NAAJ Photojournalism Winners - 2024
This category highlights the art of a photojournalist who captured a photo for the story and also wrote the accompanying story. This award recognizes a journalist for how well the photo(s) complement the subject of the story. Entry must include a link to the article/photo combination or PDF of the photo in conjunction with the story as laid out for readers. Limit of TWO entries per member. (Individual stories from this category also may be entered in one of the single-story categories.)
Number of entries: 11
Judge’s comments about the competition: Thanks for the opportunity. I enjoyed seeing the range of topics pursed by these dedicated photographers.
Judge: Owen Roberts is at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences, where he is a lecturer and director of agricultural communications program. He also serves as faculty adviser to the Illini Agricultural Communicators of Tomorrow. He spent most of his career in ag communications at the University of Guelph in Ontario, is past president of the International Federation of Agricultural Journalists, and a senator in the Canadian Farm Writers’ Federation.
FIRST PLACE — Liz Partsch, Farm and Dairy
Bee hives in Pittsburgh produce lanternfly honey — 11/16/2023
Judge’s comments: Just last fall I photographed a beekeeper with her hives, and I thought my photos were pretty good ... until I saw this exceptional collection from Liz Partsch. She does masterful work with color, texture, depth and angles in the photos that accompany this story. It’s the gallery that is particularly outstanding (rather than the opening photos in the story, which were average), especially the close ups of the active hives and detail like the cherub in the background of the hives, peeking there behind them.
SECOND PLACE — Chris Clayton, DTN/Progressive Farmer
The Western Draw of American Bison — 6/23/2023
Judge’s comments: What an inspiring photo! It's magnificent, with amazing colors, depth and perspective. You can’t help feeling hopeful that bison are making a comeback, and you can't help agreeing that they do indeed have a unique, primitive draw. Kudos to Chris Clayton for his patience capturing this majestic moment.
THIRD PLACE — Gabriel Pietroazio, KJZZ/Fronteras Desk
Learning spiritual lessons from one Hopi dry farmer on his last day in the cornfield – 11/22/2023
Judge’s comments: How refreshing to go on this experiential journey with Gabriel, through a field that is much more than a profit center for this Hopi farmer. I lamented the absence of a traditional beauty shot of the corn, until I realized this crop was not meant to be a showcase as we know it today. The shocking purple clothes basket is enigmatic against the brown, bleak soil and plants.
HONORABLE MENTIONS
— Ed White, The Western Producer
Chickens, egg production seen at ‘beak level’ – 5/18/2023
Judge’s comments: Ed White’s dramatic egg photo underlines how a good photo gets even better when run as big as possible. It’s an in-your-face image that definitely makes you want to seek out the story inside.
