Rangefinder Magazine
December 2005

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Winner of the 62nd Annual
Pictures of the Year International Editorial Staff
Missouri School of Photojournalism

Newspaper Photographer of the Year 1st Place—Michael Macor The San Francisco Chronicle, “Ripped”Oakland Raider running back (no. 28) Amos Zereoue has his helmet removed by Saints’ (no. 91) Will Smith on a first quarter run. NFL Football. (This is just one example of Michael’s work, for which he won Newspaper Photographer of the Year.)

A year of triumph, turmoil and tribulation is represented in the winning photographs of the 62nd annual Pictures of the Year International photojournalism competition held at the Missouri School of Journalism. From the summer Olympics to the elections in the U.S. and Afghanistan to the continuing hot-spot conflicts of the world to the daily issues of contemporary culture, the year’s best in pictures is truly remarkable.

The announcement of results is the culmination of the 14 days of judging, which was held over a three-week period earlier this year. More than 36,000 images from 2004 were considered, as well as entries in online and best-use-of photography in newspapers and magazines categories. Three distinct panels of judges, selected for their journalistic expertise, deliberated about 12 hours each day to reach their decisions on the 43 different categories.

This year’s winning photographs and judges’ biographies are available at the POYi web site: www.poyi.org/.

A Brief History of POYi

POYi began as a photographic contest in the spring of 1944 in Columbia, Missouri, when the Missouri School of Journalism sponsored its “First Annual 50-Print Exhibition” contest. Its stated purpose was, “to pay tribute to those press photographers and newspapers which, despite tremendous war-time difficulties, are doing a splendid job; to provide an opportunity for photographers of the nation to meet in open competition; and to compile and preserve… a collection of the best in current, home-front press pictures.”

In 1945 the College Photographer of the Year contest was inaugurated. CPOY (www.cpoy.org) continues to provide valuable feedback and encouragement to thousands of young photographers, many of whom have gone on to win in POYi.

In 1948, following a decision to invite magazine photographers to participate, the Fifty-Print Exhibition Contest became the News Pictures of the Year Contest. Then, in 1957, the University of Missouri and the National Press Photographers Association (NPPA) merged their respective contests. Through this partnership, “Pictures of the Year” was developed and continued until 2001 when NPPA and Missouri parted ways. POYi is now administered solely by the Missouri School of Journalism, with additional financial support from Fujifilm, MSNBC, National Geographic and by the entrants to the yearly competition.

Magazine Photographer of the Year 1st Place—Marcus Bleasdale Time Magazine “Rape of a Nation”Natural resource exploitation in the Democratic Republic of Congo—artisanal gold miners in Wasta North Eastern Congo: Most of these miners are combatants who have controlled mineral-rich areas and are profiting from their exploitation. Most of the gold mined in this region leaves the DRC illegally and is sent to Uganda. Illness and disease are rife, malaria being the biggest killer; no aid workers are based in this region and no medical aid is available, as it is thought to be too dangerous a place to work. Two U.N. soldiers were killed and dismembered here last year. (This is just one example of Marcus’ work for which he won Magazine Photographer of the Year.)

Guided by former directors Angus McDougall and Bill Kuykendall, the scope of Pictures of the Year changed dramatically. The number of entered images increased to tens of thousands, and Pictures of the Year became an international program. And, in 2001 Pictures of the Year became Pictures of the Year International.

As the contest grew, the overall mission of POYi broadened as well. Today, there are Pictures of the Year Awards’ seminars and workshops. Each year’s contest is commemorated through exhibits, a book and a web site. In addition, the public is invited to participate in online voting for its “Best Picture of the Year.

In 2001 the Pictures of the Year International Endowment fund was established to provide a firm financial footing as POYi increasingly becomes a center for research and discussion and education.

World Understanding Award 1st Place—Seamus Murphy AWP / Newsweek / The New York Times Magazine “Afghanistan’s Search for Peace”“Displaced”—Sabzag Gul 13, and her family became internally displaced persons (IDs) when they fled fighting in their village of Dashti Archi in Kunduz, which at the time was held by the Taliban. The last 10 years in Afghanistan have seen tumultuous events, even by the standards of that country’s history. 1994 saw the continuing escalation of a brutal civil war and the emergence of the Taliban. But as crucible to Al Qaeda, the country later became the arena for 9/11 retribution, and once again briefly held center stage. The ethnic patchwork of Afghanistan is the result of great historical movements, avarice and the country’s geography. Understanding this cultural diversity will be a crucial factor in any hope for lasting peace. These people, now emerging from 25 years of constant war, have been witness to much of man’s folly. The Afghan people lived their lives through these 10 years as they always have done through their history: at once both the victims and ultimate survivors of their own fate. (This is just one image from a series for which Seamus won the World Understanding Award.)

