South – August 2025 – Photo Story/Essay

Judges Comments

1st Place: An easy choice for the top spot due to its overall strong imagery, memorable moments, and thoughtful editing. The photographer demonstrated care and respect for the subjects, resulting in tender and sweet visuals that are non-judgmental. 2nd Place: This entry requires a tighter edit, as many of the photos share similar compositions. However, the photojournalist had good access and was dynamic in their approach, moving around rather than standing still. No third place awarded.

Judges: Thomas R. Cordova/Long Beach Post, David Swanson/freelance, Justin Enriquez/freelance