First Place
Rod Lamkey Jr., Independent
Baptism by Firehose: A man lifts his face to the sky as the deluge from the firehoses rain down upon him and others, praying in the in the water as the International House of Prayer holds their annual Baptism by Firehose in the middle of M Street NW in Washington, DC, Sunday, August 30, 2015.
Second Place
Jim Lo Scalzo, EPA
Maypole: Chance Forney (L) kisses Sam Hunsicker (C-L) as church members wrap them and others in ribbons from a maypole during a Beltaine celebration at Four Quarters Interfaith Sanctuary in Artemas, Pennsylvania, USA, 02 May 2015. The sanctuary, which has hundreds of members, bills itself as a 'safe and sacred ceremonial space for the modern practice of ancient religion.'
Third Place
Mary F. Calvert, Independent Photojournalist
The Jungle: When Melissa has sought help for permanent housing from the Veteran's Administration and Los Angeles County, she has been offered a bed in a homeless shelter in a neighboring county. In addition to not wanting to remove her son from a school where he is thriving, women's shelters will not admit a young man over the age of twelve and Melissa refuses to send her son to the men’s side of the shelter, so she and her 13-year-old Sam, live in a drug and crime ridden motel in Pomona, Ca., that she calls 'The Jungle.' She struggles to tie her son’s necktie in preparation for his middle school graduation.
Award of Excellence
Chip Somodevilla, Getty Images
Untitled: HIV-positive Shana Reynolds-Fairley joins her family to help send her niece Imani off to prom at her grandmother's home in May 31, 2014 in Washington, DC. After 16 months of in-patient care at Joseph's House, a hospice for poor and homeless people, Shana has 'graduated' from the program and will now live on her own again.
Award of Excellence
Olivier Douliery, ABACA PRESS / TNS
A Blastery departure: Journalists are blasted with snow blown by the Marine One presidential helicopter as it lifts off from the South Lawn of the White House with U.S. President Barack Obama on board March 6, 2015 in Washington, DC
Award of Excellence
Tom Williams, Roll Call
Capitol Sledding: Kids are interviewed by the media on the west front lawn of the Capitol during a snow storm, March 5, 2015. The Capitol Police informed parents of the ban on sledding in the area but most chose to ignore the warning.