Community Awareness Award 1st Place—Carolyn Drake National Geographic Magazine/ Blueeyes Magazine “The Lubavitch”“The Rebbe”—Morning light shines across a portrait of the revered spiritual leader Menachem Mendel Schneerson as women discuss methods of teaching religion to the secular world. Schneerson, who is commonly referred to as “the Rebbe,” launched a program of “Jewish outreach,” sending Lubavitch families to live abroad and promote Judaism around the world. The program continues today, 10 years after his passing. The Lubavitch are one of several groups of ultra-orthodox Jews spawned from the original Hasidic movement in Eastern Europe 300 years ago. Carolyn Drake began this project while working as an intern at National Geographic magazine and continued it independently afterward. The essay was published in Blueeyes magazine in June 2004. (This is just one image from the series for which Carolyn won the Community Awareness Award.)

Sports Action / General Division 1st Place—Chris Tyree The Virginian-Pilot “The Boxer”On a Friday night in the dark, dank gym in Norfolk, Virginia, Barnwell Dorsett repeatedly punches at a bag for hours with the hope of one day making the Olympic team and earning fame and respect not found on the streets outside the gym.

Olympics / General Division 1st Place—Adam Pretty Getty Images “Light Riders”Team New Zealand competes in the men’s track cycling team pursuit qualifying round on August 22, 2004, during the Athens 2004 Summer Olympic Games at the Olympic Velodrome within the Olympic Sports Complex in Athens, Greece. (See Adam Pretty’s World Press Photo Contest winning image on page 106.)

Pictorial / General Division 1st Place—Pieter ten Hoopen Moment Agency “Quibdo, Colombia”The city of Quibdo is situated in the western part of Colombia. The province of Choco is one of the major drug routes because it’s close to the Panama border. Every year 300 people get killed and 3000 kidnapped in the countryside. Today Colombia has over three million internal refugees. People flee their homes in the countryside because of the violence. Quibdo is one of those cities that many flee to. Scene shown is a tropical storm hitting Quibdo.

Feature Picture / Newspaper Division 1st Place— Jeffrey W. Thompson The University of Missouri / Freelance “Relaxing After WorkFollowing a full day in the field bailing hay, John Fick unwinds in the bed of his father’s pickup truck while his family and friends finish the chore in the day’s last light.

General News Reporting / Newspaper Division 1st Place— David Swanson The Philadelphia Inquirer “Echoes of War”PFC Eric Ayon attempts to start a Humvee that was just ambushed in Ar Ramadi during the April Sunni uprising in Iraq. Eight Marines in the Humvee were killed. Ayon himself would die three days later at the same intersection. Echo Company of the 2/4 has suffered more losses than any other company since Vietnam, 22 KIA, and twice as many seriously injured. (This image also won 2nd prize, General News Singles, in the World Press Photo Contest.)

General News Reporting / Magazine Division 1st Place—James Nachtwey VII / Time Magazine “Genocide in Darfur”An IDP woman cared for her son, sick with hepatitis E at the city hospital in Mornei, West Darfur, which was refurbished and run by MSF France. (This image also won 1st prize, Contemporary Issues Singles, in the World Press Photo Contest.)

Feature Picture / Magazine Division 1st Place—Krisanne Johnson Freelance “Afternoon Game”A young Old German Baptist woman plays basketball with friends after dinner at her parents’ farm. Sports play a large role in the Old German Baptist community by giving other young members a chance to meet and socialize. Members cannot use the Internet, watch television or listen to music. (This image also won 2nd prize, Daily Life Singles, in the World Press Photo Contest.)

Portrait / Magazine Division 1st Place—Gerard Rancinan Sports Illustrated “Svetlana Korkina”Athens Olympic Preview: Hall of Famers Russian gymnast, Svetlana Korkina

News Picture Story / Magazine Division 1st Place—Shaul Schwarz Corbis “Violence in Haiti”Aristide supporter stands in front of a building torched by the pro-Aristide mob after hearing the news that Prime Minister Aristide had resigned and left the country after international pressure by France and the U.S. Shootouts between Haiti police, supporting the opposition, and chimer and other Aristide supporters took place all around the city. (This is just one of a series of images for which Shaul won this award. Also see Shaul’s World Press Photo Contest winning image on page 107.)