2024 Q4 Singles

Quarter 4 judges, Len Wood

General News

This was a good category. Hard to choose the winners.

First Place: Complicated image with lots of depth and emotion. Colors, faces make it memorable.

Second Place: Sign face. B/W is perfect here. Sign pictures can be hard, but his face tells so much you don’t need to read notice.

Third Place: Rim light. Elegant light makes moving image.

Honorable Mention:
NARCAN reaction. Look on victim’s face shows lifesaving process.

Honorable Mention:
This image is most successful because the photographer used the space to provide context by finding someone with a Valenzuela jersey, making it a clear distinct news event.

First place - Thomas Cordova / Long Beach Post

Kathryn Renesto cradles her granddaughter Ocean as Amanda Lourenco holds a sign for her missing niece, Ruthey Smith, during a press conference in Long Beach on Friday, December 27, 2024. Today marks Ruthey Smith’s birthday; she went missing on March 3, 2022.

Second place - Cristina Salvador Klenz / Freelance

The City of Long Beach began issuing notices to the unhoused living on the streets mandating that they clear their possessions. The notices began appearing on property after California Governor Gavin Newsom issued an executive order requiring cities to dismantle homeless encampments. A 48-hour-notice is required before personal belongings can be cleared. This executive order was preceded by a Supreme Court ruling on June 28 that upheld a ban on residents sleeping outdoors. These recent decisions have impacted Richard Daily, 61, who lives on Atlantic Avenue near 52nd Street in Long Beach. Daily has received this notice issued by the city of Long Beach during a time where he is mourning the loss of his dog.Although Long Beach has experienced a decrease in homelessness since 2023, there are 3,376 unhoused individuals living in the city; 49 percent of them are chronically homeless. Nationwide, drug and alcohol overdoses are the primary causes of death in the homeless population.

Third place - Terry Pierson / Press Enterprise

Lissette Martinez holds her dog Stoney who will be 17 in December during the Humane Society of San Bernardino Valley’s annual Blessing of the Animals in San Bernardino on Friday, Oct. 4, 2024.

Honorable Mention - Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times

LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 9, 2024 - - A man is revived by Emergency medical technicians (EMTs) and paramedics with Los Angeles Fire Station 11 after an overdose at the corner of S. Alvarado and Wilshire Blvd. In MacArthur Park in Los Angeles on October 9, 2024. The EMT’s were able to revive the man with Narcan, used in fentanyl overdoses, and was taken to the hospital by ambulance. Station 11 is constantly called on to handle drug overdoses and other non-fire emergencies.

Honorable Mention - Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times

Los Angeles, CA, Wednesday, November 6, 2024 - Family and friends carry the casket Dodgers legend Fernando Valenzuela during his funeral at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels.

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Feature

First Place : This is a lovely moment found where the subjects are clearly not aware of the photographer.

Second Place : Aquarium—Evocative blue light looks like space with great eyes on center subject

Third place: Christmas snow. Red tint works here with great faces.

Honorable Mention: Once you read the caption you realize the significance of this image. Nice moment.

Honorable Mention: Break dance—That shadow! Warm light for nice street shot.

First place - Cristina Salvador Klenz / Freelance

A couple embraces and finds happiness in an area of Anaheim Street in Long Beach, California, that has many unhoused people living in the area. Although Long Beach has experienced a decrease in homelessness since 2023, there are 3,376 unhoused individuals living in the city; 49 percent of them are chronically homeless. Nationwide, drug and alcohol overdoses are the primary causes of death in the homeless population.

Second place - Daniel Dreifuss / Monterey County Weekly

Monterey Bay Aquarium

Third Place - Thomas Cordova / Long Beach Post

Tomas De Los Reyes carries his daughter, Vivian, on his shoulders while they watch the fireworks during the 10th anniversary of the Long Beach Christmas Tree Lighting in Long Beach on Wednesday, December 4, 2024.

Honorable Mention - Reed Saxon / Freelance

Honorable Mention - Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times

PALM SPRINGS, CA - NOVEMBER 7, 2024 - - Josiah Ihem’s shadow, seems to want to make a run for it while break dancing for visitors at the weekly Palm Springs Villagefest on November 7, 2024. The Palm Springs Villagefest takes place every Thursday night featuring arts, crafts, food and entertainment.

