East – December 2025 – Spot News

Judges Comments

Very weak category. First place was a great image with wonderful light. Really told the story of the fire. Other entries might have done better in general news or be edited much tighter. The entry of the kayak rescue might have placed if it had been only 1 photo.

Judges: Shmuel Thaler/Santa Cruz Sentinel, Kevin Painchaud/Lookout Santa Cruz, Daniel Dreifuss/Monterey County Weekly