boxing club prepares prior to his bout during the Southern California Golden Gloves Boxing Tournament at Victory Park Recreation Center in Pasadena on Friday, March 15, 2024.

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Roberto Ramirez, right, fights, Dante Moreno in the first round of a match during the Southern California Golden Gloves Boxing Tournament at Victory Park Recreation Center in Pasadena on Friday, March 15, 2024.

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Tahigi Zelaya, left, of FIGHT Boxing club along with Fausto De La Torre of Villa Parke Boxing look on as David Lopez (not pictured) fights David Soberanes (not pictured) in the second round of a match during the Southern California Golden Gloves Boxing Tournament at Victory Park Recreation Center in Pasadena on Friday, March 15, 2024.

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Roberto Ramirez, left, fights, Dante Moreno in the first round of a match during the Southern California Golden Gloves Boxing Tournament at Victory Park Recreation Center in Pasadena on Friday, March 15, 2024.

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David Soberanes is treated in the corner during a fight against David Lopez( not pictured) in the second round of a match during the Southern California Golden Gloves Boxing Tournament at Victory Park Recreation Center in Pasadena on Friday, March 15, 2024. Soberanes won the fight.

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Roberto Ramirez, left, fights, Dante Moreno in the first round of a match during the Southern California Golden Gloves Boxing Tournament at Victory Park Recreation Center in Pasadena on Friday, March 15, 2024.

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David Soberanes, right, fights David Lopez in the third round of a match during the Southern California Golden Gloves Boxing Tournament at Victory Park Recreation Center in Pasadena on Friday, March 15, 2024. Soberanes won the fight.

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Aaron Noriega, right, defeats Manny Belteton during the Southern California Golden Gloves Boxing Tournament at Victory Park Recreation Center in Pasadena on Friday, March 15, 2024.

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HM: RINGO CHIU, FREELANCE

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A demonstrator holds an Oscar statue during a protest in support of Palestinians near the Dolby Theatre during the 96th Academy Awards in Hollywood, California, on March 10, 2024.

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A demonstrator carries a sign during a protest in support of Palestinians near the Dolby Theatre during the 96th Academy Awards in Hollywood, California, on March 10, 2024.

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Demonstrators protest in support of Palestinians near the Dolby Theatre during the 96th Academy Awards in Hollywood, California, on March 10, 2024.

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Police officers arrive near the Dolby Theatre during the 96th Academy Awards in Hollywood, California, on March 10, 2024.

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Demonstrators crash with police officers during a protest in support of Palestinians near the Dolby Theatre during the 96th Academy Awards in Hollywood, California, on March 10, 2024.

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A man is arrested after demonstrators crashed with police offices during a protest in support of Palestinians near the Dolby Theatre during the 96th Academy Awards in Hollywood, California, on March 10, 2024.

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Oscar guests walk by the police offices near the Dolby Theatre during the 96th Academy Awards in Hollywood, California, on March 10, 2024.

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Guests arrive as police officers stand guard near the Dolby Theatre during the 96th Academy Awards in Hollywood, California, on March 10, 2024.

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Guests arrive as police officers stand guard near the Dolby Theatre during the 96th Academy Awards in Hollywood, California, on March 10, 2024.

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Police officers stand guard at the red carpet area as demonstrators protest in support of Palestinians near the Dolby Theatre during the 96th Academy Awards in Hollywood, California, on March 10, 2024.

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Police officers and staff members of Oscar stand at the red carpet area near the Dolby Theatre as demonstrators protest in support of Palestinians during the 96th Academy Awards in Hollywood, California, on March 10, 2024.

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Police officers stand guard at the red carpet area near the Dolby Theatre as demonstrators protest in support of Palestinians during the 96th Academy Awards in Hollywood, California, on March 10, 2024.

HONORABLE MENTION: ROBERT GAUTHIER, LOS ANGELES TIMES

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Hollywood, CA - March 10: The Osage Tribal Singers walk the red carpet along with other Oscar nominees and performers at the 96th Annual Academy Awards. They were featured in the movie Killers of the Flower Moon and performed a tribal song at the show.

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Hollywood, CA - March 10: Actor andl media influencer Eugene Lee Yang on the red carpet garnering a lot of attention with a dress designed by Walter Mendez.

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Hollywood, CA - March 10: Billie Eilish and Finneas O'Connell, winners of Original Song celebrate backstage with presenters Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo.

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Hollywood, CA - March 10: Handlers work on Melissa McArthy’s dress back stage during the the 96th Annual Academy Awards.

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Hollywood, CA - March 10: Wearing only a tight fitting, flesh colored jock strap John Cena prepares to go on stage and present best costume award.

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Hollywood, CA - March 10: Host Jimmy Kimmel consults with producers back stage during a break in the show.

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Hollywood, CA - March 10: Stagehands pull a curtain as a production number at the the 96th Annual Academy Awards.

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Hollywood, CA - March 10: Actor Robert Downey Jr. poses for a selfie with fellow past winners of the Best Supporting Actor, the award he won moments earlier.

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Hollywood, CA - March 10: Los Angeles Unified middle school student Porsche’ Brinker walks back stage after accepting the Oscar for Best Documentary Short Film.

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Hollywood, CA - March 10: Dancers gather back stage before performing as live Ken Dolls with Ryan Gosling at the the 96th Annual Academy Awards.

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Meet Our Judge, JENNIFER HEFFNER

With over 25 years of experience, she has captured stunning visuals from the halls of The White House to the pages of major publications. Jennifer is a renowned commercial, advertising, and editorial photographer, and she co-founded East 27 Creative with her business partner, John Devaney. Their studios in Washington, DC, and East Hampton, NY, have been the backdrop for countless creative projects.  Ten years as a White House Photographer and Editor in DC.

Jennifer is also an advocate for photographers, having served in various leadership positions, including as past Director of American Photographic Artists, Washington, DC Chapter, Vice President of Women Photojournalists of Washington (WPOW), and co-president of the American Society of Picture Professionals (ASPP).

When Jennifer isn't behind the lens, you can find her exploring the great outdoors, paddleboarding on Gardner Bay in East Hampton, NY, or hiking through the majestic mountain ranges of Virginia. As a mother to four creative children, she inspires the next generation of storytellers.