A picture of a “found” situation with strong human interest, or a fresh view of an everyday scene.
First Place
Carol Guzy, Miami Herald/ZUMA Press
Scarlett’s Trauma: Scarlett, 10 years old, was emotionally shut down from yet another profound loss in her young life after her father Hermel Rodrigo was detained by ICE at his immigration court hearing leaving a broken family at home in Brooklyn NY on August 15, 2025. ‘Why are you taking away my father from me,’ she wept. ‘He is the only one I have.’ Her biological father was murdered and she is now traumatized by witnessing the detainment by masked men. She makes a drawing asking Jesus to watch over her Papa and watches TicTok videos about saying goodbye. Local churches have provided assistance with therapy for the family to heal as they adapt to a new normal without him.
Second Place
Rod Lamkey, The Associated Press
: On the 24th anniversary of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks in the U.S., customers and employees stand for the daily Pledge of Allegiance at Chick & Ruth's Delly, in Annapolis, Md., Thursday, Sept. 11, 2025. The Pledge of Allegiance has been recited here in the morning, seven days a week since 1989.
Third Place
Evelyn Hockstein, Reuters
Amish volunteers help rebuild after Hurricane Helene: Amish volunteers from Pennsylvania paint the interior of a cabin at the Dogwood RV Park in Chimney Rock after it was decimated by flooding from Hurricane Helene, in Chimney Rock, North Carolina, June 4, 2025.
Award of Excellence
Salwan Georges, The Washington Post
: SAMDANIYA AL GHARBIYA, SYRIA - JANUARY 23: Hayel al-Abdulla, 77, tribal leader, covered his grandson from the rain outside his home in the village of Samdaniya al Gharbiya , Syria, Thursday, January 23, 2025.
Award of Excellence
Tom Brenner, The Washington Post
High Water Mark: Ishmyle Sawyers peers through a swimming pool observation window while playing with friends at the Sizemore residence on Summers Street in Welch, West Virginia on July 15, 2025. The Sizemore home is located across the street from the site of a fatal accident involving two people who died attempting to escape deadly flooding that occurred in the region in February. Despite the threat of increased flooding, the residents of Summers street continue to proudly live in the area.
Award of Excellence
Kenny Holston, The New York Times
: U.S. Army Cadets wait in the bleachers amid on-and-off rain ahead of listening to a commencement address given by U.S. President Donald J. Trump at the U.S. Military Academy, West Point, in New York, May 24, 2025.