2021 Qtr. 4 Photo Essay

Randy L. Rasmussen & Don Ryan, Quarter 4 Judges

---

First Place: Gina Ferazzi, Los Angeles Times

890193_migrants_reynosa_matamoros

Migrants Stranded in Mexico: Migrant camps have swelled to the thousands in the dangerous border towns of Reynosa and Matamoros, Mexico as the extension of the Trump pandemic policy continues to bar many migrants from seeking asylum. They pass the time, not knowing when or if they will ever leave the migrant camps. Children pass the time playing soccer on a rough field across from the home they are staying with 36 other asylum-seekers on December 7, 2021 in Matamoros, Mexico.

Asylum Seekers Wait in Mexico

Migrants Stranded in Mexico: Migrant camps have swelled to the thousands in the dangerous border towns of Reynosa and Matamoros, Mexico as the extension of the Trump pandemic policy continues to bar many migrants from seeking asylum. They pass the time, not knowing when or if they will ever leave the migrant camps.Asylum-seeker Maria Jacinto Gomez, 27, of Guatemala, right, sleeps on an air mattress with her 11 year-old son nearby in the crowded gazebo filled with migrants at the Plaza Las Americas migrant tent camp which currently holds 2,000 migrants on December 6, 2021 in Reynosa, Mexico. Gomez and her son have been there for 5 months.

REYNOSA, MEXICO - DECEMBER 6, 2021: Alex Gorman, a worker for the non-profit Sidewalk School, carries a young mute and deaf migrant girl who was in need of medical attention at the Plaza Las Americas migrant tent camp on December 6, 2021 in Reynosa, Mexico.

888850_col1_black_lives_border

REYNOSA, MEXICO - DECEMBER 8, 2021: Haitian migrant Claudia Chery, 36, tastes the stew she’s making over an open flame at the Plaza Las Americas migrant tent camp which currently holds 2,000 migrants on December 8, 2021 in Reynosa, Mexico.

888850_col1_black_lives_border

REYNOSA, MEXICO - DECEMBER 6, 2021: Haitian migrants live in this apartment complex with migrants from Central America and the rent is paid for by the non-profit Sidewalk School run by Felicia Rangel-Samponaro on December 6, 2021 in Reynosa, Mexico. Many Haitians need our be segregated from the general migrant camps because of racism.

888850_col1_black_lives_border

REYNOSA, MEXICO - DECEMBER 6, 2021: Haitian migrants seeking asylum, mingle together at Senda De Vida migrant shelter on December 6, 2021 in Reynosa, Mexico.

890193_migrants_reynosa_matamoros

MATAMOROS, MEXICO - DECEMBER 7, 2021: Migrant women and children stay close together as they try and find out how much longer they will have to wait for have their asylum claims heard on December 7, 2021 in Matamoros, Mexico.

890193_migrants_reynosa_matamoros

MATAMOROS, MEXICO - DECEMBER 7, 2021: A migrant women is brought to tears as she recalls how she and her children were threatened with kidnapping while staying in a remote shelter with 36 other migrants on December 7, 2021 in Matamoros, Mexico.

890193_migrants_reynosa_matamoros

MATAMOROS, MEXICO - DECEMBER 7, 2021: Sitting in a worn out tire, migrant Eduardo Jesus shares phone videos with migrant Isaac Gomez across from the shelter they are staying with 36 other asylum-seekers on December 7, 2021 in Matamoros, Mexico.

888850_col1_black_lives_border

REYNOSA, MEXICO - DECEMBER 6, 2021: Black Mexican-American border activist Felicia Rangel-Samponaro, left, hugs Amarillis Najaro Santa Cruz, 33 from Guatemala, one of her asylum-seeking migrant teachers, at an apartment complex housing other migrants from Central America and Haiti on December 6, 2021 in Reynosa, Mexico. She founded the non-profit Sidewalk School so the children of migrants from Central America and Haiti can learn English and other studies. Her non-profit also pays the rent for the migrants at this apartment complex and others.

