Every year, photographers frantically race the deadlines to enter as many annual clip contests as possible. This year was no different. We all want to see how the best of our previous year stacks up against everyone else.
The first win for me this year came from the Illinois Press Association. I was told I placed in the sports photo category for one of my boxing photos. They make you wait for the awards banquet to find out what place you actually got, so I’ll have to update this later when I know more.
Ryan Holden, 30, of Rockford, trains by hitting a focus target Tuesday, April 30, 2013, at Fight College on North Main Street in Rockford. Holden has been training in boxing since 2007 and currently tries to train at least five days a week. MAX GERSH/ROCKFORD REGISTER STAR ©2013
***UPDATE June 15, 2014***
It turns out my photo from Fight College took first place in the sports division. My coworker, Brent Lewis, took third place for a fantastic photo he shot after the Burpee Museum of Natural History flooded.
Max Gersh’s first place award for sports photography and Brent Lewis’ third place award for general news photography from the Illinois Press Association newspaper contest.
The next award I found about in a fun way. I was able to attended the Illinois Press Photographers Midwest Photo Summit. While meeting new photographers, I was surprised that someone recognized my name. They remembered it from the Illinois Best of Photography judging on the previous day. I hadn’t yet been told that my Gridiron football portraits took second place in the sports picture story category.
Jace Bankord, 17, quarterback for Belvidere North, photographed Tuesday, Aug. 13, 2013, at the Rockford Register Star in Rockford. MAX GERSH/ROCKFORD REGISTER STAR ©2013
The results of the Best of GateHouse contest were released. I received third place in the Photographer of the Year contest in Division A (which is the division for the largest newspapers).
I have tremendous respect for the other photojournalists entering these competitions. We all push each other in this industry. Each year, the images seem to get better and better. I’m truly humbled when I see my name next to the names of those I look up to.
We’re still waiting to hear back from a few of the contests. Maybe I’ll have something else to add to this list in the near future.