2024 Q1 Singles
Khai Le
Quarter 4 judge, Jennifer Heffner
General News
First: Incredible moment captured during a vigil on the anniversary of the Monterey Park mass shooting. I loved how, during this event, the photographer found such a quiet moment of reflection.
Second: Fantastic use of composition, color, and waiting for the moment. This photographer puts a lot of time and energy into finding the right moment to capture.
Third: This is an incredible weather image the captures the perfect timing of walking past with the blue and red stripes along with a matching umbrella…. great job!
First Place: ringo Chiu, Freelance
A girl holds a candlelight during a vigil on anniversary of 2023 mass shooting, Sunday January 21, 2024 in Monterey Park, California. On the one-year anniversary of the Monterey Park mass shooting that left 11 people dead, the city held a candlelight vigil to remember the victims as calls persist for stricter gun laws.
Second Place: ringo Chiu, Freelance
Police officers arrive near the Dolby Theatre during the 96th Academy Awards in Hollywood, California, on March 10, 2024.
Third Place: David Swanson / AFP
A pedestrian walks by a floooded barbershop as rainfall from an atmospheric river is expected to become extreme in California in the coming days as seen January 15, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. Long Beach, California, USA, 1 February 2024.
HONOARABLE MENTION: DAVID SWANSON / AFP
Throngs of tourists visit Badwater Basin in Death Valley National Park over the holiday weekend Monday, Feb. 19, 2024. / Badwater basin has filled from Huricane Hilary and recent rains in California. It is the lowest point in North America at 282 feet below sea level.
Honorable Mention: DAVID SWANSON / AFP
A customer pushes their grocery cart through the snow to their car as a blizzard hits Mammoth Lakes in the Eastern Sierra Nevadas of California, Saturday March 2, 2024.
Feature
First: This first-place image was so powerful. This would have been it if there had been an overall winner of quarter one. This image reflects the juxtaposition between modesty and grace and what life is like for this woman having to shower in a fire hydrant.
Second: This image looks like part of a project, and I feel I will see this again. Very creative and nice classic street photography yet also different in its approach.
Third: I love how the hair mimics the clouds. I feel this is also part of a larger photo project.
First Place: gENARO mOLINA, LOS ANGELES Times
A homeless woman washes up at a fire hydrant near her encampment, off camera, along S. Lemon Street in downtown Los Angeles on February 27, 2024. The 2023 Greater Los Angeles Homeless Count revealed a 9% year-over-year increase in homelessness in Los Angeles County and a 10% rise in Los Angeles. The data showed 75,518 people experienced homelessness in Los Angeles County, and 46,260 in Los Angeles.
Second Place: cristina klenz, fREELANCE
Pacific Coast Highway near Long Beach Polytechnic High School is the scene of this pair riding a bicycle on a cold January day after the conclusion of school.
Third Place: gENARO mOLINA / lOS aNGELES Times
Elvin Rudolph Dekle, 69, visits an area in Legacy Park where some homeless used to camp in Malibu on February 8, 2024. According to Dekle, the homeless who used this area have moved on and some are in housing now. Not allowed to camp or spend the night in Legacy Park, many homeless, including Dekle, find other areas to bed down for the night, some near the Malibu Library. The City of Malibu, which participated in the 2024 Greater Los Angeles Homeless Count, has seen a 30% decline in homelessness since the 2023 Greater Los Angeles Homeless Count.
HONORABLE MENTION: RINGO CHIU, FREELANCE
A squirrel rests on the top of a trash container in the rain during the first day school of Spring semester on California State University, Northridge in Los Angeles, California, Monday, January 22, 2024.
Honorable Mention: wILL LESTER / INLAND VALLEY BULLETIN
Mary Diaz carries her granddaughter Ezeki Paneda, 6, across a flooded Fourth Street in front of Corona Elementary School in Ontario on Tuesday, Feb. 6, 2024.
HONORABLE MENTION: THOMAS CORDOVA, LONG BEACH POST
Archie Byrom, left center, plays a game of chess at the Poly Chess Club as a game table at Long Beach Poly's annual multicultural festival held at the school's quad in Long Beach, Friday, March 15, 2024.
Portrait
First: Fantastic use of lighting and water to get a really different kind of portrait.
Second: This looks like she was telling a story and the photographer captured the moment she looked up. Nice angle and moment. It’s a portrait but more.