---

Second Place: Apu Gomes, Freelance

Traffic jam at the Port of Los Angeles

A worker walks close to shipping containers at the Port of Long Beach in Long Beach, California, November 17, 2021. - This morning the Governor of California, Gavin Newsom joined John Porcari, port envoy to the Biden administration's Supply Chain Disruptions TaskForce, legislators and local officials in the Los Angeles Harbor area tohighlight the ongoing state and federal efforts to address port congestion. Congestion at US ports has caused supply chain disruptions, driving up prices and leading to a growing shortage of goods.

Traffic jam at the Port of Los Angeles

Gantry cranes and shipping containers are seen at the Port of Long Beach in Long Beach, California, November 17, 2021. - This morning the Governor of California, Gavin Newsom joined John Porcari, port envoy to the Biden administration's Supply Chain Disruptions TaskForce, legislators and local officials in the Los Angeles Harbor area tohighlight the ongoing state and federal efforts to address port congestion. Congestion at US ports has caused supply chain disruptions, driving up prices and leading to a growing shortage of goods.

Traffic jam at the Port of Los Angeles

Shipping containers are seen at the Port of Long Beach, in Long Beach, California, November 17, 2021. - This morning the Governor of California, Gavin Newsom joined John Porcari, port envoy to the Biden administration's Supply Chain Disruptions TaskForce, legislators and local officials in the Los Angeles Harbor area tohighlight the ongoing state and federal efforts to address port congestion. Congestion at US ports has caused supply chain disruptions, driving up prices and leading to a growing shortage of goods.

Traffic jam at the Port of Los Angeles

The moon and shipping containers are seen inside the Port of Los Angeles in San Pedro, California, November 17, 2021. - This morning the Governor of California, Gavin Newsom joined John Porcari, port envoy to the Biden administration's Supply Chain Disruptions TaskForce, legislators and local officials in the Los Angeles Harbor area tohighlight the ongoing state and federal efforts to address port congestion. Congestion at US ports has caused supply chain disruptions, driving up prices and leading to a growing shortage of goods.

Traffic jam at the Port of Los Angeles

Gantry cranes are seen unloading the Shipping Container Hyundai Jupiter at the Port of Long Beach in Long Beach, California, November 17, 2021. - This morning the Governor of California, Gavin Newsom joined John Porcari, port envoy to the Biden administration's Supply Chain Disruptions TaskForce, legislators and local officials in the Los Angeles Harbor area tohighlight the ongoing state and federal efforts to address port congestion. Congestion at US ports has caused supply chain disruptions, driving up prices and leading to a growing shortage of goods.

Traffic jam at the Port of Los Angeles

Gantry cranes and shipping containers are seen at the Port of Long Beach in Long Beach, California, November 17, 2021. - This morning the Governor of California, Gavin Newsom joined John Porcari, port envoy to the Biden administration's Supply Chain Disruptions TaskForce, legislators and local officials in the Los Angeles Harbor area tohighlight the ongoing state and federal efforts to address port congestion. Congestion at US ports has caused supply chain disruptions, driving up prices and leading to a growing shortage of goods.

Traffic jam at the Port of Los Angeles

Shipping containers and trucks are seen at the Port of Long Beach in Long BeachTruck is seen inside the Port of Los Angeles in San Pedro, California, November 17, 2021. - This morning the Governor of California, Gavin Newsom joined John Porcari, port envoy to the Biden administration's Supply Chain Disruptions TaskForce, legislators and local officials in the Los Angeles Harbor area tohighlight the ongoing state and federal efforts to address port congestion. Congestion at US ports has caused supply chain disruptions, driving up prices and leading to a growing shortage of goods.