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Portrait

This was the hardest category to judge.  The best set of images besides the General News category .

First Place: That light and expression! Texture of her dress makes everything even more interesting. Beautiful shot.

Second Place: The subject’s face and demeanor vs his condition and environment make this memorable. What a shot! I’ve seen a lot of homeless portraits but none like this.

Third Place: Football player’s expression/eyes against that stark sky are great but jamming him in the middle of those goalposts makes the photo a winner.

Honorable Mention: Utilizing window light here shows the photographer worked the room to find the best spot.

Honorable Mention: This one and the other football portrait are neck to neck to me. I love both photos.  There is an intensity this image.

Honorable Mention: This looks to me like a daily photo that we all have had to do.  Nicely done.  I like the light on his face and that the light on the opposite side is complementary to it.

First Place - Amy Gaskin / Freelance

“You’ll be surprised how many Black women love Marilyn Monroe. Marilyn was one of the first people to help Ella Fitzgerald get a performing job and Marilyn promised to show up every night. She really loved African Americans and didn’t discriminate at all. I love that she used her privilege for something good.Marilyn gives me the strength to be who I am. She has given me strength at my lowest points. Be true to yourself. Don’t fake it. Do it for yourself, not anybody else.” S. Monroe - aka “The Black Marilyn” on Saturday, Oct. 16.

Second Place - Cristina Salvador Klenz / Freelance

A native of Long Beach, California, Albert is a 38-year-old Romani-American man and part of the conservative Machvaya nation whose traditions date back more than a thousand years ago to their native India. The Machvaya spent considerable time enslaved in Romania and as part of the militia in Serbia before immigrating to the United States in the mid-1800s. Albert is a descendant of a proud and upstanding Romani family that is well know in California. Like many American minorities, some Romani families are experiencing severe economic hardship while other individuals struggle with homelessness. Albert has been living on and off the streets since the death of his mother many years ago. For now, Albert alternates between sleeping at a cousin’s house and the sidewalk in various parts of Long Beach.

Third Place - Terry Pierson / The Press Enterprise

Centennial junior outside linebacker Jonathan McKinley II has been chosen the IE Varsity Defensive Player of the Year for the 2024 football season in Corona on Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2024.

Honorable Mention - Cristina Salvador Klenz / Freelance

Jonhe, 18, of Phoenix, Arizona, is ready to attend his younger sister’s wedding and poses for a portrait while the rest of the family finishes their preparations. Jonhe is a young adult of Romani origin and more specifically from the Xoraxay nation. The Xoraxay arrived in the United States in the 1980s. Like all Roma, the group left India 1000 years ago, however, they settled in Turkey and migrated through Eastern Europe eventually settling in Chile in the early 1900s before making their way to the United States.

Honorable Mention - Terry Pierson / The Press Enterprise

Centennial junior outside linebacker Jonathan McKinley II has been chosen the IE Varsity Defensive Player of the Year for the 2024 football season in Corona on Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2024.

Honorable Mention - Thomas Cordova / Long Beach Post

Oba Totton at his office of his nonprofit Dreamz Into Goals in Long Beach, Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2024.

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Pictoral

First Place: The winning image in this category uses color, timing, and distinction in composition to capture an image that’s most aesthetic appealing and interesting.

Second Place: Bubbles— Color and spacey mood with great composition.

Third Place: The technical prowess combined with creative thought to capture the moon between the haze of two holiday lights placed this as third.

Honorable Mention: Sunset fence. Simple image that I keep coming back to. Lots of sunsets in this category but none with something else to say like this.

Honorable Mention: This photographer was thinking about location and switching this up. I like it.  Maybe further back with a longer lens.

First place - Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times

TEMPLE CITY, CA - DECEMBER 6, 2024 - - A pedestrian’s reflection is caught in the storefront window of Kang Kang Food Court along E. Las Tunas Dr. in Temple City on December 6, 2024.

Second Place - Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times

LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 30, 2024 - - Ester De Sa Almeida is immersed in the “Invisible Ballet” exhibit created by Mauro Pace at the Balloon Museum’s, "Let's Fly Los Angeles” show at the Ace Mission Studios in Los Angeles on October 30, 2024. The museum consists of interactive installations and artworks created by 18 internationally renowned artists and is open until March 16, 2025.

