Top Honors
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Photographer of the Year - Julia Demaree Nikhinson, The Associated Press
Political Photograph of the Year - Andrew Harnik, Getty Images
Portrait/Personality
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First Place - Carol Guzy, Miami Herald/ZUMA Press
Second Place - Salwan Georges, The Washington Post
Third Place - Alex Kent, The Washington Post
Award of Excellence - Salwan Georges, The Washington Post
Award of Excellence - Jabin Botsford , The Washington Post
Pictorial
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First Place - Nathan Howard, Reuters
Second Place - Tom Brenner, Getty Images
Third Place - Tom Brenner, The New York Times
Award of Excellence - Chip Somodevilla, Getty Images
Award of Excellence - Al Drago, Reuters
Award of Excellence - Julia Demaree Nikhinson, The Associated Press
Feature
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First Place - Carol Guzy, Miami Herald/ZUMA Press
Second Place - Rod Lamkey, The Associated Press
Third Place - Evelyn Hockstein, Reuters
Award of Excellence - Salwan Georges, The Washington Post
Award of Excellence - Tom Brenner, The Washington Post
Award of Excellence - Kenny Holston, The New York Times
Sports Action
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First Place - Alex Brandon, The Associated Press
Second Place - Patrick Smith, Getty Images
Third Place - Patrick Smith, Getty Images
Award of Excellence - Patrick Smith, Getty Images
Award of Excellence - John McDonnell, The Associated Press
Sports Feature/Reaction
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First Place - Patrick Smith, Getty Images
Second Place - Patrick Smith, Getty Images
Third Place - Julia Demaree Nikhinson, The Associated Press
Award of Excellence - Tyrone Turner, WAMU
Award of Excellence - Patrick Smith, Getty Images
Presidential
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First Place - Andrew Harnik, Getty Images
Second Place - Stephen Voss, TIME Magazine
Third Place - Chip Somodevilla, Getty Images
Award of Excellence - Jabin Botsford, The Washington Post
Award of Excellence - Pete Kiehart, Politico
Award of Excellence - Samuel Corum, Sipa USA
On Capitol Hill
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First Place - Julia Demaree Nikhinson, The Associated Press
Second Place - Jim Watson, Agence France Press
Third Place - Bill Clark, CQ Roll Call
Award of Excellence - Jim Watson, Agence France Press
Award of Excellence - Tom Williams, CQ Roll Call
Award of Excellence - Kevin Dietsch, Getty Images
Award of Excellence - Frank Thorp V, NBC News
Award of Excellence - Tom Williams, CQ Roll Call
Insider's Washington
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First Place - Andrew Harnik, Getty Images
Second Place - Nathan Howard, Reuters
Third Place - Chip Somodevilla, Getty Images
Award of Excellence - Will Oliver, EPA
Award of Excellence - Eric Lee, The New York Times
Award of Excellence - Eric Lee, The New York Times
General News
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First Place - Carol Guzy, Miami Herald/ZUMA Press
Second Place - Brendan Smialowski, Agence France Presse
Third Place - Alex Kent, The Washington Post
Award of Excellence - Carol Guzy, Miami Herald/ZUMA Press
Award of Excellence - Salwan Georges, The Washington Post
Award of Excellence - Salwan Georges, The Washington Post
Politics Picture Story
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First Place - Andrew Harnik, Getty Images
Second Place - Andrew Harnik, Getty Images
Third Place - Chip Somodevilla, Getty Images
Award of Excellence - Brendan Smialowski, Agence France Presse
Award of Excellence - Jabin Botsford, The Washington Post
Feature Picture Story
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First Place - Jahi Chikwendiu, The Washington Post
Second Place - Salwan Georges, The Washington Post
Third Place - Matt McClain, The Washington Post
Award of Excellence - Carolyn Van Houten, The Washington Post
Award of Excellence - Carol Guzy, Miami Herald/ZUMA Press
General News Picture Story
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First Place - Salwan Georges, The Washington Post
Second Place - Carol Guzy, Miami Herald/ZUMA Press
Third Place - Salwan Georges, The Washington Post
Award of Excellence - Julia Demaree Nikhinson, The Associated Press
Award of Excellence - Carolyn Van Houten, The Washington Post
Sports Picture Story
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First Place - Patrick Smith, Getty Images
Second Place - Julia Demaree Nikhinson, The Associated Press
Third Place - Patrick Smith, Getty Images
Award of Excellence - Jim Watson, Agence France Presse
Political Portfolio of the Year
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First Place - Andrew Harnik, Getty Images
Second Place - Jim Watson , Agence France Presse
Third Place - Brendan Smialowski , Agence France Presse
Award of Excellence - Win Mcnamee, Getty Images
Portfolio of the Year
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First Place - Julia Nikhinson, The Associated Press
Second Place - Salwan Georges, The Washington Post
Third Place - Matt McClain, The Washington Post
Award of Excellence - Andrew Harnik, Getty Images
2026 Still Contest Judges
Erin Clark is a staff photographer at The Boston Globe, where she focuses on long-form, community-centered visual storytelling across New England. Her work often explores how policy, place, and social systems shape people’s daily lives, with an emphasis on stories that unfold over time.
Clark joined the Globe in 2020 and has reported on a wide range of subjects, including housing insecurity, immigration enforcement, public health, and community life. She is particularly drawn to character-driven projects that pair intimate access with sustained reporting.
Her work has been recognized by Pictures of the Year International, the National Press Photographers Association, the Boston Press Photographers Association, and the Pulitzer Prize.
Adam Gray is a freelance photojournalist based out of New York City, covering news and feature assignments across North America and internationally. He was previously the Chief Photographer for the British press agency SWNS. Born in the North of England he studied History at Newcastle University before starting in photojournalism. He has covered major stories around the world ranging from politics, migration, natural disasters, the effects of conflict, COVID-19, social movements and unrest and the US Capitol Insurrection.
His editorial clients include Getty Images, The New York Times, Reuters, The Associated Press, Bloomberg, Agence France-Presse, De Volkskrant, Le Figaro, and The Times/Sunday Times.
Adam Scotti is a Canadian documentary photographer best known as the official photographer to former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. He began as a volunteer in Trudeau’s office in 2011 while attending McGill University, then held the role of official photographer beginning with the Liberal leadership race in 2013 and through Trudeau’s tenure as prime minister ending in 2025.
Scotti’s work placed him at the center of Canadian political life, documenting everything from high-level international meetings to informal, behind-the-scenes moments that helped shape the public visual record of Trudeau’s leadership. Over more than a decade, he produced an extensive visual archive of contemporary Canadian politics and has become recognized in his own right for his access and distinctive, narrative-driven style.