Traffic jam at the Port of Los Angeles

Truck is seen inside the Port of Los Angeles in San Pedro, California, November 17, 2021. - This morning the Governor of California, Gavin Newsom joined John Porcari, port envoy to the Biden administration's Supply Chain Disruptions TaskForce, legislators and local officials in the Los Angeles Harbor area tohighlight the ongoing state and federal efforts to address port congestion. Congestion at US ports has caused supply chain disruptions, driving up prices and leading to a growing shortage of goods.

Traffic jam at the Port of Los Angeles

The moon and shipping containers are seen inside the Port of Los Angeles in San Pedro, California, November 17, 2021. - This morning the Governor of California, Gavin Newsom joined John Porcari, port envoy to the Biden administration's Supply Chain Disruptions TaskForce, legislators and local officials in the Los Angeles Harbor area tohighlight the ongoing state and federal efforts to address port congestion. Congestion at US ports has caused supply chain disruptions, driving up prices and leading to a growing shortage of goods.

Traffic jam at the Port of Los Angeles

Shipping containers are seen at the Port of Long Beach, in Long Beach, California, November 17, 2021. - This morning the Governor of California, Gavin Newsom joined John Porcari, port envoy to the Biden administration's Supply Chain Disruptions TaskForce, legislators and local officials in the Los Angeles Harbor area tohighlight the ongoing state and federal efforts to address port congestion. Congestion at US ports has caused supply chain disruptions, driving up prices and leading to a growing shortage of goods

---

Third place:  Jay L. Clendenin, Los Angeles Times

870885_et-AFI-Fest-tick-tick-Boom-red-carpet_JLC

The return of AFI Fest, a film festival sponsored by the American Film Institute, lit up Hollywood Blvd and the TCL Chinese Theatre, but it came with many COVID-19 safety protocols, namely non-talent around the red carpet wearing masks and most people avoiding a gathering a fans hoping for autographs and photos with the season’s film stars. Hollywood, CA - November 10: June Spencer,6, daughter of cinematographer Alice Brooks, right and Sam Spencer, on the red carpet of the 2021 AFI Fest Opening Night Gala Premiere of Netflix’s, “tick, tick…BOOM!,” at TCL Chinese Theatre, in Hollywood, CA, Wednesday, Nov. 10, 2021.

Hollywood, CA - November 13: Actress and director Halle and co-star Shamier Anderson, have a photo taken of them by Anderson’s brother Stephan James, right, on the red carpet of the 2021 AFI Fest Gala Premiere of Netflix’s, “Bruised” at the TCL Chinese Theatre, in Hollywood, CA, Saturday, Nov. 13, 2021.The film, Halle Berry’s directorial debut, following an aging mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter, played by Berry, who accepts an offer to fight the top female MMA fighter, while also dealing with the return of a son she given up for adoption.

Hollywood, CA - November 14: Seen through a tilt-shift lens, tennis legend, Venus Williams, on the red carpet of the 2021 AFI Fest Gala Premiere of, “King Richard,” at the TCL Chinese Theatre, in Hollywood, CA, Sunday, Nov. 14, 2021. The film tells the story of Richard Williams, portrayed by Will Smith, and his raising of daughters Venus and Serena into the tennis champions they have become.

Hollywood, CA - November 10: Actor Andrew Garfield and director Lin-Manuel Miranda, on the red carpet of the 2021 AFI Fest Opening Night Gala Premiere of Netflix’s, “tick, tick…BOOM!,” at TCL Chinese Theatre, in Hollywood, CA, Wednesday, Nov. 10, 2021.

Hollywood, CA - November 10: Alexandra Shipp takes socially-distant pictures with fans, before the 2021 AFI Fest Opening Night Gala Premiere of Netflix’s, “tick, tick…BOOM!,” at TCL Chinese Theatre, in Hollywood, CA, Wednesday, Nov. 10, 2021.

