Central – June 2024 – Photo Story/Essay

Judges Comments

Several packages from other categories, Kyra's Room and Puppy Yoga, belonged here. This category is a catch-all and entrants should take advantage of that. Only two stories were entered this month. Unless the material has a news hook, it goes in this category. Also, make sure each frame of the essay brings different information or perspective. Redundancy bores a visually saturated reader and is the foe of strong storytelling. First: Cattle branding would have worked at 6-7 images. It was raised to the top spot because captions provided a news hook. Second: Fisheries has a good variety of perspectives, with wide and medium views. However, captions raised more questions than they answered.

Judges: Caroline Couig/Independent visials editor, Bradley E. Clift/Contract Photographer - U.S. Coast Guard Academy