Third: The arm and the tattoo with the name and the young girls face…..all of it makes you think there is more to this and that’s what draws you in. Love the black and white
First Place: wILL LESTER / INLAND VALLEY DAILY BULLETIN
Alta Loma High School senior Brazilian exchange student Artur Diaz, 18, has been selected the IE Varsity Boys Water Polo Player of the Year. in Rancho Cucamonga on Thursday, Jan. 4, 2024.
Second Place: Genaro Molina, LOS ANGELES Times
Debra Grayes, 54, who has lived homeless for the past 13 years, stands along San Pedro Street in Skid Row in downtown Los Angeles on January 25, 2024. She had been given an Overdose Bag from a member of SUDIS (Substance Use Disorder Integrated Services) a non-profit group that responds to the task of reaching the undeserved and struggling individuals of Los Angeles County. The kit contains Narcan which can save a person from fentanyl overdose.
Honorable Mention: GENARO MOLINA , LOS ANGELES Times
Third Place: CRISTINA KLENZ, FREELANCE
Wyatt Adams caresses his daughter, revealing a tattoo with her name on it. Kylie, 9, is one of Wyatt's five children. The family, who lives in Fontana, is of Romani American descent and is currently struggling with economic and health issues.
HONORABLE MENTION: RINGO CHIU, FREELANCE
A woman is seen in from of a mural in Los Angeles. Jan. 15, 2024.
After spending the day riding a bus across town to fix a smart phone, Channah Opadia, 86, returns to her car where she drives to a nearby restaurant to pick up dinner for her sister in Los Angeles on March 28, 2024. No longer able to drive long distances due to a neck injury, Opadia takes the bus for longer trips from her home across town and uses her car for trips within her neighborhood.
HONORABLE MENTION: DAVID GREWE, FREELANCE
Tu Edmonds, the bassist of Alien Weaponry proudly shows off his traditional Māori tattoos in Queenstown, New Zealand on Wednesday, February 28th.
Pictorial
First: Beautiful image of Death Valley in the early morning hours - I love all the colors and reflection captured in this image.
Second: The use of a lone tree amid the shadow, darkness, and light makes me want to read what this story is about. Great job!
Third: The faint moon in this completes the images. I like the movement of the clouds. Nicely done and I am happy to see that its vertical. So many horizontals for this category.
First Place: ROBERT GAUTHIER, LOS ANGELES Times
Death Valley, CA, Monday, February 26, 2024 - Mountain ranges bathed in gold morning light, reflect on the calm waters of Manly Lake in Badwater Basin.
Second Place: ROBERT GAUTHIER, LOS ANGELES TIMES
Colstrip, Montana, Monday, December 4, 2024 - A lone tumbleweed blows through piles of coal. The Colstrip coal mine delivers power to Washington State and faces a possible shutdown or reduction of capacity, putting in doubt the future of a century old community that has thrived on it’s existence.
Third Place: DAVID SWANSON, AFP
The moon rises of the Sierras after a blizzard hits Mammoth Lakes, California, March 2, 2024.
Honorable Mention: DAVID GREWE, FREELANCE
Honorable Mention: DANA RENE WHITE, FREELANCE
Spot News
First Place: RINGO CHIU, FREELANCE
Demonstrators crash with police office during a protest in support of Palestinians near the Dolby Theatre during the 96th Academy Awards in Hollywood, California, on March 10, 2024.
Second Place: GENARO MOLINA, FREELANCE
Engineer/paramedic Jeff Garcia, clockwise from left, paramedic Brian Bement, EMT Ray Barron, paramedic Eric Butikofer and Captain Dan Tellez, with Los Angeles County Fire Dept. Station 53 from Baker, along with paramedic Eric Sherwin, right, carry a car accident victim to a nearby ambulance along I-15 at Mountain Pass in Nipton, California, on March 16, 2024. Station 53, based in Baker, California, is the only emergency medical services along the I-15, one of the busiest freeway corridors in the country. Sometimes it takes the crew an hour or more to reach the scene of an accident.
Third Place: RINGO CHIU, FREELANCE
A resident walks by a home is damaged by a storm near Caribou Ln during a rainstorm at Hollywood Hills on Monday, Feb. 5, 2024 in Los Angeles.
HONORABLE MENTION: RINGO CHIU, FREELANCE
Tow trucks lift up a container truck after an accident on the off ramp of 210 Freeway in Pasadena, California, Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2024.
Entertainment
First: I love this Emma Stone and Sally Field image. The only thing that I would have made it even stronger would have been a tighter crop to really capture their emotions. Great job on catching a beautiful moment.