870885_et-AFI-Fest-tick-tick-Boom-red-carpet_JLC

Hollywood, CA - November 10: The mermain silhouette and polka dot outfit of actress Alexandra Shipp, seen with a tilt-shift lens, on the red carpet of the 2021 AFI Fest Opening Night Gala Premiere of Netflix’s, “tick, tick…BOOM!,” at TCL Chinese Theatre, in Hollywood, CA, Wednesday, Nov. 10, 2021.

872485_et-AFI-Fest-2021-bruised-red-carpet_JLC

Hollywood, CA - November 13: Raina Menné, on the red carpet of the 2021 AFI Fest Gala Premiere of Netflix’s, “Bruised” at the TCL Chinese Theatre, in Hollywood, CA, Saturday, Nov. 13, 2021. The film, Halle Berry’s directorial debut, follows an aging mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter, played by Berry, who accepts an offer to fight the top female MMA fighter, while also dealing with the return of a son she given up for adoption.

Hollywood, CA - November 14: Alexis Olympia Ohanian, Jr., center, strikes a pose, with mom Serena Williams, right and dad Alexis Ohanian, on the red carpet of the 2021 AFI Fest Gala Premiere of, “King Richard,” at the TCL Chinese Theatre, in Hollywood, CA, Sunday, Nov. 14, 2021. The film tells the story of Richard Williams, portrayed by Will Smith, and his raising of daughters Venus and Serena into the tennis champions they have become.

Hollywood, CA - November 10: Actress Vanessa Hudgens, left, and director Lin-Manuel Miranda pose for a picture before hitting the red carpet of the 2021 AFI Fest Opening Night Gala Premiere of Netflix’s and director Miranda’s, “tick, tick…BOOM!,” at TCL Chinese Theatre, in Hollywood, CA, Wednesday, Nov. 10, 2021.

Hollywood, CA - November 13: Actress and director Halle Berry, with Ted Serandos, chief executive officer (CEO) of Netflix, before walking the red carpet of the 2021 AFI Fest Gala Premiere of Netflix’s, “Bruised” at the TCL Chinese Theatre, in Hollywood, CA, Saturday, Nov. 13, 2021. Serandos and Netflix played a major role the film industry during the pandemic, sending several big-budget films to their streaming service, either exclusively or with a limited theatrical engagement. “Bruised,” is Halle Berry’s directorial debut, following an aging mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter, played by Berry, who accepts an offer to fight the top female MMA fighter, while also dealing with the return of a son she given up for adoption.

---

---

Meet Our Judges, Randy L. Rasmussen & Don Ryan

Randy L. Rasmussen is a career photojournalist, beginning in high school working as a lab-tech and photographer for The Missoulian. From there, he moved to Los Angeles where he worked as a staff photographer for the Orange County Register and then as a staffer for the LA bureau of the Associated Press (and a member of PPAGLA). 

He moved to The Oregonian where he worked in variety of jobs, including staff photographer, magazine photographer/photo editor, news graphics editor, assistant director of photography and acting photo director. He left the paper in 2016, after 35 years, to freelance, which he continues to do occasionally. You can contact him at rlrx@yahoo.com.

Don Ryan spent 35 years as a staff photographer for The Associated Press based in Portland, OR. Ryan also spent three years as staff photographer at the Port Angeles Daily News in Port Angeles, WA and three years as staff photographer at the Gresham Outlook in Gresham, OR. He is now enjoying retirement in King City, OR.

Ryan graduated from Oregon State University in 1976 with a Major in Technical Journalism and Minor in Business Administration. His love of photography and photojournalism began in high school when he developed his first black and white photo and never looked back.

2021 Qtr. 4 Picture Story

Randy L. Rasmussen & DON RYAN, Quarter 4 Judges

---

First Place: Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News

Horn Blower Jay Cohen performs during Opening day of the winter-spring meet at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia on Sunday, December 26, 2021.

Fans look on during Opening day of the winter-spring meet at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia on Sunday, December 26, 2021.

