NEWS PHOTO

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Division 1
Dailies 5,865 Circulation and Above

1. Texarkana Gazette/Aaron Street & Robb Pittard

1. Good photo captures emotion. The color of her orange sweater echoes the red of the blurred red cross. 2. We’re not big fans of car wreck pics, especially when the people in them have their backs turned to the camera. This is better than most.

2. The Terrell Tribune/JoAnna Matejka & Will Erwin

Good people pictures! 1. At first we couldn’t tell what this was. This shot is so tight that it’s hard to tell where he is. Good expression and color – but gets lost in the background clutter. Still, we realize the photog was shooting in real time. 2. Good fire photo captures the human drama.

3. The Lufkin Daily News/Joel Andrews and Andy Adams

1. Touching photo that captures the emotion. 2. Artistic fire photo.

4. (tie) The Daily Sentinel (Nacogdoches)/Andrew D. Brosig

1. Artsy photo captures the hopelessness of overcrowded jails. 2. Good “you are there” photo shows the perseverance of the rescuers.

4. (tie) The Paris News/Sam Craft & Bill Sparkman

Two fire photos? Next time try a different subject for one of the entries. 1. Good, artistic photo silhouetting two firefighters. Good use of light and dark. Out of the ordinary. 2. This photo doesn’t have much interest. Lots of foreground clutter, the backs of the firefighters. Too busy.

Division 2
Dailies Circulation Up to 5,864

1. Athens Daily Review/Brad Bennett

Excellent people photos! 1. Very effective photo with harmonious colors, great expression on the girl’s face, nicely framed. Too bad the reproduction isn’t better. 2. Touching photo nicely set up and composed that captures the quiet human drama of the moment. Memorable.

2. Waxahachie Daily Light/Sandra McIntosh & JoAnn Livingston

1. Timely photo captures the human drama of the moment. 2. It’s kind of hard to tell what’s going on in these photos. Pulling back for a longer shot might have helped. Lots of gray makes for a dark look – maybe that suits the mood.

3. Kilgore News Herald/Lester Murray

1. I think some things should not be photographed and this is one of them. The photo is dark, too. What’s the point of this? An artistic shot, perhaps from behind, might work better. 2. One of the best Christmas-Santa pictures we’ve seen. The color and background are nice, and the girl’s expression captures the essence of the moment.

4. Henderson Daily News/Alexa Duke & Kevin Shaw

1. Good timeliness and color, but photos of people’s backs are so uninteresting. 2. Rather ordinary.

Division 3
Semi-Weeklies

1. Wise County Messenger (Decatur)

1. Heartbreaking photo zooms in on the human emotion. You can actually see her tears and feel her pain. Well composed, too. This photo stays with you – you must read the story after seeing this. 2. Another emotional shot that zeroes in on people – a mother’s tearful relief, a son’s inability to comprehend the fuss – touching and beautifully composed.

2. Hood County News (Granbury)

1. “Wow!” was my reaction when I saw this photo. The long shot focusing on the line of cars makes the picture. Action, too, catching the Care Flite in the air. Greens and reds, oranges are strong. 2. Lots of backs, but in this case the sheer number of rescuers communicates the news.

3. Mansfield News-Mirror

1. Interesting shot – the mansion and spray of water dwarf the firefighters and make us realize how daunting these jobs can be. 2. Good photo (too bad someone’s back got in the way). Blue and yellow colors jump off the page.

4. The Gatesville Messenger

1. This photo will make you smile. Timing is perfect. Good color, too. 2. Highly unusual photo montage. I had a hard time connecting the picture with the story at first.

Division 4
Weeklies 2,600 Circulation and Above

1. The Wylie News

1. Captures the emotion well – in this case, not seeing the woman’s face focuses the reader’s attention on the strength and compassion shown by the officers. Memorable. 2. Good composition, but isn’t this more of a feature photo?

2. Cedar Creek Pilot (Gun Barrel City)

1. Captures the emotion of the moment. Blues and yellows, dark shadow and light give this photo impact and visual appeal. Our only criticism is it’s a bit dark and loses crispness – still, that also makes it quite atmospheric. Headline complements photo very well. 2. The man’s face says it all. Good timing for the photog.

3. Azle News

Good complementary color. Good capture of expression.

4. Clay County Leader (Henrietta)

1. Good focus on the human drama of that moment. The subjects are framed by the wreckage. 2. Interesting juxtaposition of county church and firefighter. It works.

Division 5
Weeklies 1,501 Circulation to 2,599

1. Iowa Park Leader

1. Great photo captures the human drama. Powerful and poignant. 2. Another good shot captures the boys’ sense of fun. Great perspective, nice color.

2. The Springtown Epigraph

1. Lots of visual in part from the contrast of black smoke, fire and brilliant green of foliage. Power lines detract slightly, but the photog can’t help that. 2. Excellent composition and use of color add drama to this photo. In this case all the backs work – their sheer number and their positioning convey determination. Fire licking through the windows and brown smoke add to the immediacy.

3. The Farmersville Times/Autumn Barton & Alicia White

1. Beautiful, artistic shot, steeped in color that adds to the mood. The tulips, candles, the rosy skin – good photo, indeed. 2. Excellent fire photo silhouetting the firefighters. Light and dark contrast works exceptionally well in this.

4. The McGregor Mirror

1. Good color, but not much action. Too bad they’re posing for the camera with sunglasses on. 2. The heart of the shot gets lost in the crowd. Zooming in to focus on the baby and the Prince would have made a great shot.

Division 6
Weeklies Up to 1,500 Circulation

1. Crowley Star

1. Color is washed out, but photo captures the coach’s compassion and the player’s despair very well. 2. Simple yet effective – father and son on the first day of school. Who can’t relate to that?

2. The Leonard Graphic

1. Background clutters up this photo, but the vet and flag are touchingly emotional. 2. Better than average car wreck shot. Zooming in would have helped – too much foreground and washed-out sky. At least there are some people here.

3. The Princeton Herald

1. Good pic, except her arm blocks her face and looks very yellow. Like the strong diagonal of flag and green foliage. 2. Zooming in would better capture the action. This looks ordinary.

4. Alvarado Star

1. The hay is almost indiscernible in this shot. Background fades all together. Blurry reproduction. 2. Like the angle, but the focus becomes the motorcycle and not the people.