Third Place - Mike Goulding / Freelance

The last full moon of 2024 is sees through two Christmas lights in Seal Beach, California.

Honorable Mention - Mike Goulding / Freelance

A spectator enjoys a pregame show of a different sort before the game between San Juan Hills and Yorba Linda in a Bravo League game at Yorba Linda HS on Friday, October 11.

Honorable Mention - Chris Torres / Fort Worth Star Telegram

The moon is seen in its waxing stage at 99% full as it rises behind a giraffe statue at the Dallas Zoo on Wednesday, Oct. 16, 2024 in Dallas.

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Spot News

This was the weakest category. No real emotion. No reations that you typically see in spot news. I did not feel there were any Honorable Mentions.

First Place: High angle gets plane, damaged truck and witnesses visible in frame.

Second Place: Really a strange catch of civilian on civilian conflict. Black and white photo cuts out complicating color.

Third Place: Good angle of split house adds to drama, as does position of witness.  Wish there was a face for a human connection.

First place - Will Lester / Inland Valley Bulletin

Spectators at the 59th NHRA Finals at In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip in Pomona rush to the aid of a plane occupant as she crawls away moments after the small plane crashed into trackside recreational vehicles on Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024 as it was on final approach into Brackett Field Airport across the street. At least 4 people on board the plane have been reported injured while no injuries were reported on the ground. Racing continued at the track after a 2-hour delay.

Second place - Cristina Salvador Klenz / Freelance

Ester Chang, an employee of The Cove Hotel, 200 East Willow Street in Long Beach, tases a woman multiple times near a driveway leading into the hotel parking lot. Chang said that she felt threatened when the woman approached her inside the hotel and that the woman had been causing property damage on the premises. Chang said that she gave the woman multiple chances to leave and that tasing and pepper spraying are used as a last resort. Paramedics arrived on scene to help the woman who had also been pepper sprayed.

Third place - Daniel Dreifuss / Monterey County Weekly

Heavy rain and strong winds caused down power lines and damage throughout Monterey County early morning December 14, 2024.

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Entertainment

First Place: Smoke guitarist— Great composition and exposure.

Second Place: Great wide-angle face standalone shot.

Third Place: Ballet with soft colors and reflection. Quiet and moody.

Honorable Mention: Concert crowd with a different look lets the viewer practically hear the music.

First place - Will Lester / Inland Valley Daily Bulletin

David Gilmour, of Pink Floyd, plays the first of four LA area shows at the Intuit Dome during his Luck and Strange tour in Inglewood on Friday, Oct. 25, 2024.

Second place - Ringo Chiu / Freelance

Young kung fu performers showcase their skills at the Chaoshan Cultural Temple in the Shantou Small Park historical area in Shantou, Guangdong province, China, on Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2024.

Third place - Will Lester / Inland Valley Daily Bulletin

A dancer balances on her toes during rehearsals for the Nutcracker at BRAVA Riverside Ballet in Riverside on Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2024. The Nutcracker will be performed at the new MV Performing Arts Center in Moreno Valley on Dec. 21-22.

Honorable Mention - Daniel Dreifuss / Monterey County Weekly

The Crowd gets into the music at the Worlds Away Festival at Monterey County Fairgrounds.

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Sports Features

First Place: Every player in this image tells the story of the huge moment.
Second place: You can feel the drama of the moment. Focus is perfect on Freeman as soft background shows anticipation/ reaction of everyone watching.
Third Place: Fun interaction with hockey player and fan. Good catch.
Honorable Mention: Use of a slow shutter to get the feel of this makes it a winner. I wish I could see more faces.
Honorable Mention: Head stand makes for strange, good moment

First place - Keith Birmingham / Pasadena Star News

Teammates celebrate at home plate as Jazz Chisholm Jr. #13 of the New York Yankees walks past after Freddie Freeman (not pictured) of the Los Angeles Dodgers hit a walk off grand slam in the tenth inning to defeat the New York Yankees 6-3 and win Game 1 of a World Series baseball game at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Friday, October 25, 2024.

Second place - Keith Birmingham / Pasadena Star News

Freddie Freeman (5) of the Los Angeles Dodgers reacts after hitting a walk off grand slam in the tenth inning to defeat the New York Yankees 6-3 and win Game 1 of a World Series baseball game at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Friday, October 25, 2024.