Jockey John Valezquez riding Eight Rings finished third in the San Antonio Stakes (Grade II) race during Opening day of the winter-spring meet at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia on Sunday, December 26, 2021.

Horse racing fans are silhouetted as they walk through the grand stands during Opening day of the winter-spring meet at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia on Sunday, December 26, 2021.

The Malibu Stakes Grade 1 race during Opening day of the winter-spring meet at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia on Sunday, December 26, 2021.

Horse racing fans dressed up for the day during Opening day of the winter-spring meet at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia on Sunday, December 26, 2021.

Jockey Victor Espinoza (2) riding Express Train wins the San Antonio Stakes (Grade II) race during Opening day of the winter-spring meet at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia on Sunday, December 26, 2021.

Jockey Victor Espinoza (2) riding Express Train wins the San Antonio Stakes (Grade II) race during Opening day of the winter-spring meet at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia on Sunday, December 26, 2021.

Jockey Victor Espinoza riding Express Train wins the San Antonio Stakes (Grade II) race during Opening day of the winter-spring meet at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia on Sunday, December 26, 2021.

Jockey Victor Espinoza riding Express Train reacts after winning the San Antonio Stakes (Grade II) race during Opening day of the winter-spring meet at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia on Sunday, December 26, 2021.

A fan leaves the track at the end of the day during Opening day of the winter-spring meet at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia on Sunday, December 26, 2021.

---

Second Place: Michael Nelson, Freelance

A man harvests world-renown Deglet Nour dates in the oasis of Kebili in Tunisia. The grouping of a dozen oases along the immense dry lake Chott El Djerid in the far south of Tunisia on the edge of the Sahara Desert is one of the hottest and inhospitable places in North Africa. However, because of a network of thermal springs along the ancient lakeshore it supports a string of date palm groves.

A date grove owner shows a damaged date that is only useful as feed for animals. Though there is plenty of water from the thermal springs, the broken cooling system of the spring that waters his date trees has damaged the soil making it less fertile and lacking in beneficial insects. He cannot rely on revenue from his 50 date trees and supplements his income as a teacher/

A hot spring structure steams as the boiling waters are cooled before they flow into date palm groves. There are dozens of structures - some four stories high that attempt too cool the waters sufficiently to irrigate the date groves.

A man baths in cascading hot waters of a thermal spring cooling structure. The hot springs waters are essential to irrigate date groves as well as supplying the local population with water.

Boys play around pools of hot spring storage reservoirs which are then used to water adjacent date groves.

A young woman rests next to a date palm as water flows through an irrigation canal into the grove.

As desert sands encroach on villages and towns along the oasis road, palm fond barriers are erected in an attempt to protect homes.

Two women sit atop a huge sand dune created by palm fond barriers as the moon rises between them. Though the oasis road region is very hot and dry, there use to be sufficient rainfall to periodically fill the giant lake each year. However, as climate change has reduced rainfall, the lake remains dry most years and winds bring sands from the Sahara Desert which are threatening to bury homes and villages.

A boy relaxes atop a sand dune with the top of a nearby mosque minaret rises above the dune. Though the oasis road region is very hot and dry, there use to be sufficient rainfall to periodically fill the giant lake each year. However, as climate change has reduced rainfall, the lake remains dry most years and winds bring sands from the Sahara Desert which are threatening to bury homes and villages.

A grave of a 8-year old child who died in 2010 is provided with water as is the custom in this region. The water is for birds and is thought to be a blessing for the deceased. Oasis life is harsh on the edge of the desert where summer temperatures routinely exceed 120 degrees F and winter temperatures can dip below freezing.

Camels feed on date stems. Date palms not only provide dates, but also the palm fonds are used to make furniture and cages and the palms leaves are woven into baskets.

