Top Honors
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Photographer of the Year - Doug Mills, The New York Times
Political Photo of the Year - Win McNamee, Getty Images
Portrait/Personality
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First Place - André Chung, Freelance for The Washington Post
Second Place - Carol Guzy, for ZUMA Press
Third Place - André Chung, Freelance for The Washington Post
Award of Excellence - Claire Harbage, NPR
Pictorial
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First Place - Julia Nikhinson, Freelance for The Associated Press
Second Place - Matt McClain, The Washington Post
Third Place - Jabin Botsford, The Washington Post
Award of Excellence - Brendan Smialowski, Agence France-Presse
Award of Excellence - Evelyn Hockstein, Reuters
Feature
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First Place - Erin Schaff, The New York Times
Second Place - Matt McClain, The Washington Post
Third Place - Jabin Botsford, The Washington Post
Award of Excellence - Andrew Harnik, The Associated Press
Award of Excellence - Carolyn Kaster, The Associated Press
Sports Action
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First Place - Brendan Smialowski, Agence France-Presse
Second Place - Alex Brandon, The Associated Press
Third Place - Mark Goldman, for Icon Sportswire
Award of Excellence - Alex Brandon, The Associated Press
Award of Excellence - Patrick Smith, Getty Images
Sports Feature/Reaction
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First Place - Patrick Smith, Getty Images
Second Place - Doug Mills, The New York Times
Third Place - Will Oliver, European Pressphoto Agency
Award of Excellence - Erin Schaff, The New York Times
Award of Excellence - Patrick Smith, Getty Images
Presidential
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First Place - Jim Watson, Agence France-Presse
Second Place - Brendan Smialowski, Agence France-Presse
Third Place - Brendan Smialowski, Agence France-Presse
Award of Excellence - Win McNamee, Getty Images
Award of Excellence - Saul Loeb, Agence France-Presse
Award of Excellence - Kenny Holston, The New York Times
Insider’s Washington
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First Place - Evelyn Hockstein, Reuters
Second Place - Jack Gruber, USA TODAY
Third Place - Julia Nikhinson, The Associated Press
Award of Excellence - Doug Mills, The New York Times
Award of Excellence - Tom Brenner, The New York Times
On Capitol Hill
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First Place - Bill Clark, Roll Call
Second Place - Kenny Holston, The New York Times
Third Place - Kevin Lamarque, Reuters
Award of Excellence - Greg Nash, The Hill
Award of Excellence - Rod Lamkey Jr., Freelance for Consolidated News
Award of Excellence - Chip Somodevilla, Getty Images
Award of Excellence - Tom Brenner, for The Washington Post
Domestic News
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First Place - Andrew Caballero-Reynolds, Agence France-Presse
Second Place - Carol Guzy, for ZUMA Press
Third Place - Chip Somodevilla, Getty Images
Award of Excellence - Julia Nikhinson, freelance for The Associated Press
Award of Excellence - Matt McClain, The Washington Post
Award of Excellence - Jahi Chikwendiu, The Washington Post
International News
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First Place - Claire Harbage, NPR
Second Place - Carolyn Van Houten, The Washington Post
Third Place - Carol Guzy, for ZUMA Press
Award of Excellence - Evelyn Hockstein, Reuters
Award of Excellence - Michael Brochstein, Independent
Picture Story/Politics
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First Place - Doug Mills, The New York Times
Second Place - Chip Somodevilla, Getty Images
Third Place - Win McNamee, Getty Images
Award of Excellence - Jonathan Ernst, Reuters
Award of Excellence - Brendan Smialowski, Agence France-Presse
Award of Excellence - Kent Nishimura, Los Angeles Times
Picture Story/Feature
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First Place - Jahi Chikwendiu, The Washington Post
Second Place - Jim Watson, Agence France-Presse
Third Place - Andrew Caballero-Reynolds, Agence France-Presse
Award of Excellence - Carolyn Kaster, The Associated Press
Award of Excellence - Carol Guzy, for NPR
Award of Excellence - Jahi Chikwendiu, The Washington Post
Picture Story/News
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First Place - Carol Guzy, for ZUMA Press
Second Place - Andrew Caballero-Reynolds, Agence France-Presse
Third Place - Erin Schaff, The New York Times
Award of Excellence - Carol Guzy, for ZUMA Press
Award of Excellence - Evelyn Hockstein, Reuters
Award of Excellence - Louie Palu, Agence VU
Picture Story/Sports
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First Place - Brendan Smialowski, Agence France-Presse
Second Place - Patrick Smith, Getty Images
Third Place - Jim Watson, Agence France-Presse
Award of Excellence - Jahi Chikwendiu, The Washington Post
Award of Excellence - Patrick Smith, Getty Images
Political Portfolio
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First Place - Win McNamee, Getty Images
Second Place - Andrew Harnik, The Associated Press
Third Place - Ricky Carioti, The Washington Post
Award of Excellence - Doug Mills, The New York Times
Award of Excellence - Brendan Smialowski, Agence France-Presse
Portfolio
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First Place - Doug Mills, The New York Times
Second Place - Jabin Botsford, The Washington Post
Third Place - Brendan Smialowski, Agence France-Presse
2024 Still Contest Judges
Jen Edney is a seasoned storyteller, adventurer, and explorer of the world’s wonders. From the vast plains of Nebraska to the endless horizons of the open seas, Jen’s journey has been a quest for meaning, connection, and truth.
Her lens captures more than images; it encapsulates the essence of human existence—the raw emotions, fleeting moments, and untold stories beneath the surface. As a sailor, a traveler, and a self-proclaimed “water baby,” Jen’s adventures have taken her to the far corners of the earth, where she has sailed over 50,000 nautical miles and explored over 30 countries. Named one of the “Nine Top Female Adventure Photographers” by National Geographic, Jen’s career began as a photographer but has since evolved into a multi-faceted journey encompassing film, writing, teaching, mentoring, and speaking.
Jen’s signature style is to immerse herself in the story, capturing the expeditionary heart of every situation she shoots. Whether creating a short film, penning a captivating article, or teaching others, her mission remains the same: to use storytelling to connect with people, inspire exploration, and bring joy to their lives. Through her photography, film, writing, teaching, mentoring, and speaking, Jen is helping to create a world that is more adventurous, more connected, and more alive.
Sangsuk Sylvia Kang is a photographer, journalist, and a Photo Editor at TIME Magazine, where she focuses on international stories.
Jose R. Lopez is a former New York Times staff photographer and picture editor who was based in the Washington, D.C. Bureau of The Times from 1985-1993 and covered presidential administrations of Reagan, Bush (41) and Clinton along with other national news and events in Washington, D.C., and the U.S. He served as the Treasurer of the WHNPA during his time in D.C.
Lopez is currently a freelance photo editor, consultant, and photo archivist whose clients include the United States Golf Association, Columbia University/The Pulitzer Prizes and he continues to work for the New York Times print edition as a freelance photo editor.
For the past six years, Lopez has been allowed into the rooms at Columbia University in New York city to photograph the process of how the Pulitzer Prizes are judged and selected. He is the first photographer ever granted this access.
He served as the Director of Photography for the New York Times Student Journalism Institute and continues to mentor several of his students that have gone on to successful careers in photojournalism.
He lives in Tarrytown, N.Y. with his wife, Caitlin Kelly, author of two non-fiction books, and a award winning freelance journalist who writes for national and foreign publications.