Northwest – May 2025 – Photo Story/Essay

Judges Comments

A pair of well-edited picture stories impressed us - showcasing a diversity of images and effort by the photographers. The top award went to a an especially well-told and empathetic series of images of a woman contending with the effects of a life-changing accident. It's clear the photographer spent some time with the subject and their were a variety genuine moments captured that offered insight into her road back from the incident as well as the impact it had on those around her - in both positive and challenging ways. Second award - The sheep dog package featured a nice diversity of insightful images from a pretty unique event. Some humorous, some quiet - each added something to the overall story. We ended up deliberating some about our final award selection, as the remaining entries featured a number of repetitive images, but were drawn to the fishing package for the uniqueness of the event and the scenic beauty evident in the photos.

Judges: John Hart/Wisconsin State Journal, Amber Arnold/Wisconsin State Journal