An oasis resident passes by a mural depicting a woman using a traditional grinding pedestal. Each oasis town which usually has at least one hot spring water source, is surrounded by thousand of date palms that stretched to the edge of the dry lake shore where the salinity of the earth is unsuitable to grown anything.

Third Place: Aude Guerruci, freelance

A mother breastfeeding her two months old baby Gabriella, is part of a migrant caravan heading to the northern border, in Santo Domingo Zanatepec, Mexico November 10, 2021.Thousands of migrants, including many children, fleeing violence and poverty, are taking the roads through Mexico, trying to reach the US border and hoping the new Biden administration will make it easier for them to enter the United States.

A migrant pushes a wheelchair with the mother of a family he befriend, as they walk along a road in a caravan heading to the northern border, in Chahuites, Mexico November 8, 2021.

A migrant plays trumpet while resting with others migrants after a very early walk in Chahuites, Mexico November 8, 2021.

Mirgrants rest along the river after a very early walk in Chahuites, Mexico November 8, 2021.

A family takes a bath in the river after a very early walk in Chahuites, Mexico November 8, 2021.

Children play before resting for the night in Chahuites, Mexico November 8, 2021.

Migrants cheers after listening to a speech of Irineo Mujica, the caravan organizer, in Chahuites, Mexico November 8, 2021.

Migrants warm themselves with a fire before an early walk in Santo Domingo Zanatepec, Mexico November 10, 2021.

A migrant walks along a road in a caravan heading to the northern border, in Chahuites, Mexico November 8, 2021.

Migrants walk along a road in a caravan heading to the northern border, in Tapanatepec, Mexico November 9, 2021.

---

Meet Our Judges, Randy L. Rasmussen & DON RYAN

Randy L. Rasmussen is a career photojournalist, beginning in high school working as a lab-tech and photographer for The Missoulian. From there, he moved to Los Angeles where he worked as a staff photographer for the Orange County Register and then as a staffer for the LA bureau of the Associated Press (and a member of PPAGLA). 

He moved to The Oregonian where he worked in variety of jobs, including staff photographer, magazine photographer/photo editor, news graphics editor, assistant director of photography and acting photo director. He left the paper in 2016, after 35 years, to freelance, which he continues to do occasionally. You can contact him at rlrx@yahoo.com.

Don Ryan spent 35 years as a staff photographer for The Associated Press based in Portland, OR. Ryan also spent three years as staff photographer at the Port Angeles Daily News in Port Angeles, WA and three years as staff photographer at the Gresham Outlook in Gresham, OR. He is now enjoying retirement in King City, OR.

Ryan graduated from Oregon State University in 1976 with a Major in Technical Journalism and Minor in Business Administration. His love of photography and photojournalism began in high school when he developed his first black and white photo and never looked back.

2021 Qtr. 3 Photo Essay

Joe Vitti & Charlie Nye, Quarter 3 Judges

It was a strong selection of pictures. Winning stories and essays were well edited. The photographs that stood out in all categories were story-telling pictures as well as technically strong. The winning pictures were smartly cropped, but many pictures entered had good content but were too loosely composed and would have been strengthened by cropping.

We read captions on many pictures to help us understand the context and importance of the photographs and the ones we read were well written and providing good information — good work by everyone on the captions.

---

First place: ERIC THAYER, BLOOMBERG

A man crosses onto the shore into Mexico carrying two children over the Rio Grande River near the Del Rio-Acuna Port of Entry in Acuna, Coahuila, Mexico, on Monday, Sept. 20, 2021.

Migrants pause after crossing the Rio Grande River near the Del Rio-Acuna Port of Entry in Ciudad Acuna, Coahuila state, Mexico, on Sunday, Sept. 19, 2021.

U.S. Border Patrol agents push back migrants illegally crossing into the United States from Mexico over the Rio Grande River in Del Rio, Texas, U.S., on Sunday, Sept. 19, 2021.

Migrants cross the Rio Grande River near the Del Rio-Acuna Port of Entry in Ciudad Acuna, Coahuila state, Mexico, on Sunday, Sept. 19, 2021.

