From our Clip Chair Chris Howell:

We are taking the monthly Clip Contest Digital

We are doing this with hopes of making it easier to enter the contest but also to encourage more people to enter. Just think of how easy it will be to enter now––no more running to the morgue dodging the librarian in competition for your precious clips.

Going digital will also as get the winning images posted to the website immediately. We are also going to create link to a slideshow showing you everyone’s entry. We figured it would be a great way to see what everyone else is shooting around the state on a monthly basis.

We are launching the new digital contest with the Feb. 10, 2007 deadline. That will start the 2007 INPA clip contest all digital.

Link to the Rules

Hopefully the rules are crystal clear and you will have no problems adjusting to the new format. I believe it will make it easier and less time consuming for all of us.

As always, please email me or call me with any questions or concerns.

Have a great New Year.

Chris

1. Matt Detrich-Indianapolis Star 1048
2. Denny Simmons-Courier and Press 802
3. Justin Rumbach-Courier and Press/The Herald 468
4. Frank Oliver-Journal and Courier 383
5. Joe Garza-Tribune Star 340
6. Bob Gwaltney-Courier and Press 322
7. Robert Scheer-Indianapolis Star 310
8. Jim Rider-South Bend Tribune 288
9. Tim Bath-Kokomo Tribune 278
9. Jason Clark-Courier and Press 278

3rd Place Features

| Click to open winners gallery |

Judged by The Oregonian, December 19th, 2006
• Patty Reksten, Director of Photography
• Randy Rasmussen, Deputy Director of Photography
• Mike Davis, Features Picture Editor
• Randy Cox, Senior Editor/Visuals

Cream of the Crop
Leslie Adkins, Post-Tribune

Sports
FIRST PLACE | Matt Detrich, The Indianapolis Star
SECOND PLACE | Rob Goebel, The Indianapolis Star
THIRD PLACE | Charlie Nye, The Indianapolis Star
HM | Denny Simmons, The Courier and Press
Boy, is there a lot of sports in Indiana. At least a lot of Sports entries. Most were the
same as those that roll across the digital transom after any, and every, sporting
event. Given that most of what you cover are community events, we hoped to see
pictures that tell readers more about where they live – even in Sports. So it’s not
surprising that the first, second and honorable mentions were off-peak moments
that do just that. And the hm is the only one that was not a long lens, detached
sports picture. A headline can say who won, a photo should make readers feel the
event.

Multiple
FIRST PLACE | Rich Janzaruk, Times-Mail
SECOND PLACE | Christopher Smith, The Times of Northwest Indiana
THIRD PLACE | Charlie Nye, The Indianapolis Star
HM | Jeri Reichanadter, The Indianapolis Star
First was a great idea put on the page completely. Several strong pictures and the
most focused story line of the bunch. Either giving the story more space or using a
couple fewer pictures would have helped, to allow greater range in size and better
relationships between photos. Second also showed a nice commitment to visual
storytelling. Particularly strong is the photo with the shaft of light in the church
setting. It felt a bit like the captions – the informational aspects of the photos – were
driving photo play instead of choosing and playing photos according to what they
convey. Third was a nice, linear process story about the rebuilding of a bridge. Its
greatest strength is being there during critical moments while sticking with the
story to its conclusion. The HM story on the bus driver had three stronger images
that raised the overall level. In each of these cases, telling more specific stories
would have helped.

Spot News
FIRST PLACE | Jason Clark, Courier and Press
SECOND PLACE | Denny Simmons, Courier and Press
THIRD PLACE | Bob Gwaltney, Courier and Press
First place used dramatic lighting and carefully juxtaposed silhouettes make this a
winner. Good job of catching the moment when the subjects don’t know what to do.
Second: Movement in this photo conveys a real sense of drama though tighter
cropping on the left would have made it a stronger image. The firemen framing the
yard statue is a nice touch. Third: This is the weakest of the three winning fire
photos though it does gives a real sense of scale to the damage and the firemen
with the hoseline carries a viewer quickly though the scene.

Feature
FIRST PLACE | Jason Clark, Courier and Press
SECOND PLACE | Erik Markov, Kokomo Tribune
THIRD PLACE | Joe Garza, Tribune-Star
First place was the hands-down top feature photo. Just a lovely, human moment
that would touch any reader. And the photographer was conscious enough of the
rest of that environment to back off and so eloquently add to the beauty of this
photo with the inclusion of the reacting couples on both sides. Well done! Second
place is kinda like stepping off a merry-go-round. You’re attracted to the expression
of the young girl, but the vibrating patterns of the background contrast against that
quickly. A very effective juxtaposition. Third was the quintessence of “good seeing.”
You almost think that snake is shy hiding behind its handler like that. The back and
forth stories playing out on both sides of Snakehead Ed tell us so much more than
just the touching of snakeskin.

General News
FIRST PLACE | Leslie Adkins, Post-Tribune
SECOND PLACE | Bob Gwaltney, Evansville Courier and Press
THIRD PLACE | Charlie Nye, Indianapolis Star
HM | Tim Bath, Kokomo Tribune
First place, despite its gross undersizing on the page, was a superb example of
layering from an anticipated funeral set of reactions. The triple person grief,
contrastingly effective dark background and that touch of the white rose all signal a
photographer paying close attention. Should have been played as a lede photo, we
thought. Second place, also undersized, is another great moment. Clean background
and tight cropping grace us with a bit of joy during this homecoming. Third is a
wonderful example of how some photos can have a strong center of interest and yet
still tell slightly different other stories all around without being distracting.
That’s the trick, though, doing so without it becoming a jumbled mess. This photo
masters that difficult trick quite well. HM was angelic, simple, straight-forward and
not to be confused. An exceptionally quick read that brought a tear to these jaded
old clip-judging eyes.