Second: This image of Dayren Santamaria does a great job of capturing her sheer joy while performing the violin.
Third: This is one of the nicer overall concert images I have seen. You did a great job of incorporating the band, the light, and the crowd into one image.
First Place: Robert Gauthier, LOS ANGELES TIMES
Hollywood, CA - March 10: Emma Stone celebrates back stage with Sally Field after winning the Oscar for Best Actress at the the 96th Annual Academy Awards in Dolby Theatre at Hollywood & Highland Center in Hollywood, CA.
Second Place: SCOTT MITCHELL, FREELANCE
Dayren Santamaria, internainally acclaimed violinist, performing on stage with Andy Garcia and The Cineson All Stars, Catalina Bar and Grill, Hollywood, CA. USA., February 3, 2024.
Third Place: SCOTT MITCHELL, FREELANCE
Fall Out Boy closing the iHeart Radio Alter Ego 2024 show at the Honda Center, Anaheim, California, USA, January 13, 2024.
honorable mention: ROBERT GAUTHIER, LOS ANGELES TIMES
Hollywood, CA - March 10: Billie Eilish and brother Finneas arrive back stage after accepting the Oscar for Best Original Song during the the 96th Annual Academy Awards in Dolby Theatre at Hollywood & Highland Center in Hollywood, CA, Sunday, March 10, 2024.
Sports Features
First: I thought the photographer showed incredible creativity in finding such an interesting photo during this sports event.
Second: Love the angle and the faces. Great capture and jubilation
Third: I thought this photo had a great combination of both news and sports and made for a great feature.
First Place: RINGO CHIU, FREELANCE
People holding a U.S. flag stand for the National Anthem prior to an NBA basketball game between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Los Angeles Clippers at Crypto.com Arena, Wednesday Jan. 16, 2024, in Los Angeles.
Second Place: WILL LESTER, INLAND VALLEY DAILY BULLETIN
CBU players celebrate after defeating UT Arlington to give CBU at least a share of the Western Athletic Conference title in the Fowler Events Center on the California Baptist University campus in Riverside on Thursday, Mar. 7, 2024. CBU hosts UT Arlington in a Western Athletic Conference women's basketball game.
Third Place: WILL LESTER, INLAND VALLEY DAILY BULLETIN
HONORABLE MENTION: KEITH BIRMINGHAM, PASADENA STAR NEWS
A Falcon 9 SpaceX rocket carrying several Starlink satellites soars out of Vandenberg SFB towards space as the Vista Murrieta High School Broncos prepare for their lacrosse match against visiting Temecula Valley Monday evening March 18, 2024 in Murrieta.
HONORABLE MENTION: GINA FERAZZI, LOS ANGELES TIMES
A shirtless member of the track team practices the hurdles in the pouring rain on a wet track at Riverside City College on February 20, 2024 in Riverside, California.
Trent Perry #0 of Harvard-Westlake reacts after defeating Salesian College Prep 50-45 to win a CIF State Division Open Division boys basketball championship game at the Golden 1 Center in Sacramento on Saturday, March 9, 2024.
Sports Action
First: The reaction of both the fans and the players in this photo make it a first place.
Second: The look of collision of these two players in this photo is captured perfectly
Third: All I can say is the hair ….love the hair!
First Place: PAUL RODRIGUEZ, FREELANCE
University of California, Irvine players and assistant coach point out of bounds as California State University, Northridge forward Kyle Frelow falls in the corner of the court during a Big West Conference basketball game in Irvine, California on Saturday, January 27, 2024.
Second Place: ROBERT GAUTHIER, LOS ANGELES TIMES
Los Angeles, CA, Thursday, January 11, 2024 - Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) is fouled by Phoenix Suns forward Josh Okogie (2) in the first half at Crypto.Com Arena.
Third Place: KEITH BIRMINGHAM, PASADENA STAR NEWS
Kennedy Smith, right, of Etiwanda drives to the basket against McKenna Woliczko #20 of Archbishop Mitty in the first half of a CIF State Open Division girls basketball game at the Golden 1 Center in Sacramento on Saturday, March 9, 2024.
honorable mention: KEITH BIRMINGHAM, PASADENA STAR NEWS
Tomas Aviles #6 of Inter Miami FC with the header against Julian Aude #3 of Los Angeles Galaxy in the second half of a Major League Soccer match at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson on Sunday, February 25, 2024.
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.