A helicopter flies over migrants at a makeshift camp in a park near the Del Rio-Acuna Port of Entry in Acuna, Coahuila state, Mexico, on Tuesday, Sept. 21, 2021.

Migrants wait at sunrise to illegally cross between the United States and Mexico over the Rio Grande River in Cuidad Acuna, Coahuila, Mexico, on Sunday, Sept. 19, 2021.

Clothes dry in a park near the Del Rio-Acuna Port of Entry in Acuna, Coahuila state, Mexico, on Monday, Sept. 20, 2021.

A migrant crosses the Rio Grande River into the United States near the Del Rio-Acuna Port of Entry in Acuna, Coahuila state, Mexico, on Monday, Sept. 20, 2021.

Migrants in a park after crossing from the United States to Mexico over the Rio Grande River in Cuidad Acuna, Coahuila, Mexico, on Sunday, Sept. 19, 2021.

Migrants line up for food at a makeshift camp in a park near the Del Rio-Acuna Port of Entry in Acuna, Coahuila state, Mexico, on Tuesday, Sept. 21, 2021.

---

Second Place: jay l. clendenin, la times

831644_Ca-Clint Eastwood profile_JLC

CARMEL-BY-THE-SEA, CA - September 02: A portrait of Oscar-winning director Clint Eastwood, 91, photographed with an 8x10-inch film camera, amongst the oak trees, on the grounds of his Tehama Golf Club, in Carmel-By-The-Sea, CA, in support of his newest film, which he also stars in, “Cry Macho,” Thursday, Sept. 2, 2021.

831644_Ca-Clint Eastwood profile_JLC

CARMEL-BY-THE-SEA, CA - September 02: Oscar-winning director Clint Eastwood drives his truck, with a photographer in-tow, around the grounds of his Tehama Golf Club, in Carmel-By-The-Sea, CA, Thursday, Sept. 2, 2021. Eastwood directed a new film, which he also stars in, “Cry Macho.”

831644_Ca-Clint Eastwood profile_JLC

Carmel-By-The-Sea, CA - September 02: The dashboard in the Lincoln truck drove by Oscar-winning director Clint Eastwood is covered in a layer of dust, while driving around the grounds of his Tehama Golf Club, in Carmel-By-The-Sea, CA, Thursday, Sept. 2, 2021.

831644_Ca-Clint Eastwood profile_JLC

CARMEL-BY-THE-SEA, CA - September 02: Oscar-winning director Clint Eastwood climbs a fence to his horse corral, during a tour of the grounds of his Tehama Golf Club, in Carmel-By-The-Sea, CA, Thursday, Sept. 2, 2021. Eastwood directed a new film, which he also stars in, “Cry Macho.”

831644_Ca-Clint Eastwood profile_JLC

CARMEL-BY-THE-SEA, CA - September 02: Oscar-winning director Clint Eastwood, photographed with a tilt-shift lens, pauses after greeting horses in his corral, during a tour of the grounds of his Tehama Golf Club, in Carmel-By-The-Sea, CA, Thursday, Sept. 2, 2021. Eastwood directed a new film, which he also stars in, “Cry Macho.”

831644_Ca-Clint Eastwood profile_JLC

CARMEL-BY-THE-SEA, CA - September 02: Oscar-winning director Clint Eastwood greets one of his rescued horses, during a tour of the grounds of his Tehama Golf Club, in Carmel-By-The-Sea, CA, Thursday, Sept. 2, 2021. Eastwood directed a new film, which he also stars in, “Cry Macho.”

831644_Ca-Clint Eastwood profile_JLC

CARMEL-BY-THE-SEA, CA - September 02: A portrait of Oscar-winning director Clint Eastwood, 91, photographed with an 8x10-inch film camera, amongst the oak trees, on the grounds of his Tehama Golf Club, in Carmel-By-The-Sea, CA, in support of his newest film, which he also stars in, “Cry Macho,” Thursday, Sept. 2, 2021.