Third place - Mike Goulding / Freelance

Anaheim Ducks player Ryan Strome engages in some horse play before the start of a recent Ducks game.

Honorable Mention - Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times

Bronx, New York, Wednesday, October 30, 2024 - The LA Dodgers locker room is filled with beer, champagne and happiness after the team beat the New York Yankees in Game five to win the World Series at Yankee Stadium.

Honorable Mention - Mike Goulding / Freelance

Orange Lutheran's Steve Chavez (5) celebrates his touchdown by spiking himself not the ball during a CIF-SS Division 1 semifinals game between Orange Lutheran High and St. John Bosco High at St. John Bosco High School on Friday, November 22.

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Sports Action

Really good Category and hard to narrow them down. Good peak action.

First Place: Three arms converge on the ball for great graphic motion. Nice light.

Second Place: Hands only makes a different look at the game. Fun angles and shapes on clear background for iconic shot.

Third Place: Horizontal motion throughout this catch punctuated by that blue scoreboard. Fun graphic elements.

Honorable Mention 1: Look back catch is a great moment. Receiver’s eyes make it a winner.

Honorable Mention 2: Fantastic peak action in this photo.

First place - Paul Rodriguez / Freelance

A pass is just out of the reach of San Juan Hills High School wide receiver Jake Vuoso right, Dean Kolasinski, center, and Villa Park High School defender Luvie Clark in a Bravo League football game in Orange, California on Thursday, October 24, 2024.

Second place - Keith Birmingham / Pasadena Star News

Layla Moore of Long Beach Poly does up for the block against Eliana Urzua of Bishop Diego in the first set of a CIF-SS Division 3 girls championship volleyball match at Cerritos College in Norwalk on Saturday, November 9, 2024.

Third place - Keith Birmingham / Pasadena Star News

Safety Kamren Kinchens #26 of the Los Angeles Rams intercepts a pass intended for wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. #18 of the Arizona Cardinals in the fourth quarter of a NFL football game at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood on Saturday, December 28, 2024.

Honorable Mention - Keith Birmingham / Pasadena Star News

Wide receiver Kyron Hudson #10 of the USC Trojans catches a pass in the end zone over defensive back Malcolm Hartzog Jr. #7 of the Nebraska Cornhuskers for a touchdown in the first half of a NCAA football game at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles on Saturday, November 16, 2024.

Honorable Mention - Chris Torres Fort Worth Star-Telegram

Texas tight end Gunnar Helm (85) leaps over Oklahoma defensive back Kani Walker (26) in the first half of an NCAA football game at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas on Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024.

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Fire

First Place: Evacuation— Apocalypse now! Really spooky with caped evacuee and general darkness.

Second Place: Embers fly—Nice moment and technique. Better crop from the right side might help.

Third Place: Helicopter and brush crew—Great timing, location, light.

Honorable Mention 1: Backfire—Nice depth with silhouette in foreground, fire in back.

Honorable Mention 2: This is a unique find.  I like that the photographer was watching for it. peak action in this photo.

First place - Allison Dinner / European Pressphoto Agency

A person evacuates down the road as the Franklin Fire burns in Malibu, California, USA, December 10, 2024. The Franklin Fire has burned over 4,000 acres and prompted multiple evacuations as well as destroying homes.

Second place - Ringo Chiu / Freelance

The wind whips embers from the trees as a firefighter works as the Franklin Fire burns in Malibu, California, U.S., December 10, 2024.

Third place - Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times

Camp crew members duck for cover as a Los Angeles County Fire helicopter drops water on the Frankiln fire raging in the Santa Monica Mountains on Tuesday, Dec. 10, 2024 in Malibu, CA.

Honorable Mention - Allison Dinner / European Pressphoto Agency

An inmate hand crew battles the Mountain Fire in Moorpark, California, USA, November 7, 2024. The wind driven Mountain Fire was the third most destructive wild fire in a decade, burning over 20,000 acres and destroying 243 structures.

Honorable Mention - David Swanson / Freelance

Firemen remove a classic car from the garage of a mansion on fire as the Mountain Fire grows in Camarillo, California, U.S. December 10, 2024.

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Meet our judge

Len Wood is a freelance photographer on the Central Coast. He spent decades working for daily newspapers including the Santa Maria Times and Santa Barbara News-Press as a photographer, editor, designer and graphic artist.