831644_Ca-Clint Eastwood profile_JLC

CARMEL-BY-THE-SEA, CA - September 02: A final portrait of Oscar-winning director Clint Eastwood, 91, ending a day of touring the grounds of his Tehama Golf Club, in Carmel-By-The-Sea, CA, in support of his newest film, which he also stars in, “Cry Macho,” Thursday, Sept. 2, 2021.

---

Third place: ringo chiu, associated press

California Wildfires

Firefighters watch as a helicopter drops water at the South Fire burning in Lytle creek, San Bernardino County north of Rialto, Calif., Wednesday, Aug. 25, 2021.

California Wildfires

The South Fire burns near the power lines in Lytle creek, San Bernardino County north of Rialto, Calif., Wednesday, Aug. 25, 2021.

California Wildfires

A sculpture is seen at a burning burning house as the South Fire burns in Lytle creek, San Bernardino County north of Rialto, Calif., Wednesday, Aug. 25, 2021.

California Wildfires

A firefighter tries to extinguish the flames at a burning house as the South Fire burns in Lytle creek, San Bernardino County north of Rialto, Calif., Wednesday, Aug. 25, 2021.

California Wildfires

A firefighter tries to extinguish the flames at a burning house as the South Fire burns in Lytle creek, San Bernardino County north of Rialto, Calif., Wednesday, Aug. 25, 2021.

California Wildfires

Animals stand near a fence while a firefighter works to extinguish flames from the South Fire, at a farm in Lytle Creek, near Rialto, Calif., in San Bernardino County on Wednesday, Aug. 25, 2021.

California Wildfires

A burned vehicle is seen near a burning house at the South Fire in Lytle creek, San Bernardino County north of Rialto, Calif., Wednesday, Aug. 25, 2021.

California Wildfires

Homeowner Jose Lamas, right, and his daughter Astrid Covarrubias survey the charred debris left in his burned-out home from the South Fire in Lytle Creek, San Bernardino County, north of Rialto, Calif., Wednesday, Aug. 25, 2021.

California Wildfires

Homeowners Jose Lamas, center, his wife Maria Covarrubias, right, and his daughter Astrid Covarrubias walk through the smoke after visiting their burned out home during the South Fire in Lytle creek, San Bernardino County north of Rialto, Calif., Wednesday, Aug. 25, 2021.

California Wildfires

A decorate sculpture is shown charred by the South Fire burns in Lytle creek, San Bernardino County north of Rialto, Calif., Wednesday, Aug. 25, 2021.

---

---

Meet Our Judges, Joe Vitti & Charlie Nye

Joe Vitti attended first Marquette, then Ohio University, working on student publications until 1977, when he began an internship at the Arizona Daily Star in Tucson and never looked back. He served as staff photographer, page designer and assignment coordinator until 1984. He then moved to the Los Angeles Times, where he was a staff photographer in the paper’s San Fernando Valley zone section, which covered a region of some 600 square miles.

In 1990 he moved to Indianapolis as photo editor for the News. When the News and Star papers merged in 1995, he continued as photo editor. In 1998 he transitioned back to photographer. Around 2010 he took on the combined photographer/weekend photo editor role in which he served until 2014.

Charlie Nye is a retired photojournalist living in Indianapolis. He worked for newspapers in Ohio, Missouri, Minnesota, Oregon and Indiana, and also served as a National Geographic photography intern two summers while attending Ohio University (undergraduate) and the University of Missouri (graduate school). His first job out of college was as editor of a twice-weekly newspaper in Minnesota. In the 1970s-2000s he held a variety of other positions at newspapers, including staff photographer, director of photography/graphics (Eugene Register-Guard, Indianapolis News) and assistant managing editor for photo and graphics (Indianapolis Star).